Breaking down the Arizona Cardinals final eight games

The Arizona Cardinals have reached the halfway mark as one of the more competitive teams in the NFL.

At 5-3, they are currently 2-0 in the division, and the offense, as expected has found its groove while the defense has improved dramatically since the 2019 season. The result has the Arizona Cardinals in second place in the NFC West and just a half-game behind their division rival, the Seattle Seahawks.

While the Cards have let two of their three losses slip away, the Red Sea can safely point out that this is easily the best their team has looked since it went deep into the playoffs in 2015. But that team was older and beginning its decline, ultimately bottoming out at 3-13 in 2018.

This new squad that includes MVP talent at quarterback and Defensive Player of the Year talent at safety is younger sans legendary receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who at 37 is one of the oldest position players in the league. That said, the Cardinals are a fast-rising young football team who can take the next step and earn a playoff appearance come January.

Let’s look at the final eight games of the season over the next seven slides (they will play the Los Angeles Rams twice) and discover what must happen for the Cardinals to eek out a playoff appearance. Or better yet, an NFC West Championship.