History of Team
The Arizona Cardinals are a member of the National Football League. They compete in the National Football Conference and are in the West Division. The Cardinals play their home games inside State Farm stadium. State Farm stadium opened in 2006 and is located in Glendale, AZ.
Michael Bidwill owns the Cardinals and also serves as the chairman and president of the team. The general manager is named Steve Keim. The Cardinals have not been very successful in recent years.
Arizona is improving with Kyler Murray as the quarterback and Kliff Kingsbury as the team’s head coach. The Arizona Cardinals were established 120 three years ago in 1898. They were initially called the Morgan Athletic Club in 1898, and they are the oldest professional football franchise in America.
There is not much information on the team before 1920, but it is known that they started as the Morgan Athletic Club. The Cardinals have played under a lot of names to get to where they are today. They have been called the Racine Cardinals, Chicago Cardinals, Saint Louis Cardinals, and Phoenix Cardinals before playing under their current name.
The team has never won a Super Bowl, but they have won one in NFC Conference Championship and three NFC West titles since 2008.
2021 Outlook
The Arizona Cardinals came into the 2020 season as a team that the league marked as a contender. However, 2020 did not go in favor of the Arizona Cardinals. The team finished with an 8-8 record and did not make the playoffs.
Their 8-8 record has earned them the 16th pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The Cardinals are missing a few pieces for their 2021 team that are necessary if they want to contend for a championship.
Last season, the team signed DeAndre Hopkins, who was a primary reason why everyone thought the Cardinals were going to be a playoff team. I expect the Cardinals to be a lot better in 2021. This team needs time to grow and develop.
In 2020, they were a top ten offense in rushing, and they finished 18th in the league in passing. On defense, the Cardinals had a great secondary, but they had trouble playing the run. The main reason the Cardinals lost games last season was because of their inability to stop the run.
I expect Arizona to be an improved version of the team that they had last season. They do not have much salary cap space, and they’re going to be choosing in the middle rounds of the 2021 NFL draft. The team did sign J.J. Watt in the offseason, who will help the run defense.
Betting Forecast of the Team
The Arizona Cardinals should have an improved betting forecast in 2021. Last season, the Cardinals let many bettors down because they did not live up to their expectations. This season, nearly everyone in the Cardinals’ starting lineup will have experience on the field in Kliff Kingsbury’s system.
This should improve Arizona’s favorableness towards bettors. The Cardinals finished third in the NFC West in 2020, splitting against the moneyline at 8-8.
The Cardinals did not perform well against the spread in 2020, going 7-9. They were better ATS on the road than at home. They went 3-5 at home and 4-4 as visitors ATS. As favorites, the Cardinals were 4-6, and as dogs, they were 3-3 ATS.
The Cardinals were known for the under in 2021. The team’s offensive passing game was shaky. Prolific passing offenses contribute to the over. Defensively, the Cardinals were atrocious when trying to stop the run, and they performed well against the pass.
The Cardinals were a running team, and the opposition attacked them on the ground, which caused the clock to run. For this reason, the Cardinals went 10-5-1 against the under. The Cardinals are picked to finish last in the NFC West in 2021 because of their limited cap space and average talent.
Star Players
Even though the Cardinals are projected to finish last in the NFC West, they still can finish higher. This team is still talented, and I think they will be better than last season. The players will have more experience, but they have to figure out a way to stop the run and get Kyler Murray comfortable in the pocket.
Kyler Murray is the centerpiece of the Arizona Cardinals. Murray was the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Oklahoma. Murray is unique because he is listed at 5’10”, and that’s generous.
Murray is an average passer, but he is tough to sack because of his legs. In 2020, Murray threw for 3,971 yards, and he rushed for 819 with 11 touchdowns. His running ability makes him a unique quarterback in the NFL, but he has a lot of necessary improvements to make in his game ahead of the 2021 season.
The team’s top defensive player was recently acquired, and his name is J.J. Watt. Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time First-Team All-Pro. Watt signed a two-year deal with Arizona where he received $20 million guaranteed. He will help stop the run.
FAQ Betting on Team
What division do the Arizona Cardinals play in?
The Arizona Cardinals play in the NFL’s NFC West Division.
What was the Arizona Cardinals 2020 record, and what place did they finish in the division?
The Cardinals went 8-8 in 2020, and they finished third in the NFC West. They ended the year ahead of the 49ers, who went 6-10.
What are the Arizona Cardinals’ odds to win the NFC West, NFC, and Super Bowl?
The Cardinals are +550 to win the NFC West, +2000 to win the NFC Championship, and +4000 to win the Super Bowl.
What is the Arizona Cardinals projected to finish in the NFC West?
The Cardinals are projected to finish in last place in the NFC West in 2021.
How many games will the Cardinals play in 2021?
The Cardinals will play 16 games in 2021. Therefore, you will have 16 chances to bet the team over 17 weeks of the regular season.
Who are the best players on the Arizona Cardinals?
The Cardinals’ best players are Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, Kenyan Drake, and J.J. Watt.
What pick do the Cardinals have in the 2021 NFL Draft?
The Cardinals hold the 16th pick in the NFL Draft.