The NFL preseason technically began last week with the Hall of Fame Game, but the more practical start to the preseason is this week, when every NFL team will have games beginning Thursday. The Arizona Cardinals open the preseason Saturday night at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But with the start of the preseason, we have preseason power rankings from NFL.com’s Eric Edholm.

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Where do the Arizona Cardinals land?

NFL power rankings: Preseason Week 1

The Cardinals come in at No. 18.

Don’t sleep on the Cardinals. Sure, I’ve said similar things, sotto voce, for the past year and a half or so, but I earnestly believe there’s something interesting brewing here. I thought Kyler Murray played pretty well last season, and a breakout year from Marvin Harrison Jr. could level this offense up a notch. Defensively, there’s a good mix-and-match thing happening at multiple positions, including safety and outside linebacker, giving Arizona plenty of options. Even with Walter Nolen sidelined, the front looks far more capable of collapsing pockets this season. I believe the Cards are contenders out West if the defense can make tangible improvements, and that might depend on how much 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson and rookies Nolen, Will Johnson and Jordan Burch can contribute.

Ranking 18th, that is a current projection to not make the playoffs (as 14 teams make the postseason). While it is a reasonable projection, the fact is that they won eight games last season. This year, the offense is essentially the same in terms of personnel, but Harrison is expected to be better and Trey Benson is expected to have a bigger role. The offense should be at least as good, while the biggest weakness from last season, the defense, is significantly better in terms of roster talent.

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It’s hard not to be excited.

But since it is still before the season, it is fair for the national perspective to see them as a fringe playoff team before they show anything real.

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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals come in at No. 18 in preseason NFL power rankings