Five Things to Love About the 2014 Arizona Cardinals

Aug 24, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws a pass in the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2.  Carson Palmers Good Days

No doubt Carson Palmer has had some bad games at the helm of Arizona. Still, when he gets it right, he gets it really right. There are some days where he’s right on the money, playing smart and using his strong arm. On those days, the Cardinals can compete with the best of opponents. Sadly, those days aren’t a more often than not occurance.

An interesting note about Palmer in 2013 is that, while he threw 22 picks, they were rarely game costing. Per profootballreference.com, he threw 12 interceptions in 10 wins, but only 10 in six losses. In fact, the Cardinals often managed to win when Palmer threw four picks. The best example was the game in Seattle, when Palmers four picks were outweighed by one touchdown that gave Arizona the upset victory.

Palmer is now surrounded by a much better supporting cast and is familiar with the offense, putting him in a far superior position this time around. So all the excuses are out the window. It’s on him to make the right moves, and Arizona will be a major threat if he does that consistently.