Arizona Cardinals: A Scary Playoff Contender in 2024
As the 2024 NFL season hits its final stretch, the Arizona Cardinals are emerging as a potential wild-card threat.
Despite dropping two consecutive games following their bye week, the Cardinals are still very much alive in the playoff race.
With a 6-6 record entering Week 14, Arizona’s season has been a roller coaster, starting 2-4 before bouncing back with a four-game win streak.
Now, their postseason hopes are on the line as they face the Seattle Seahawks in a crucial divisional matchup.
Bleacher Report recently highlighted the Cardinals as one of the scariest playoff contenders outside the NFC North. Despite their recent struggles, Arizona’s combination of a resurgent defense and potent rushing attack has made them a team no one can overlook.
Arizona’s defense, under second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon and coordinator Nick Rallis, has shown remarkable improvement.
Over the past four games, the Cardinals have allowed only 13.5 points per game—a statistic that puts them in a strong position to make a deep postseason run.
A key factor in Arizona’s resurgence is their strong rushing attack, which ranks second in the league in yards per carry. Led by dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray and veteran running back James Conner, the Cardinals have found success on the ground, consistently wearing down opponents.
When Murray is on his game, especially as a dual-threat quarterback, he becomes nearly impossible to stop. His ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs keeps defenses on their toes and opens up opportunities for the entire offense.
Offensively, Arizona has shown the capability to score in multiple ways, but their inconsistency remains a concern. While Murray has played some of the best football of his career this season, the offense has struggled with turnovers and timely execution.
If the Cardinals can find a way to put together a complete game—both offensively and defensively—they have the potential to surprise a lot of teams in the postseason.
The Cardinals will face a critical test against the Seahawks this weekend, with the NFC West title still in play. A win would not only keep their playoff hopes alive but also solidify their status as a dangerous wild-card team.
Arizona has already shown they can compete with the league’s top teams, including a narrow one-point loss to the 10-2 Minnesota Vikings in Week 13.
If they can find consistency over the next five weeks, the Arizona Cardinals could very well become one of the most feared teams in the NFC come playoff time.