Raising Zona
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SI predict Arizona Cardinals as Super Bowl winners

By Vijay Singaraju

Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and head coach Bruce Arians celebrate a play with safety Chris Clemons (29) against the Oakland Raiders during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and head coach Bruce Arians celebrate a play with safety Chris Clemons (29) against the Oakland Raiders during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sports Illustrated predict that the Arizona Cardinals will win Super Bowl LI.

2016 is a big season for the Arizona Cardinals. After being humiliated by the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game, the players, coaching staff and the fans are looking to move on quickly.

The Cardinals are once again considered to be one of the favorites to win it all this season, and the people over at Sports Illustrated think so too.

"“The Cardinals have arguably the most complete team in the NFL, with a ton of experience on both sides of the ball. That’s why, if the team stays healthy, Arizona is going to win Super Bowl LI.”"

SI, with no specific order given, listed the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers, the New England Patriots, and the Pittsburgh Steelers along with the Cardinals as the top 5 teams this upcoming season.

Seattle’s lack of an offensive line, Green Bay’s reliance on Jordy Nelson and lackluster defense, New England’s rotating door at offensive line, absence of a competent running game and Brady’s suspension and Pittsburgh’s suspension issues along with the absence of a potent secondary all paved way for the Cardinals to be crowned as the favorite to win the Lombardi.

It is hard to argue that the Cardinals aren’t the most complete team in the league from top to bottom. However, SI highlighted the team’s biggest weaknesses. Those weaknesses being head coach Bruce Arians’ “no risk it, no biscuit” mentality, Carson Palmer’s lack of poise in the playoffs and center A.Q. Shipley as the team’s new starting center.

While it is unlikely that Arians will steer away from his mantra, it is likely that he will make much more sound decisions in crunch time. Palmer knows that this is the best team he’s ever played on and will make sure to do everything he needs to do to take this team to the promised land. The organisation is confident in Shipley’s abilities and time will tell as to whether Shipley will reward the team for their trust in him.

Super Bowl LI will be a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII, with the script being flipped. This time, Larry Fitzgerald will have his own Santonio Holmes-esque moment and a toe-touch TD to put the Cardinals on top.

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