NFL Odds: The Arizona Cardinals have been one of the top teams in the NFL this season but there are serious questions as to whether or not the team can win in the playoffs with Drew Stanton or Ryan Lindley at quarterback. NFL oddsmakers don’t like the chances of the Cardinals as they are not listed as one of the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl, which is being played on their home turf.
Stanton, Lindley and Thomas
Arizona is stuck with Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley or Logan Thomas at quarterback. Some reports have Stanton possibly returning for the playoffs while other reports have him out for the first game. Regardless, the team is without starting quarterback Carson Palmer and it is hard to have much confidence in Stanton who was the second stringer, Lindley who is third string or in the rookie Thomas.
All About the Defense
If the Cardinals are to win in the playoffs they will need to do what they have done all season which is play great defense and shorten the game. The Cardinals have only allowed 21 points or more twice this season. They have allowed 15-20 points a total of five times, a total of 11-14 points five times and they have allowed less than ten points twice. These numbers were before the Sunday night game against Seattle. The defense has to play great because the offense under Stanton averaged 12.8 points per game with Stanton at quarterback. The good news is that the running game has actually improved with rookie Kerwynn Williams and Stepfan Taylor averaging 4.7 yards per carry of late.
Cardinals Continue to be Underestimated
How often do you see a team play the “disrespect” card and win in the NFL? It seems to happen all the time. Head coach Bruce Arians has been doing a great job all season in getting his team ready to play and on many occasions he has been able to play the us against the world card because the public, oddsmakers and other teams don’t give the Cardinals enough respect.
The Cardinals have been excellent this season against the NFL betting pointspread as they went 10-4 ATS in their first 14 games. The Cardinals don’t average many points as they score about 20 points per game but they don’t allow many points as they give up 17 points per game. Almost all of their games are close and despite winning 11 of their first 14 games they are either small favorites or underdogs in their games. They were 8.5 point underdogs on Sunday against Seattle.
Arizona may be without a good quarterback but history has shown that teams can win in the playoffs with average NFL quarterbacks. Just look back at some past champions like Baltimore with Trent Dilfer, Washington with Doug Williams, the Giants with Jeff Hostetler and Tampa Bay with Brad Johnson. So yes, the Cardinals can win in the playoffs without a great quarterback.
