ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN’s Barnwell more optimistic than most on Cardinals’ Super Bowl, playoff odds

Sep 10, 2022, 6:00 PM

Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams  during the sec...

Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at SoFi Stadium on January 17, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com gave the Arizona Cardinals the eighth-best chance to win this year’s Super Bowl, at 4.2%.

He also gives them a 53.9% chance to make the postseason, which is higher than most.

Last season, the Cardinals performed ahead of schedule in the first half, starting 7-0. However, they went 4-6 to finish the regular season. They got ambushed in the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

The offseason wasn’t spectacular aside from giving quarterback Kyler Murray a lucrative extension. Unfortunately, they held an independent study stipulation in his deal, which proved to be very controversial.

They eventually removed that stipulation from the extension.

Regardless, the Cardinals still showed great faith in their fourth-year quarterback. He’s improved each of his first three seasons, culminating in him being an early-season MVP candidate last year.

However, injuries and poor play derailed a once-promising season — and Year 4 won’t be a gimme.

The post-Halloween fade has to go away. The Cardinals would obviously prefer to have a full season from wideout DeAndre Hopkins, but I wonder whether his six-game suspension might keep the him fresher heading into the dog days of the season.

Barring injury, Murray will have a solid unit of pass-catchers in Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore and Zach Ertz. They also have the return of starting running back James Conner, who was second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns last year.

Playing in a division that sent two teams to the NFC Championship a season ago won’t make the task less daunting for the Cardinals. However, if they can go 2-2 against the Rams and 49ers and sweep the Seattle Seahawks, they’d do themselves a lot of favors.

What others are saying

Other outlets aren’t as generous in their projections for the Cardinals. Football Outsiders gives them just 1.1% chance to win the Super Bowl — 20th on their leaderboard. Not only that, but the Cardinals are given a higher chance of earning the No. 1 pick (4%).

FiveThirtyEight has the Cardinals at 2% likely to win the Super Bowl, tied with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders. They also project the Cardinals are 37% likely to even make the postseason — good for 19th.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals QB vs. the Dallas Cowboys...

Haboob Blog

‘Speeding in a school zone’: Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs pushed 20 mph vs. Cowboys

Joshua Dobbs is not Kyler Murray, but he's been a threat to run just like the recovering Arizona Cardinals startering quarterback.

6 hours ago

Presented By...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Arizona Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs talks win over the Cowboys

Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Subscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1x Read articles from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/ Download the Arizona Sports app: https://arizonasports.com/the-arizona-sports-98-7-fm-app/ Sign up for texts from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/text-alerts/ Listen live to Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/listen-live/ Follow the team: https://bit.ly/3R0PIAJ ARIZONA SPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaSports/ X: https://x.com/azsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arizonasports987 […]

8 hours ago

Joshua Dobbs celebrates with Monti Ossenfort after a Week 3 win over the Dallas Cowboys...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs comes full circle in win over Cowboys

The Arizona Cardinals' 28-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys was certainly a game to remember in more ways than one for QB Joshua Dobbs.

8 hours ago

Kyzir White celebrates with Jonathan Gannon in Week 3...

Tyler Drake

Kyzir White proving Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals right early into Arizona tenure

Kyzir White has been everything and more for a scrappy Cardinals defense led by head coach Jonathan Gannon and DC Nick Rallis.

21 hours ago

Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates a touchdown with teammate James Conner #6 dur...

Wills Rice

Gannon after 10 analysts pick Cowboys to beat Cardinals: ‘Good’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon had a brief word for all 10 analysts that predicted the Cowboys to beat the Cardinals in Week 3.

21 hours ago

Drew Petzing looks on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing’s creativity on display in win over Cowboys

Throughout the Cardinals' first win under the new regime, OC Drew Petzing showed off his creativity from a play-calling standpoint.

22 hours ago

ESPN’s Barnwell more optimistic than most on Cardinals’ Super Bowl, playoff odds