How will the Cardinals get on in 2022?

The 2021 NFL season for the Arizona Cardinals was one of the most successful regular seasons in the team’s history. They finished with an 11-6 record, improving by three wins to their 2020 campaign when the team went 8-8.

Not only did the Cardinals reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015, but they also recorded the first 7-0 start in 47 years, dating back to a time when the Cardinals were playing in St. Louis. 

While the Cardinals are coming off a very successful season in 2021, the 2022 season still leaves many questions for the future of the franchise. It’s been a difficult offseason, with plenty of speculation and turbulence. But can the Cardinals of 2022 replicate what they did in 2021? 

Need to become a second-half team

After starting a scorching hot 7-0 in 2021, the Cardinals went 4-6 for the remainder of the regular season. And with a loss in the wildcard round of the playoffs to NFC West rival and eventual Super Bowl champion, Los Angeles Rams, it ended up being a disappointing collapse for Arizona.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has taken most of the blame. But there are other parts of the team that factor into their poor second half of the season.

During their 7-0 run, the Cardinals’ offense was the catalyst for their success. They ranked seventh in total offense and fifth in the run game. By the end of the 2021 season, the Cardinals dropped from their first half of the season success, ranking between 10 and 15 in the NFL in key offensive categories such as passing yard, point per game, and rushing yards. 

On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals defense was not considered a key factor in the team’s success. While the Cardinals passing defense ranked in the top 15 in the NFL in passing yards allowed allowed per game, their rushing defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in total yards allowed and rushing yard.

But in order for the Cardinals to become more successful in 2022, they need to prove on their defense. And specifically their rush defense if they want to become a Super Bowl contender. 

Offseason additions need to make up for departures

During the 2022 offseason, the Cardinals lost many of their key contributors. They include former All-Pro OLB Chandler Jones and WR Christian Kirk, who led the team in receiving yards (982) in the 2022 season. The team also lost runningback Chase Edmonds, who was second on the team in rushing yards.

In replacement of Christian Kirk, the Cardinals made a a trade during the 2022 NFL draft for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. For the Ravens in 2021, Brown produced over 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns, both stats being second on the team.

In comparing the additions and subtractions from the Cardinals, we can see that while there have been significant losses on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. However, the significant losses in the run game as well as on the defense hurt the team’s potential to improve on their 2021 campaign.

While Marquise Brown is a great addition to the team passing game and has the ability to improve the receiving corp from last season, DeAndre Hopkins’ six game suspension at the beginning of the 2022 NFL season will hurt the team’s offense. 

There are still plenty of holes and question marks within this roster. Their offensive line looks inexperienced whilst the defensive line seems under-resourced. So until now and September, the Cardinals must look to continue their roster building to make up for those who have left this year.

Can the Cardinals improve on 2021?

Going into the 2022 season, the Arizona Cardinals have the potential to become a better team than they were in 2021.

While the team’s offense took a step back with the loss of Christian Kirk and top receiver DeAndre Hopkins for six games, the addition of Marquise Brown allows them to become an efficient deep ball team. While Brown’s stats are decent, they become even more impressive considering the Ravens use of the deep ball in 2021. Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ QB, ranked 29th in the NFL. The quarterback who ranked first in the NFL in throwing the deep ball? Kyler Murray. 

The team’s defense may have slightly diminished in 2022. With the loss of arguably their best rusher and key veteran leader on the defense Chandler Jones, as well as the likes of Jordan Phillips, it is difficult to see the team improve on the defensive end. In order to improve defensively. The Cardinals need to see improvement from their recent top defensive draft picks Zaven Collins and Isiah Simmons. 

The key to the Cardinals success is going to be the continual growth of quarterback Kyler Murray and coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury not only needs to grow the offense and unlock the defense, but needs to motivate the team through the second half of the season.

Murray will hope to continue improving on the field, but use his intangible leadership skills to take the Arizona Cardinals to the next level. 

PREDICTED 2022 RECORD: 10-7