Expectations and hopes are high in the Valley of the Sun as the Arizona Cardinals get set to open the NFL season at home Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
NFL picks and predictions, Saints vs. Cardinals 2015: Arizona popular choice in the desert
Not every expert agrees, but the Cardinals are the favorite to win at home in their season opener.
The Cardinals made the playoffs last season and were 10-6 and just missed the postseason in 2013. Naturally, then, the next step is a deeper playoff run. With a healthy Carson Palmer to start the season, a proven threat at running back in Andre Ellington and some speed and veteran presence at receiver, the Cards hope the offense will produce.
Defensively, Todd Bowles is gone as coordinator, leaving to become the head coach of the New York Jets, but the Arizona defense still has its same identity. It should be stout against the run and better in pass defense if Patrick Peterson bounces back from a rough 2014 campaign at cornerback and Tyrann Mathieu does what he did during training camp, which was make plays.
The Saints are looking to improve from a 7-9 season in 2014. They lost Jimmy Graham in a trade, but Drew Brees is still at quarterback. Brandin Cooks can be a difference-maker at receiver along with a host of other targets, and Mark Ingram is poised to be a dual threat in the running game and catching passes out of the backfield.
The defense looks like the weak link for New Orleans, as injuries affected the secondary during the preseason. It’s a tall order opening on the road two time zones away, and for those reasons the Saints are the perceived underdog.
The experts agree, with most of them picking the home team to come out on top. At ESPN, 10 of the 13 panelists are siding with the Cardinals, while the crew at CBS Sports is 6-2 in favor of Arizona.
Our team at SB Nation is also going with the Cardinals by a 6-2 margin -- only Matt Ufford and PFT Commenter think the Saints will pull off the win on the road.
| Ryan Van Bibber | Stephen White | Joel Thorman | David Fucillo | Danny Kelly | Matt Ufford | PFT Commenter | OddsShark Computer | |
| NO @ ARZ | ARZ | ARZ | ARZ | ARZ | ARZ | NO | NO | ARZ |
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