Well it finally happened, a team in the NFC has been eliminated from making the 2023 NFL Playoffs. The Arizona Cardinals have now been added to the list of teams that have unfortunately been eliminated. Lets be real, this is no surprise whatsoever as there have been many reasons why this came to be for the Cardinals.
3. NFC West Division already was a challenge for them
When you’re in a division with the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks, the odds of making the playoffs drastically diminish. Although this isn’t an excuse, it’s worth noting that this division is considered the toughest in the league. Considering the Cardinals’ existing lack of talent, their chances were slim from the start. I do applaud the team for managing to beat the Dallas Cowboys this season. However, with such a challenging division, their path to not only winning the division but also securing a playoff spot was a longshot from the beginning. Especially as they were viewed as the weak link and clearly were one as well.
2. There Defense is Horrible
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This was to be expected as aside from Budda Baker, Kyler White, Jalen Thompson, and possibly Dennis Gardeck, their defense has been abysmal. These players have stood out as contributors for the team in the long run. According to DVOA, the Arizona Cardinals rank as the worst defensive team in the 2023 NFL Season. This is never a good sign, and while one hopes they can finish strong, their defense hasn’t done them any favors. It’s a critical area that the team must prioritize improving during the offseason..
1. All a part of the tank for the Arizona Cardinals
As mentioned earlier, the Cardinals’ failure to make the playoffs didn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Nobody expected Arizona to secure a playoff spot, especially considering the team was in a rebuilding phase following the disappointments of the Kingsbury and Keim era. It still baffles me why Steve Keim wasn’t let go when Steve Wilks was fired. I suppose it’s better late than never.
It was evident that the team was in a rebuilding phase throughout the season. While Josh Dobbs displayed some promising moments, he clearly wasn’t the long-term answer at quarterback. Similarly, Clayton Tune didn’t perform well either and it was too late for Kyler Murray to save the season. The Cardinals used this season to assess who fits into Jonathan Gannion’s system and who doesn’t. The primary objective was to secure a top pick, and we’ll soon find out if Arizona achieved that goal.
Where do the Arizona Cardinals go from here?
With the team tanking the season, the next step is to secure a top draft pick and heavily invest in the offseason. Another pressing question is what to do with Kyler Murray and whether they will trade him or not, especially considering the upcoming quarterback-rich draft. Will the team opt for a fresh start by drafting a new quarterback or stick with Kyler as their signal-caller? It will be interesting to see how Arizona approaches the second stage of their rebuild from here. Will they focus on enhancing the offensive or defensive side of the ball? The answers will unfold in due time.
