Game-by-game predictions for Cardinals’ 2022 season

[Krangodnzr]

You’re talking about 4 seasons ago for Kennard. That’s ancient history in the NFL. And I take even less solace in his ability to make any kind of impact considering he couldn’t beat out a virtually useless Gardeck last season to get on the field. Gardeck has produced but I’m going to reserve hope he can get back there until after he actually shows he’s overcome his injury. Even then, they only wanted to use him in fits and spurts because they were worried his smaller frame couldn’t take protracted pounding by the big boys.

As for the draft picks, I just can’t have much expectations after having seen so much hype about too many Keim draft picks only to watch them either fail miserably or end up buried on the bench.

Quantity of options doesn’t necessarily mean there’s any upgrade or even maintaining the status quo from last year (which Golden was a part of, which is why I haven’t discussed him. His production is baked into the discussion cake already).

Quantity of options DOES matter though. The Cardinals aren't pinning their hopes to one or two guys. If all of those guys chip in 2-4 sacks, that makes up most of last years production.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

17-0 But I'm optimistic

 

[AZ Native]

Chiefs - L
@ Raiders - W
Rams - L
@ Panthers - W
Eagles - L
@ Seahawks - W
Saints (Thursday Night Football) L
@ Vikings - L
Seahawks - W
@ Rams - L
49ers (Mexico City) W
Chargers - W
Bye
vs Patriots (Monday Night Football) L
@ Broncos - L
Buccaneers (Christmas) L
@ Falcons - W
@ 49ers - W

I said 9-8 before I went through each game and now 8-9 is the best I could do.

 

[BritCard]

I think there will be a net loss, but with a slew of guys contributing instead. The Cardinals have more talent at edge now, but lack the top sack guy in Jones. If Cam Thomas or Myjai Sanders can chip in 4-6 sacks and Gardeck can chip in a 4-6, are the Cardinals that far off? Even Kennard has a history of producing sacks too.

I think you'll see more mistakes from Collins, but less instances where he gets beat physically. Personally, I would have let him play through his mistakes LAST YEAR. During the first 10 games or so, even with mistakes from Collins, the Cardinals probably still have about the same results...and Collins would have gained experience.

And if Collins falters? Nick Vigil is pretty much Jordan Hicks caliber ILB.

You know a good time to blood a rookie? When you are up multiple scores in games that are done by half way through Q3.

 

[DVontel]

The pass rush will most likely be worse than 2014 & that was a BAD push-rushing group.

 

[BritCard]

Or maybe Dimukeje pans out. Or Gardeck can get back to his pass rushing prowess of 2020. There are options. Even Kennard has had success in the past, he just hasn't been used as much by Vance.

Better argument here.

I quite like the variety. If Vance is smart and uses them right we have 4-5 guys with very different skill sets. If he keeps them rotating and fresh, and uses them wisely depending on the matchup then I don't think we see a net loss.

 

[DVontel]

Won’t matter if Kyler plays good/great for the whole season. The team just has so many holes to actually do something that matters. From lack of top-end talent to lack of depth.

Pretty much what happened to Herbert last season.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

In my crystal ball we start off looking good in our first 3 games vs playoff teams, yet still come away without a win. We manage 3 wins out of our next 6, making us now 3-6 with this season's playoffs vanishing in the distance. The end of the season looks a lot like last year, with us going 2-6, thus giving us a final record of 5-12. The reverse of fortunes in 2022 seem mainly due to other teams improvement, while the Cards remain weak in areas they seem to continually struggle with.

At season's end, and as usual, the home town talk will consist of being "only a couple players away" from being a regular playoff participant. Yet with continual mediocre drafts and non-favorable cap situations, they remain beggars wishing for horses to ride.

Chiefs - L
@ Raiders - L
Rams - L
@ Panthers - W
Eagles - L
@ Seahawks - W
Saints (Thursday Night Football) L
@ Vikings - L
Seahawks - W
@ Rams - L
49ers (Mexico City) L
Chargers - L
Bye
vs Patriots (Monday Night Football) W
@ Broncos - L
Buccaneers (Christmas) L
@ Falcons - W
@ 49ers - L

 

[cheesebeef]

Quantity of options DOES matter though. The Cardinals aren't pinning their hopes to one or two guys. If all of those guys chip in 2-4 sacks, that makes up most of last years production.

I just don’t see much quality with any of those options. It’s like saying that Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick were going to make up for losing Amare Stoudemire.

I just think it’s very rare that the pupu platter of mediocre options is better than the all in one.

Especially when the D wasn’t all that special to begin with even with Hicks and Chandler playing.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I just don’t see much quality with any of those options. It’s like saying that Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick were going to make up for losing Amare Stoudemire.

I just think it’s very rare that the pupu platter of mediocre options is better than the all in one.

Especially when the D wasn’t all that special to begin with even with Hicks and Chandler playing.

They finished 11th overall, so it's not like the defense was terrible.

They largely fell apart when CB injuries happened and the offense stopped scoring.

 

[cheesebeef]

They finished 11th overall, so it's not like the defense was terrible.

They largely fell apart when CB injuries happened and the offense stopped scoring.

Never said it was terrible. Said it want all that special and that 11th overall was built on the first half Of the season when both Chandler and Watt were healthy and the offense was high flying. We no longer have Chandler, we’re coming out of the gates without Hop and expecting Watt to last anymore than six or seven games is setting yourself up for disappointment. We also lost Phillips who wasn’t great but at least was okay in there at times last season. I just fear a sieve for a D-line that gets zero push adding to what I think will be a weaker pass rush.

Is what It is and we can agree to disagree.

 

[oaken1]

A) the above assumes Keim hit on those pass rushers taken in the draft. Considering how bad he’s been at the draft, I don’t know how realistic that is.

B) Vance doesn’t seem to like playing rookies and values veterans so those guys, even if Keim was right about them, might not see all that much time. Especially since Vance was the only major member of the staff and FO not to get extended so he might trust his rookies even less.

Might be exactly why the roster was built like it is. Vance has to play those guys if they are all he has.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm going with my same prediction of 7-11 wins.

I think people are underestimating how good, a focused, healthy Murray is. And as others have stated, the team has like 6 months to prep the offense for no Green.

Lol at a 5 game span. Really going out on a limb there krang.

8-9 wins.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Lol at a 5 game span. Really going out on a limb there krang.

8-9 wins.

Too many unknowns or "ifs".