Put aside Tom Brady, Jackson's Ravens and Cowboys comeback - here's something to look out for!
The NFL offseason has been full of talk about the Ravens and Chiefs only getting better, Tom Brady’s Buccaneers and the Packers failing Aaron Rodgers. Most of the top teams from last year seem competitive this time around as well, with 10 of 12 playoff-teams featured in the top-12 this year as well. According to outright NFL odds, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys replace Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, the biggest favorites being Kansas City Chiefs with odds of +600, followed by Baltimore Ravens with +700, San Francisco 49ers with +1000 and New Orleans Saints at +1300.
While Buccaneers and Cowboys take the 5th and 6th favorite spot, one sleeper team has not gained a lot of recognition despite improving tremendously from last season. One might argue that improving from horrendous last season is not much of a feat for Arizona Cardinals, but having a closer look at the team they might prove many doubters wrong this time around. The Cardinals were one of the top NFL picks against the spread last season finishing the year 9-5-2 with a 64% cover percentage.
Not only is the Offensive Rookie of the Year, quarterback Kyler Murray one year wiser and more experienced, Cardinals added arguably the best receiver in the game, DeAndre Hopkins in the offseason. Running back Kenyan Drake took leaps forward last season and is likely to be even better this time around. Their worst defense in the NFL has gotten significantly better – although that definitely wasn’t that difficult of a task – and they drafted well, picking up one of the best defensive players in this draft, Isaiah Simmons, and offensive tackle Josh Jones, who can have an immediate impact.
The team that went 5-11 last season, could easily be the most improved team this season. Not only due to new acquisitions but retaining the better players from last year. Kyler Murray now has Hopkins causing havoc down the field, with the same additional arsenal he got used to last season, when he threw for 20 touchdowns and 3722 yards, with Larry Fitzgerald the primary target with some 800 yards and 75 catches alongside Chris Kirk with 709 yards and 68 catches. Add Hopkins, who recorded 1165 receiving yards and 104 catches for 7 touchdowns and at least somewhat better defense, and Cardinals are likely to push for the playoffs if not even further. Their current estimate of 7.5 wins seems quite low, despite taking part in probably the most competitive division in the NFL.
