The Arizona Cardinals appear poised on the precipice of playoff contention in the 2025 NFL season, with their postseason aspirations hinging significantly on the week-to-week consistency of quarterback Kyler Murray and the anticipated impact of crucial defensive acquisitions. This detailed preview delves into the team’s strengths, persistent weaknesses, and the roadmap for achieving sustained success.
At the core of the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive identity is a formidable rushing attack, which consistently serves as the foundation for their scheme. Their strategic use of multiple tight end sets, combined with a powerful offensive line and a stable of dynamic ball carriers, creates a challenging ground game for opposing defenses. Star running back James Conner showcased his exceptional talent once again last season, achieving an impressive 90.6 rushing grade that ranked him among the NFL’s elite. Kyler Murray himself added another dimension to the ground game, ranking second among qualified quarterbacks in yards per carry with 7.3, demonstrating his dual-threat capability for the Arizona Cardinals.
The continuity and strength of the Cardinals’ blocking unit further bolster their offensive capabilities. Having retained the majority of the personnel from last year, this unit finished a respectable 14th in run-blocking grade. This veteran presence and established chemistry are vital for sustaining the effectiveness of the running game, providing the necessary lanes for both Conner and Murray to exploit.
While the offense shows promise, the Arizona Cardinals dedicated a substantial portion of their offseason efforts to reinforcing the defensive line, acknowledging previous deficiencies. However, the secondary continues to be a developmental area, and the linebacker unit stands out as the defense’s most significant question mark. This group struggled last season, ranking 28th in PFF grade, and currently lacks a proven anchor to stabilize its performance. Veteran players like Sr., Akeem Davis- and Mykal Walker offer experience, but none have consistently performed at a starting-caliber level, presenting a critical challenge for the 2025 NFL season.
Despite some team challenges, Kyler Murray’s 2024 season offered several encouraging takeaways for the Arizona Cardinals. For the first time since 2020, he started every game, showcasing improved durability. More importantly, Murray ranked within the top 12 quarterbacks in both passing and rushing grades, affirming his status as an above-average starter in the league. Yet, consistency remains his primary hurdle. His performance directly correlated with team success: Arizona won five of the six games where he posted a passing grade of at least 73.0, but lost eight of the 11 games where he fell short of that mark. This highlights the profound impact of his week-to-week production on the team’s overall fortunes.
The Cardinals’ offensive improvements in 2024 were notable, culminating in top-10 marks in PFF overall grade (81.0) and EPA per play (0.056). Recognizing that the defense was the primary area for improvement, Arizona made significant investments on that side of the ball this offseason. Key acquisitions, including the headlining free-agent signing who excelled under Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia, and a crucial first-round draft pick, indicate a strong commitment to fortifying the front seven for the upcoming 2025 NFL season. This strategic focus aims to elevate the entire defensive unit and bolster the team’s playoff contention hopes.
The 2024 season presented a grueling gauntlet for the Arizona Cardinals, as they faced five eventual playoff contenders within the first six weeks of their schedule. Despite this arduous start, the team managed to regain some footing before their Week 11 bye. However, a significant late-season slump saw them post a discouraging 2-5 record from Week 12 onward, underscoring the challenges posed by one of the five hardest schedules in the NFL that year.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Arizona Cardinals are fortunate to possess the 10th-easiest strength of schedule based on opponent records from the previous year. This more favorable slate includes only four playoff teams from 2024, though it crucially excludes teams widely projected to bounce back and perform strongly. This eased schedule could provide a crucial advantage in their pursuit of an NFL Playoff Contention spot.
Ultimately, the Arizona Cardinals find themselves at a pivotal juncture. If Kyler Murray can consistently deliver stellar performances through the air, complementing the robust rushing attack, and if the highly anticipated defensive additions live up to expectations, the team possesses a legitimate shot at returning to the postseason and becoming a true force in the league. This season serves as a critical test of their strategic offseason moves and the ongoing development of key players, aiming to solidify their status as a legitimate team preview for playoff success.
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