The Arizona Cardinals look to rebound in 2017, but some things stand in the way
The failures of the 2016 season for the Arizona Cardinals have been well documented. A team that was supposed to be in contention for not only the playoffs, but the Super Bowl, sputtered in some winnable games, and finished 7-8-1. It was their first time missing the playoffs since 2013, and their first time finishing under .500 since 2012.
A bounce-back season is expected by fans, and the team, in 2017, and there are reasons to be optimistic. They have a lot of veteran leadership coming back, and some of their young talent looks ready to step up and be big factors. David Johnson has established himself as one of the league’s best players, and the defense has been a strength.
There are some concerns. In the NFL, things change on a yearly basis, and teams can go from the mountaintop to the basement in a blink. Optimism is great, but teams who don’t understand their challenges are doomed to failure. The 2017 season could be a rebound year for the Cardinals, but here’s a look at some potential roadblocks in their return to the head of the class.