The Arizona Cardinals loss five of their last seven 2024 NFL regular season games when things seemed to be going well early on. Operating under new leadership in head coach Jonathan Gannon still didn’t inhibit quarterback Kyler Murray from making costly mistakes down the stretch. Nor did offensive coordinator Drew Petzing develop enough dynamic running plays to make third downs more manageable for the team offense.

The most gut-wrenching defeat for the Cardinals came on Dec. 22 when defensive coordinator Nick Rallis had his defense give up a whopping 243 rushing yards to the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers finished 5-12 on the season, adding insult to injury. The most unforgettable play of the game came when Murray dropped back on third-and-10 from his own 22-yard line and allowed the Panthers to sack him for a loss of 14 yards when the game was tied at 30 in the fourth quarter. The self-inflicted errors made by the Cardinals were countless but perhaps things may turn for the better in 2025.

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Still, the Cardinals had impressive victories in 2024, beating the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins in tough road games. In a changing NFC West, the toughest, most obvious opponent is the Los Angeles Rams, but the Cardinals should have enough offensive prowess to beat the Rams in a shootout. The Seattle Seahawks traded wide receiever DK Metcalf and the Niners will also be moving forward without their tough guy, wide receiver Deebo Samuel. If the Cardinals are going to win the NFC West this season, they’ll need to start fast, put the pedal to the metal and refuse to look back.

Ultimately, the Cardinals have the youth, rigor and talent to compete with any NFL team, especially on the offensive side of the football. However, it will come down to whether Petzing, Rallis, and Gannon can orchestrate advantages that will keep the team ahead of the chains. Statistics like time of possession, turnover ratio, and red-zone scoring will be pivotal in understanding how the 2025 NFL season plays out.

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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Will the Cardinals win the NFC West in 2025?