How realistic is an NFC West title for the Cardinals in 2024?
Oct 24, 2024, 2:55 PM | Updated: Oct 25, 2024, 6:20 pm
The Arizona Cardinals knew it last week ahead of their Monday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers:
They were in must-win territory.
Understanding the difference between 2-5 and 3-4 and just how open the NFC West looks at the moment, the Cardinals set the tone physically on their way to a 17-15 win over the Jim Harbaughs.
Now they enter Week 8 with a real chance at sitting atop the division. After what was seen against the Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers, that would have been strange to write a couple weeks ago.
Want to take a step further?
Given how the schedule shakes out and how Arizona’s divisional foes are faring seven weeks in, there’s real potential the Cardinals can stay in the NFC West picture the rest of the way.
But how’s that even possible given Arizona’s injury issues and talent deficiency at key positions? Let’s take a look:
Implosion at the top of the NFC West?
After seven weeks, one thing is apparent out west:
The San Francisco 49ers look nowhere near the Super Bowl contender many had them as entering the season due to injuries to key players like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Hargrave paired with inconsistent play.
Aiyuk and Hargrave won’t play again in 2024, while McCaffrey continues to work through bilateral Achilles tendinitis. He’s not expected to play this week, but head coach Kyle Shanahan remains hopeful the RB can return to action after his team’s Week 10 bye.
But even if that is the case, the road ahead is anything but easy for the 49ers. Per Tankathon, San Francisco has the fourth-toughest strength of schedule (.569) in the league. Only the Chicago Bears (.630), Cleveland Browns (.597) and Detroit Lions (.589) have tougher slates.
You know who has one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league? The Cardinals (.424).
With every inconsistent showing from the 49ers, Arizona’s Week 5 win looks that much more meaningful.
Those other birds
After ripping off three straight wins and jumping out to a 3-0 record, the Seattle Seahawks led by first-year head coach Mike Macdonald have come back down to earth behind a three-game losing streak that was snapped this past Sunday.
Had it not been for Seattle’s 34-14 win over Atlanta, Arizona would be sitting atop the NFC West right now thanks to its divisional record (2-0).
The Seahawks’ remaining schedule may not be as treacherous as the 49ers’, but it’s nowhere near a cakewalk as the 14th toughest (.515). That includes matchups with the majority of the beefed-up NFC North and 5-2 Buffalo Bills.
And with two games still to play against the Cardinals across a three-week span, things could get very interesting in a matter of a handful of weeks.
The post-Aaron Donald era
The Los Angeles Rams knew they were in for an uphill climb with Aaron Donald now retired. Injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua haven’t helped, either.
But at 2-4 and heading toward sellers territory, it seems like only a matter of time before L.A. turns the page completely to 2025, especially if the Rams drop their next two against the Vikings and Seahawks before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
Kupp and Nacua return to action Thursday night against Minnesota, and L.A. does have the 24th hardest schedule the rest of the way, but is it too little, too late for Sean McVay’s crew?