The Arizona Cardinals finished last season as one of the hottest teams in the league. In Bruce Arians’ first year as head coach, the Cardinals won seven of their final nine games to post a 10-6 record.
Arizona’s offense averaged 27 points per game over the final nine weeks of the season. With a full season under Arians now in the rear-view mirror, the Cardinals look to take another step forward toward a return to the playoffs this season.
And so far, Arians likes what he sees.
According to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic, Arians believes the offense is much improved from last year.
“Where we’re at this point is like light-years from last year,” Arians said. “They are getting on the same page. Every play, they come back and there is good dialogue - ‘Why did you break out? Why did you break in?’”
Quarterback Carson Palmer had four 300-yard passing games and two 400-yard passing games in the final seven games of the season. Arizona went into the final week of the season with a chance to supplant the San Francisco 49ers as the second playoff team from the NFC West. Instead, they fell just short with a 23-20 loss to the 49ers.
But if Arizona’s offense can be more consistent throughout the entirety of the season, the Cardinals may become an even more troublesome thorn in the side of the 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.