NFL power rankings: League-wide look for each team as preseason starts

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome on January 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the Packers 44-21. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome on January 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the Packers 44-21. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 01: Quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals points before taking a snap in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 01: Quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals points before taking a snap in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

32. . . . Arizona Cardinals. 18. team

With quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald both hitting the twilight of their respective careers, the time for the Arizona Cardinals to win is now.

Last year was a blunder, but the Cardinals roster — especially on defense — is built well enough to contend again in 2018.

Second-year defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche appears to be the real deal entering this season after an underwhelming rookie campaign. Paired with standout pass-rushers Chandler Jones and Markus Golden, Arizona’s front seven is legit.

Oh, and the secondary is pretty good too.

Yet the key question marks remain under center and at wide receiver. One Palmer injury could spell disaster, unless the Cardinals are comfortable handing the ball off to running back David Johnson 30 times a game.