In many ways, the Arizona Cardinals are boring.
The national media is tired of judging how bright the star power of Kyler Murray really is. The Cardinals’ best players, Budda Baker and Trey McBride, are pretty quiet dudes.
Arizona is not in the headlines because stars are holding out or their owner is saying they’ll be better off after trading a star player (this is definitely not a shot at the Dallas Cowboys!). The Cardinals are not in the news because players or coaches are breaking laws (this is definitely not a shot at the last Cardinals general manager and head coach!).
Competence from the front office and coaching staff is just boring sometimes, especially when they aren’t blowing money on major upgrades or chasing blockbuster trades to improve the team.
But, nationally, are the Cardinals viewed as a good football team despite all the above?
A scan of NFL playoff predictions makes the case that a select few have pretty high expectations for the Cardinals. Here’s who’s buying the Cardinals as a playoff team entering the season, and who isn’t.
Who’s predicting the Arizona Cardinals to make the 2025 NFL playoffs?
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell
Cardinals prediction: NFC Wild Card team No. 7 seed
There’s suddenly a ton to work with up front for Jonathan Gannon, who had to dial up all kinds of exotic looks last season to generate pressure while dealing with the league’s fourth-most injured defense.
If the defense can improve to league-average, the offense should be able to do enough to push Arizona into the postseason for just the second time since 2016. Drew Petzing’s group ranks 10th in EPA per play since Kyler Murray returned from a torn ACL in 2023. Murray posted career highs in success rate and Total QBR last season, and there’s still room for improvement from highly touted wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who had a muted rookie year. If Harrison makes the leap in Year 2, so does Arizona.
Cardinals prediction: NFC Wild Card No. 6 seed
1. *49ers: 13-4
2. *Cardinals: 10-7
3. Rams: 9-8
4. Seahawks: 8-9
NFC West bold prediction: Brock Purdy wins MVP
I have the Cardinals making the playoffs and that’s not even my boldest prediction out of the NFC West this year due to the fact that I have BROCK PURDY winning MVP.
Cardinals predictions:
Eric Edholm: NFC Wild Card No. 6 seed
Keegan Abdoo: NFC West champion
Jack Andrade, Michael Baca, Mike Band, Judy Battista, Jeremy Bergman, Ali Bhanpuri, Tom Blair, David Carr, Brooke Cersosimo, Jeffri Chadiha, Gennaro Filice, Michael F. Florio, Christian Gonzales, Grant Gordon, Anthony Holzman-Escareno, Maurice Jones-Drew, Dante Koplowitz-Fleming, Bobby Kownack, Matt Okada, Dan Parr, Kevin Patra, Adam Rank, Chad Reuter, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Ross, Nick Shook, Lance Zierlein: No playoffs
Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt
Cardinals prediction: No playoffs
“This is not going to be a popular pick,” Brandt said after picking the Seattle Seahawks to win the NFC West. “I know there are Niners fans wondering what drug I’m on right now. Just the drug of football.
“Always take the Rams,” he added. “Here’s my level of conviction in the Sean McVay Rams … if they were to tell us tomorrow that (quarterback) Matthew Stafford is out for the season, I would pick McVay to get a Wild Card with (Jimmy) Garoppolo. That is my level of belief in Sean McVay, and it should be yours, too.”
Cardinals predictions:
Chris Bumbaca: NFC Wild Card No. 7 seed
Jarrett Bell, Nick Brenkerhoff, Nate Davis, Tyler Dragon, Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: No playoffs
Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback Staff
Cardinals predictions:
Gilberto Manzano: NFC West champion
Andrew Brandt: NFC Wild Card No. 7 seed
Albert Breer, John Pluym, Mitch Goldich, Clare Brennan, Matt Verderame, Greg Bishop, Michael Rosenberg, Conor Orr: No playoffs
