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Arizona Cardinals still not considered best in west

By Scott Allen

Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin (89) during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 39-32. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin (89) during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 39-32. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN’s John Clayton thinks the Arizona Cardinals have made strides but haven’t gotten to the point of being better than Seattle yet

Funny, last time I checked the Arizona Cardinals finished in first place in the NFC West.  They finished 13-3.  The Seattle Seahawks meanwhile finished 10-6 in 2015.  Despite that, apparently the Cardinals haven’t leaped the Hawks yet.

Interesting.  I didn’t realize first wasn’t better than second?  Isn’t that what Ricky Bobby told us in Talladega Nights?  If you ain’t first, you’re last?

I don’t necessarily buy into that, cause let’s be honest, right now it’s Arizona, Seattle, then a drop off to San Francisco and Los Angeles, although both appear to be making strides in making the NFC West a very interesting race in 2016.  However I do buy into the fact that if you finish first, you are the best.

Does that mean that won’t change in 2016?  Of course not, that’s why they play the games. Seattle could easily come back and win the west in 2016.

However to dismiss the Cardinals as if they didn’t catch Seattle is in my mind ludicrous.  Of course I’m aware Clayton is a homer with the Seahawks, although he’ll never admit to that.  Clayton isn’t the only one making Seattle the favorites though.

Some of the bookmakers in Seattle favor them over Arizona in 2016.  I just don’t understand though how someone can prognosticate that after the seasons they two teams had in 2015?  Yes, Arizona split the series with them in 2015.  I’d put them more of on an even keel before I’d put Arizona under Seattle.

This is not me being a homer but I am sticking up for the home team here.  I am not as dismissive of Seattle as Clayton and Las Vegas are of Arizona.  Absolutely Seattle can win in 2016.  Neither team has had much of any drop off.  Both have appeared to have reloaded for next season.

Until it is proven on a football field though, I’m not ready to join the we don’t quite believe in the Cardinals crowd.  The point is simple, the Cardinals made it further than the Seahawks in the 2015 playoffs and that is all due to the regular season, where Arizona was the better team.  I look forward to seeing how the 2016 plays out.

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