Heading into Week 6, the Arizona Cardinals have the best record in the NFL at 5-0. Even as the only undefeated team, they are the underdogs for their next game against the Cleveland Browns.
What are the Cardinals’ odds to win the NFC West in 2021? What do the latest sports betting lines say about the Cardinals’ odds to win the NFC West? Read on to learn more about the team and their chances to win their division.
The Arizona Cardinals Start the Season 5-0
In their opening game against the Tennessee Titans, the Cardinals were the underdog. Last season, they were an 8-8 team in a division that saw two playoff contenders: the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.
In Week 1 of their 2021 campaign, the Cardinals led the Titans 24-6 at half-time and won 38-13. In Week 2, they also led at half-time, 24-23, and kept apace of the Minnesota Vikings to win 34-33.
Quarterback Kyler Murray started the season with 689 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, and three interceptions in his first two games. In his next three games, he threw only three touchdown passes and one interception.
His best game came against the Rams, where he looked unstoppable, leading the team to a 37-20 win on the road. Then came last week, when the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 17-10.
With two consecutive victories against divisional opponents, the Cardinals have given themselves some breathing room in one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, the NFC West.
So, the Cardinals are off to a great start in 2021.
The Cardinals Are a Complete Football Team
One of the driving factors in the Cardinals’ momentum has been their ability to win games as a complete football team. For example, their win over the 49ers was essentially due to their defense.
In the second quarter, the Cardinals stopped 49ers’ rookie quarterback Trey Lance at the goal line. It was a play wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins described as “championship football.”
Five Cardinals’ receivers have caught touchdown passes this season. Chase Edmonds has carried the ball 49 times for 270 yards, while backup James Conner has attempted over 60 rushes.
Even Murray is a threat with his feet, with three rushing touchdowns so far this season.
The defense also has 11 sacks, nearly half coming from linebacker Chandler Jones, who also has nine tackles and two forced fumbles. The Cardinals’ D has four interceptions, three coming from cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
Murphy sat out against the 49ers due to a previous injury, and Edmonds had also been a game-time decision. Injuries could be the one thing that stops the Cardinals from winning their division.
Cardinals’ Odds of Winning Their Division
The Cardinals’ odds of winning the NFC West depend on their ability to stay healthy. Tight end Maxx Williams got carted off the field in the second quarter against the 49ers after catching a touchdown pass, one among many injuries.
It remains to be seen how the Cardinals deal with adversity on both offense and defense. They’ll need to win at least ten games to clinch their division. And they’re already halfway there with 12 weeks to go.
If the Cardinals can overcome injuries in their next five games, grabbing at least two victories, a win on the road at Seattle before their late bye in Week 12 should put them in good shape to win the division.
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