Answers required: What will it take for the Arizona Cardinals to make the playoffs in 2024?
The Cardinals just spent January watching the end of the season games from home… once more. What will it take for that to change in 2024? NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals A solid and useful Kyler Murray is maybe the main figure the Cardinals making an early season finisher run in 2024. For the second consecutive year, and 6th time in seven years, the
Arizona Cardinals were at home for the end of the season games. Not at home like having a home season finisher game, yet at home as in watching from the lounge chair. In any case, hello, basically the Niners lost, isn’t that so? Therefore, what will it take to bring this team back to the postseason for the first time since its defeat by the Rams following the 2021 season?
It’ll be a lofty uphill move for a group falling off a 4-13 season, yet fast turnarounds happen constantly in the present NFL. For example, did anyone notice that the Houston Texans, coming off a 3-13-1 season, won a game and made the playoffs this year? (Unquestionably not Monti Ossenfort, sadly.) In light of that, here is a fast rundown of five things that should occur for the Cardinals to successfully return to the end of the season games this season.
A Full, Solid Season from Kyler Murray With not very many special cases, you really want a tip top QB to get into the postseason. Indeed, you could be last year’s Tans (one of the association’s best safeguards and a resurgent Joe Flacco) or Steelers (Mike Tomlin groups simply doesn’t have losing records) or the 2022 Goliaths (one of the record-breaking WTF? season finisher groups), be that as it may, generally, you really want a Star Bowl-type QB in charge. Kyler as of now has two Master Bowls added to his repertoire, and he appears to be completely recuperated from his upper leg tendon injury. Presently he’ll have the option to get a full offseason in and ought to have the option to recover that Expert Bowl structure. Him remaining solid and useful next season is the most important phase in trying for a season finisher billet.
The WRs’ increased output Stage two is encompassing him with more ability at wide recipient. (We’ll get to the O-line in a moment.) The Cardinals’ receiving corps was one of the league’s worst last season. Some portion of it was expected to shoddy QB play while Kyler was out, yet Hollywood Brown was a huge dissatisfaction (51/574/4 TDs, 11.3 YPC) in his walk year, and the group was always unable to track down a dependable third WR choice behind newbie Michael Wilson (an unexpected, yet wonderful treat with a 38/565/3 TD, 14.9 YPC line). You need to figure Brown is gone, and Ossenfort will more likely than not take a WR with the group’s #4 generally pick, in addition to add another potential starter later in the draft or in free office. Anything he does with the position, the group needs considerably more creation at WR to oblige blooming stud TE Three pointer McBride and sturdy RB James Conner.
Fortresses Along the Channels The O-line really held up beautiful well this last year (the #4 hurrying assault in the association, #19 in sacks against), yet Ossenfort should add a beginning tackle with D.J. Humphries probably out for the year with a leg tendon, and we really want to add a drawn out starter at LG too. A more grounded O-line joined with more ability at WR could truly get this offense murmuring. In any case, much more than O-line, Ossenfort needs to zero in on strengthening the D-line, which was a glaring flimsy spot in 2023. Although the PFF grades should be taken with a grain of salt, six of the D-line rotation members scored in the 30s or 40s, two scored around 60, and the anonymous Ray Lopez scored 65. He fundamentally needs to remake the whole line. That is most likely a multi-offseason work, yet that unit Must be decisively worked on in 2024 for this group to work on to the point of sniffing the end of the season games.
Reconstruct the CB Room That’s right, that is another position, alongside WR and DL, that should be fundamentally totally updated. Andre Chachere, who was a waiver claim and a converted safety, was the player who received the highest grade in 2023. Antonio Hamilton Sr., who played the most, is a competent journeyman who would not be a top-2 CB for the majority of league teams. None of the youthful folks (Garrett Williams, Kei’Trel Clark, Starling Thomas V, et. al) intrigued or showed any consistency at all. Perhaps one of those folks takes a jump, yet obviously Ossenfort needs to add no less than two beginning type corners, on the off chance that not three. Like D-line, that is without a doubt not possible in only one offseason, however finding no less than one long haul reply at CB is an unquestionable requirement assuming this group will get to .500 or better.
Regression from rivals in the division At last, a (winless) fourth spot finish in the NFC West won’t slice it for this group to have a shot to make the end of the season games. We’ll have to jump something like one — on the off chance that not two — of our division opponents to try and be a variable.
The Niners don’t appear to be going anyplace (despite the fact that they just chopped out a recognizable face as DC), however might the Redbirds at any point surpass the Rams or Seahawks in 2024? The Rams are falling off a season finisher compartment with a resurgent offense and sketchy safeguard.
However all it would take is age or injury issues for Matthew Stafford for them to have one more down year like 2022. Furthermore, the SeaChickens will break in a new, first-time mentor and are falling off a down year themselves. Assuming that Geno Smith again neglects to recover his 2022 structure and the new mentor staggers, the Cardinals could be the recipient.
Last Contemplations The Cardinals would need a lot to go right for them to make the playoffs, but in today’s NFL, it is definitely possible. Ossenfort could have another Pro Bowl-like season if he can get a healthy Kyler some WRs to throw to and strengthen the offensive line, which is crucial for making the playoffs. The safeguard ought to in any case be an issue, sure, yet improvement at DL at CB could see the unit approach decency rather than again being one of the most terrible in the association. And afterward we’d simply have to expect relapse from division rivals (or other NFC would-be competitors). It’s asking a great deal, yet I’m letting you know there’s an opportunity. Simply ask the Texans. Your turn, RotBers. Is it too soon to discuss the end of the season games? (I mean, February is here.) Or ought fans to anticipate outcomes sooner rather than later? Vote in the survey and get in contact with us in the remarks.
Poll Is it too early to discuss the Cardinals trying for the end of the season games in 2024? Indeed, 2024 will obviously be another reconstructing/advancement year. Perhaps in 2025. I don’t anticipate that this group should challenge for the end of the season games in 2024, yet it’s not feasible. No, having exclusive standards is great.
I think this team will finish around.500 and play a role in the race for the playoffs. No, end of the season games ought to be the assumption this season. Winning requirements to begin now.
