ARIZONA CARDINALS

Steve Kornacki explains how Cardinals still control their playoff destiny

Dec 7, 2020, 9:08 AM
(Screenshot)...
(Screenshot)
(Screenshot)

NBC News’ Steve Kornacki has recharged all of his khaki-wearing energy since the 2020 presidential election and this week found himself breaking down the NFL playoff picture for the Sunday Night Football crew.

For the tumbling Arizona Cardinals (6-6), the election analyst has some good news despite the Cardinals’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams taking them, at the moment, out of the final NFC Wild Card spot.

“That loss today for Arizona today, costly. Knocks them out of the seventh spot, knocks them out of the playoffs, puts Minnesota, by virtue of their victory over Jacksonville, in,” Kornacki said while working his digital touchscreen.

“But you can see it here: the Pro Football Focus analytics model (is) not sold on the Vikings despite their win today,” Kornacki added. “Look, Minnesota had a narrow win over Jacksonville, narrow win over Carolina, they got Tampa Bay next week, they still got a game against the Saints. The model still says Arizona with an easier path to the playoffs. So Arizona, a better probability despite falling out of the playoffs today.”

PFF’s model has Arizona holding a 52% chance of making the postseason to 32% odds for Minnesota, which is also 6-6 but has a tiebreaker with a better record against common opponents.

The Cardinals’ easier remaining schedule begins with a road game against the New York Giants and a home contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Then in the final two games of the regular season, Arizona hosts the San Francisco 49ers, who remain hot on the Cardinals’ tail at 5-6, before a road outing against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17.

FiveThirtyEight’s prediction model, like PFF’s, has the Cardinals favored over the Vikings by a percentage point (35% to 34%) as of Monday morning.

San Francisco’s game against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football will change those odds significantly.

But both models show the importance of the Cardinals’ very next game.

A loss to the Giants drops their playoff chances to 17%, while a win bumps it to 50-50.

While they might need some help from other teams, the Cardinals can’t lose in the next two games without drastically submarining their playoff hopes.

“One more loss for Arizona next week, one more win for Minnesota if they can beat Tampa, that could change those numbers significantly,” Kornacki said.

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) works in the pocket against the Tennessee Titans dur...
Tyler Drake

Lamar Jackson’s trade request adds an extra layer to busy NFL offseason

The twists and turns of the NFL offseason roll on following Ravens QB Lamar Jackson's Monday announcement of his trade request.
13 hours ago
General manager Monti Ossenfort of the Arizona Cardinals speaks to the media during the NFL Combine...
Tyler Drake

2023 NFL Mock Draft Tracker: What will the Cardinals do with 3rd pick?

A look at the players being mocked to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
2 days ago
Krys Barnes #51 of the Green Bay Packers breaks up a pass intended for Devine Ozigbo #28 of the New...
Alex Weiner

Cardinals agree to 1-year deal with former Packers LB Krys Barnes

The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms with 24-year-old inside linebacker Krys Barnes on a one-year contract, the team announced on Saturday.
3 days ago
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals lines up during the NFL game against the...
Wills Rice

Report: Cardinals may want ‘Christian McCaffrey package’ for DeAndre Hopkins

The Cardinals are sticking to their guns in asking for a second round pick for wideout DeAndre Hopkins, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported.
3 days ago
Defensive back Christian Gonzalez #0 of the Oregon Ducks returns an interception in the third quart...
Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ mock draft scenarios: Arizona deals the No. 3 pick

Trade the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft or keep it? That’s the question Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort will have to answer soon enough.
4 days ago
Arizona Cardinals' owner Michael Bidwill, left, new head coach Jonathan Gannon center, and general ...
Tyler Drake

NFL dates to remember and how they relate to the Cardinals

As Arizona's new regime gets to work on rebuilding the organization, a look at the key dates of the offseason to circle on the calendar.
4 days ago
Steve Kornacki explains how Cardinals still control their playoff destiny