Docs Website

51 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

2022 Arizona Cardinals Predictions with Odds to Win Super Bowl

by Sean Barnard - 6/28/2022

Arizona Cardinals predictions Kyler Murray

The Arizona Cardinals snapped their five-year playoff drought with an 11-6 record in the 2021 season. They were knocked out in the Wild Card Round by the eventual champion Los Angeles Rams, losing by a score of 34-11. The offseason was headlined by the controversial contract situation regarding QB Kyler Murray. The Cardinals elected to put their faith in the quarterback and gave him a 6-year, $280 million deal with $155 million in guaranteed money. The hope is for Murray to continue taking a step forward with the rest of the team set to follow. It also is important to note that DeAndre Hopkins has been suspended six games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

The Cardinals will begin their season at home in a matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. They will then travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders before returning home for a rematch with the Rams. They will then travel to play the Panthers before returning to Arizona to face the Eagles in Week 5. The Cardinals then travel to Seattle for a divisional matchup against the Seahawks but then return home to face the Saints for a Thursday night matchup in Week 7. The Cardinals will face the Vikings in Minnesota in Week 8 and then return home for their second matchup with the Seahawks. The Cardinals will then travel to Mexico for a Week 11 matchup against the 49ers in Estadio Azteca. They will then return to Arizona for a home matchup against the Chargers before their Week 13 bye week. Following the bye, the Cardinals have another primetime game against the Patriots on Monday night. They will then travel to Denver before returning home to face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their final two games will be on the road against the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers.

The Cardinals have +3500 odds to win the Super Bowl, which is tied for the 15th best odds. They are +2000 odds to win the Conference, tied for the 7th shortest odds. Arizona is at +400 odds to win the NFC West, as they trail the Rams (+125) and 49ers (+160). The season win total over/under is set at 8.5 games. They are +125 to make the playoffs and -150 to miss. Kyler Murray is tied for the 10th shortest odds to win MVP at +2000.

Offense:

Key Players: Kyler Murray

There were not too many changes to the Cardinals' offense this year. The most notable move was trading for Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in exchange for a first and third-round pick this year. They also resigned Zach Ertz to a three-year deal, gave Kyler Murray a massive extension, and brought back James Conner as the primary running back. Christian Kirk and Chase Edmonds elected to take their talents elsewhere in free agency. It will be difficult to manage without DeAndre Hopkins for the first six games as he is such a key part of their passing attack. It was a somewhat disappointing season for Hopkins last season as he recorded 572 yards and 8 touchdowns in the 10 games he played in.

There were some promising trends with the Cardinals' offense last season. They ranked 8th in yards and 11th in points scored across the NFL. Arizona had the 4th fewest turnovers and the fewest fumbles lost. Largely due to the boost by Kyler Murray around the goal line, the Cardinals were 3rd in rushing touchdowns across to NFL and 10th in rushing yards. The offense had the 6th highest score percentage across the NFL.

Defense:

Key Players: Budda Baker, Isaiah Simmons

The most notable losses for the Cardinals this offseason were Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, and Jordan Phillips. Hicks was second on the team in tackles last season with 116 total tackles. He also racked up 4 sacks and 7 tackles for loss. Chandler Jones had another Pro Bowl season with his 10.5 sacks, 26 quarterback hits, 41 total tackles, and 12 tackles for a loss. Arizona added CB Jeff Gladney and Nick Vigil in free agency. The rest of their defensive corps has been kept intact.

The Cardinals' defense was solid in 2021. They ranked 11th in points scored and yards allowed. However, they produced the most fumbles in the NFL and the third-fewest rushing touchdowns. The Cardinals ranked 6th in the NFL in the fewest yards per drive and had the 10th best 3rd down percentage. Jalen Thompson led the team in tackles with 121and Markus Golden led the team in sacks with 11. JJ Watt is also hoping for a healthier this year after only being able to suit up for 7 games last season.

Outlook:

There is a lot to like about the Cardinals this season. However, there are certainly obstacles in the way. The DeAndre Hopkins suspension put a great deal more pressure on Kyler Murray as he will be without his go-to target for the start of the season. The NFC West is also set to be an extremely difficult division once again this year. Regardless, the franchise has enough solid pieces in place to make a real statement. Taking the over 8.5 wins and the Cardinals to make the playoffs at +120 holds good value. It may be too large of a risk for them to win the division, but a Wild Card berth is looking very likely for Arizona.

Get NFL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent NFL Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers