NFL Network analysts: Arizona Cardinals the team to challenge Seahawks for NFC West

The Arizona Cardinals fought their way back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 last season, but can they push through to the next level?

A panel of NFL Network analysts broke down the NFC West for the 2015 season, and said that the Cardinals may be the only team that could challenge the back-to-back NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.

“They are the team to challenge the Seahawks,” Judy Battista said. “The only question is, ‘Can Carson Palmer say healthy all season?’ Everything hinges on that.

“Certainly, they have the coaching from (head coach) Bruce Arians and they have the roster to challenge the Seahawks if the Seahawks slip a little.”

Battista added that she doesn’t think teams are overlooking the Cardinals “at all” entering this season.

Jeff Darlington said it should be a two-team race between the Cardinals and Seahawks for the NFC West.

“You could probably put them right up there (with the Seahawks),” Darlington said. “The Seahawks again will be part of the postseason hunt but not if the Cardinals have anything to say about it. You could see, certainly, two teams coming out of that division.”

The Cardinals have won 21 games over the last two seasons behind 2014 NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians.

The Seahawks have represented the NFC in each of the past two Super Bowls, claiming victory in Super Bowl XLVIII before falling to the New England Patriots last season.

Arizona has gone 1-3 in the last two seasons against Seattle, including an 0-2 mark in 2014. Last season’s games each involved backup quarterbacks for Arizona, with Drew Stanton starting in Seattle and Ryan Lindley starting in Arizona.