J.J. Watt signing gives Cardinals’ Super Bowl odds a boost
Mar 2, 2021, 12:25 PM | Updated: 12:29 pm
In this Sunday Oct. 25, 2020 file photo, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, right, rushes up field around Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rick Wagner (71) during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston. (AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)
(AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)
J.J. Watt said he wanted to play for a contender. The Arizona Cardinals got a step closer to being one.
After Watt said he would be signing with the Cardinals, their odds to win Super Bowl 56 climbed from +5000 to +3300 on DraftKings.
While the Cardinals’ Super Bowl odds took the biggest leap, their chances to win the NFC and the NFC West also increased.
The Cardinals’ odds to win the NFC championship shifted from +2200 to +1500 and their odds to win the NFC West moved from +700 to +500.
Vance Joseph’s unit was tied for the fourth-most sacks in the NFL last season with 48 and that was without Chandler Jones for the last 11 games of the season.
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While the Cardinals were able to get to the quarterback, they also blitzed on 39.4% of defensive snaps, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL and the highest in the NFC.
Adding Watt and getting Jones back into the equation will aid their pass rush and a secondary that allowed the 12th most passing touchdowns and 16th most passing yards.
Watt is a five-time First Team All-Pro and his 101 career sacks are 34.5 more than the Cardinals all-time sack leader, Freddie Joe Nunn.
While Watt is still a high-impact player, he has missed 32 games over the past five seasons. Watt has played in all 16 games in two of the past three seasons.
In 2020, Watt had five sacks, 52 tackles and a pick-six for the Texans. Watt asked for and was granted his release by Houston in February.
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