PFF believes Cardinals will make 2020 NFL Playoffs

The Arizona Cardinals appear to be a safe bet to make their first postseason appearance in five years.

That’s the takeaway from Pro Football Focus thanks to the team’s two wins over NFC opponents and favorable schedule.

We make this more like -150 given that the Cardinals not only have two victories on their ledger, but also two victories against NFC teams and one victory against an NFC West opponent. According to our power rankings tool, the Cardinals are tied for the fourth-easiest remaining schedule, so given that they only need to be one of the top seven teams in the NFC, take this now while it’s plus money.

The Cardinals currently rank sixth in the NFL in yards per game (421.0) and rank fifth in rushing yards per game (170.0).

The team’s defense has held its own as well, ranking seventh in yards allowed per game (341.0), buoying its playoff odds.

Arizona’s schedule features games against three consecutive games against winless teams, as the Cardinals will play Detroit, Carolina and the New York Jets in succession over the next three weeks.

Five of the team’s 10 non-divisional contests are at home, with road trips to play Carolina (Oct. 4), the Jets (Oct. 11), Dallas (Oct. 19), New England (Nov. 29) and the New York Giants (Dec. 13).

Making the schedule easier in 2020 are injuries to key players on opposing teams, such as Carolina back Christian McCaffrey, Giants’ back Saquon Barkley, plus 49ers defensive linemen Solomon Thomas and Nick Bosa.

All four will miss their games against Arizona with injuries, which should make the Cardinals’ path to the postseason easier.

Count Pro Football Focus as a believer in the team’s chances going forward.

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