Niner Noise
FanSided

NFC West: Early predictions for each team’s win-loss record in 2018

By Jeremy Wohlfart

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Reuben Foster #56 and Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after tackling Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Reuben Foster #56 and Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after tackling Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch against the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch against the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Season Review

In a season which was literally defined by a backup taking over for an injured star, Arizona seemed to be utterly cursed this season.

From Tyvon Branch, D.J. Humphries and David Johnson to Carson Palmer down the line and adding Jared Veldheer and former 49er Mike Iupati too, the injury bug bit the Cardinals to the point it’s actually impressive they got to .500 and only one game behind the Seattle Seahawks.

But just to make sure the Cardinals knew they were cursed, head coach Bruce Arians retired from coaching which has left the Cardinals in an unknown position moving forward with new head coach and former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

State of the Franchise

It’s debatable whether or not the Niners are still rebuilding or if they’re now past that stage, so it may be a fair statement to say the Cardinals are the only team that will be looking to rebuild and reload next season.

Palmer is gone, Larry Fitzgerald remains but it’s not clear how much longer he can play and while it normally would be unfair to criticize a team that went equal third for sacks allowed, 22nd for yards and 25th for points per game, it’s relevant in this case with the retirement of Palmer (the sacks total should decrease with a healthier line however). The defense can be best described as average in its stats, and won’t be able to prop up the team by itself at present.

Schedule

Aside from the six games, as always, versus the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers, the Cardinals have a very mixed bag full of question marks. It’s full of teams that could conceivably be in the playoff race or could fall into mediocrity.

The NFC West say hello to the NFC North and AFC West this year, so combined with the third-place schedule, the Cardinals will play (home in bold, away in italics):

Los Angeles Rams 
San Francisco 49ers 
Seattle Seahawks 
Chicago Bears 
Detroit Lions 
Green Bay Packers 
Minnesota Vikings
Denver Broncos 
Kansas City Chiefs 
Los Angeles Chargers 
Oakland Raiders
Atlanta Falcons 
Washington Redskins 

If there’s one huge concern it’s the quality of quarterbacks the Cardinals are facing. Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson twice, Mitchell Trubisky coming off a promising rookie year, Matt Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Case Keenum, possibly Kirk Cousins, Patrick Mahomes, Phillip Rivers, Derek Carr, Matt Ryan and Alex Smith.

Wowzers.

Will it be a throwaway season, or will the Cardinals try to keep up in the NFC West arms race? Time will tell but given the state of their current roster, and the question marks at both coach and quarterback, this might be a long year.

Overall Season Prediction: 4-12