🏈 Arizona Cardinals 2025 Season Preview: Building Momentum

mvaauto
Sep 2
2 min read

The Arizona Cardinals enter 2025 with cautious optimism, coming off an 8-9 season and boasting a revamped defense and rising offensive stars. While playoff contention is possible, success hinges on early chemistry, staying healthy, and proving they can compete with NFC West heavyweights.

🔍 Season Snapshot

Predicted Record: 8–9 to 10–7
Division Outlook: Competing for Wild Card spot
Super Bowl Odds: +6000 (long shot but improving)

🔥 Offensive Outlook

Kyler Murray: Fully healthy and chasing his first 4,000-yard passing season.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: Star rookie from 2024 (885 yards, 8 TDs) now expected to become a top WR threat.
Trey McBride: Recently extended tight end, fresh off a 1,000-yard season, key in Murray’s passing game.
Overall Vibe: The offense is still a work in progress, but the core trio of Murray, Harrison, and McBride offers elite potential.

🛡️ Defensive Reinforcements

The Cardinals made bold offseason moves to fix a struggling run defense:

DL Upgrades: Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and first-round rookie Walter Nolen.
Secondary Boost: Rookie CB Will Johnson adds size and playmaking ability.
LB Depth: Akeem Davis-Gaither joins a rejuvenated front seven.
Projection: Could be a Top 10 defense if health holds, though injuries to rookies like Nolen are early concerns.

📅 Schedule Challenges

Factor	Snapshot
Schedule Rank	27th toughest, but backloaded with road games
Key Games	Packers, Texans, Cowboys, plus 3 of last 4 on the road
Division Battles	Stacked NFC West: Rams, 49ers, Seahawks all improved
Early Goal	Start strong before brutal late-season stretch

🎯 Expectations & Fan Outlook

Category	Projection
Wins	8–10
Division Standing	2nd or 3rd in NFC West
Playoff Odds	Realistic Wild Card contender if offense gels early
Keys to Success	Murray’s growth vs. zone defenses, Harrison’s emergence, defensive cohesion

🏟️ Big Picture

The Arizona Cardinals are shaping into a balanced team with:

A dynamic passing duo in Murray and Harrison Jr.
A reinforced defensive front capable of carrying games.
A favorable early schedule that must be capitalized on to avoid late-season pressure.

This season is about proving growth: If the defense matures quickly and Murray takes another leap, Arizona could earn their first playoff berth since 2021.