The Arizona Cardinals are quietly creeping into playoff contention in the NFC. Finally, national analysts are starting to take notice.
In a recent article, PFSN analyst Jacob Infante predicted the 2025 NFL playoffs, including seeding and game projections. He had the Arizona Cardinals just barely earning a spot.
PFN has the Arizona Cardinals back in the playoffs
It's not easy being an Arizona Cardinals fan. Most seasons, mediocrity feels like the best-case scenario. When you follow a team that struggles to win as much as the Cardinals do, it can be difficult to find hope. This offseason, hope is finally starting to bubble up.
The path back to playoff contention started years ago for the Arizona Cardinals. When the team hired head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort in 2023, they committed to a fresh start. Gannon and Ossenfort have built a young team with a culture of determination and success. So far, that hasn't translated to wins. That may start to change in 2025.
In PFSN's prediction article, the Cardinals sneak into the playoffs as the seventh seed in the NFC. There are no other surprises among the NFC picks, with the Eagles, Lions, Rams, Falcons, Commanders, and Packers rounding out the bracket. Infante calls the Cardinals his "NFC sleeper," noting that they have a PFSN playoff probability of 43.3%.
A playoff appearance, no matter the seed, should be considered a success for the Arizona Cardinals this season. This regime has shown improvement so far, but postseason participation has to come eventually. Anything less, and questions will start to be asked about the futures of Gannon, Ossenfort, and Kyler Murray.
It's reasonable to expect a playoff appearance, too. Last season, the Cardinals' offense ranked in the top ten in the NFL in EPA per play. The defense, on the other hand, ranked in the bottom seven. With the improvements Arizona has made on defense this offseason, the unit should be able to rise closer to the middle of the pack. If the Cardinals can produce a top-ten offense and an average defense, it should be enough to earn a playoff spot.
Infante has the Cardinals losing to the Detroit Lions in the wild card round. According to Infante, "Arizona’s roster doesn’t stack up to the Lions just yet."
It's hard to argue with that. The Cardinals are definitely on the rise, but their level of talent would give them a clear disadvantage in most playoff matchups.
It's playoffs or bust this year for the Arizona Cardinals. Fans know it, the team knows it, and national analysts know it. Now, it's time to make it happen on the field.