NFL.com roundtable split on Cardinals, Seahawks for NFC West, Super Bowl
Sep 3, 2016, 8:02 AM
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, left, talks with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
If you’re looking for a consensus when it comes to NFC West and NFC Championship predictions, you won’t find one.
The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks are fairly split across the board of national media outlets when it comes to picks for not only the division, but the conference as well.
NFL.com’s roundtable predictions for the end of the season awards, playoff teams and results was the latest to prove that.
Of the 20 participating in the discussion, 12 picked the Cardinals to win the NFC West.
The strength of the roster was a point of emphasis for some.
Brian Billick: Cardinals. Arguably the most complete roster from top to bottom in the NFL, the Cardinals can win by putting up 40 points or pitching a defensive shutout.
Willie McGinest: Cardinals. This team just has so much talent and the right man leading the way.
Adam Schein: Cardinals. 1-53, the Arizona Cardinals have the most talented roster in the NFL.
Elliot Harrison: Cardinals. The Cardinals might not have enjoyed a fantastic preseason on multiple levels, but they can still equal the talent level of any team in the league. Carson Palmer must fare better than he did in the postseason.
David Carr: Cardinals. They are probably the most complete team in the league, despite struggling a bit in the preseason.
Heath Evans: Cardinals. This team is so talented and knows how to win. The Cardinals have a perfect mix of veterans and young guys, along with one of the best coaches in the league.
Half of the panel’s picks for the team to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LI was either the Cardinals or Seahawks, with six of them being for Arizona.
Jeffri Chadiha: Cardinals over Patriots. The only thing Bruce Arians hasn’t done with the Cardinals is win a championship. That will change this year.
Of those six who placed the Cardinals in the Super Bowl, three had Arizona bringing home the Lombardi Trophy.
Adam Schein: Cardinals over Patriots. The Cardinals and Patriots play one of the best Super Bowls ever (I can dream, right?) and Carson Palmer sheds his label as a rough playoff performer. Former Patriot Chandler Jones sacks Tom Brady in the fourth quarter to set up the go-ahead David Johnson touchdown.
Interestingly enough, all three had the opponent as the New England Patriots, who the Cardinals start their season against in Week 1.
Seattle, of course, was picked by three others as well to win the big one.
