Arizona
NFL Network’s Frelund projects Arizona Cardinals to finish around .500
Rondale Moore #4 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball previous Von Miller #40 of the Los Angeles Rams throughout the third quarter within the NFC Wild Card Playoff sport at SoFi Stadium on January 17, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photograph by Ronald Martinez/Getty Pictures)
(Photograph by Ronald Martinez/Getty Pictures)
NFL Community analyst Cynthia Frelund simulated the NFL season following Thursday’s schedule launch 75,000 occasions to challenge every workforce’s file for 2022.
In these simulations, the Cardinals averaged 8.7 wins, a projected step backward from their 11-6 mark in 2021.
Seven groups within the NFC had increased common win totals, which places the Cardinals simply exterior the playoff image.
Frelund defined the dilemma the Cardinals face with not having large receiver DeAndre Hopkins for six weeks. Hopkins was hit with a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing medicine coverage.
The Cardinals have gotten off to sizzling begins in every of the previous two seasons after which fallen off down the stretch. In 2022, they face a really troublesome slate early on with out one of many league’s most dynamic gamers.
Arizona will host the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, go to the Las Vegas Raiders after which face the Los Angeles Rams at house to open the 12 months.
Lacking DeAndre Hopkins for the primary six video games of the season (suspension) creates some hassle for a workforce whose head coach has traditionally gotten off to quick begins. The Chiefs in Week 1, Raiders in Week 2, Rams in Week 3 and Eagles in Week 5 profit essentially the most from this. The Cardinals’ Week 7 matchup with New Orleans on Thursday Night time Soccer additionally ideas a bit extra within the Saints’ favor, as their protection poses a troublesome problem for Arizona in Hopkins’ first sport again — on a brief week, no much less.
The Cardinals trailed division foes the Rams and the San Francisco 49ers in common victories in Frelund’s simulations.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers topped the NFL at 11.7 wins, simply forward of the Buffalo Payments at 11.6 and the Rams at 11.5.
The Cardinals will play the Buccaneers on Christmas Day at State Farm Stadium this season.