Kurt Warner ‘expects huge things’ from the Cardinals

Super Bowl expectations are high in the Valley of the Sun for the Arizona Cardinals after a 13-3 regular season and an appearance in the NFC Championship game last year.

Making it to the Super Bowl for the first time in eight seasons could rest on the shoulders of Carson Palmer.

Kurt Warner spoke with Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Thursday regarding his prediction for Palmer when the new season kicks off.

“My expectations are very high. I don’t expect him to slow down, he looks like he’s gotten 100 percent comfortable with the system,” Warner said. “The young receivers are just getting better. David Johnson really came into his own last year. I expect huge things from this team and from Carson himself.”

The continued improvement of Johnson would certainly help Palmer, but Warner still has one big question about the quarterback.

“I think the biggest question is, when we get to the playoffs what Carson are we going to get? I think that’s the only real question I have. I just want to see him take that next step that everyone wants to see,” Warner said. “The teams he has been a part of here in Phoenix have all done really well, but he hasn’t played his best football when they get to the playoffs.”

The NFC Divisional round victory over the Green Packers was Palmer’s first career playoff win.

However, the loss to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship game caused him to fall to 1-3 in his playoffs career.

Palmer enjoyed his best regular season last year with career highs in touchdowns (35) and passing yards (4,671), while being named to the Pro-Bowl for the first time since 2006.