Our NFL season preview begins with the Cardinals and the Falcons, two teams who had very different 2012 seasons.
Arizona Cardinals:
Last season: In a word; terrible. One win in their final 12 games saw coach Ken Whisenhunt get the bum’s rush and the Cardinals were simply one of the worst teams in football last season. Add in the fact that they are in arguably the toughest division in the NFL (the NFC West features the 49s, the Seahawks and the improving Rams) it could be another tough year for the Birds.
This season: With Bruce Arians in as head coach, they will certainly be better. He did a superb job as an interim at the Colts last term after Chuck Pagano got sick, so good in fact he was voted coach of the year. That’s one major boost from last season, the other is at QB.
Last year they flopped between John Skelton, Kevin Kolb and rookie Ryan Lindley, none of which were really any good. Over the off season they brought in Carson Palmer form the Raiders and while Palmer is not exactly Tom Brady, he is a serviceable NFL QB, who will at least provide more TD than interceptions.
He should enjoy hooking up with one of the best wideouts in the game, Larry Fitzgerald, whose disappointing return last season (4 TD, 798 yards) we’re putting down to the quality of the service he was getting.
Verdict: The Cardinals will be better this year (they could hardly be worse) but in such a difficult division, and with the seventh toughest schedule in the NFL to face, they look destined to finish bottom of the NFC West again.
Atlanta Falcons
Last season: They might have surprised a few people last year but they were in flying form (sorry), coming within touching distance of the Super Bowl, only to suffer a narrow loss in the NFC Championship game to the San Francisco 49ers and a fairly irresistible Colin Kaepernick. They did produce four pro bowlers in Matty "Ice" Ryan, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez, Thomas DeCoud and William Moore, so despite a disappointing end to the season, it was a good year for the boys from ATL.
This season: Tony Gonzalez is still playing (this season will be his 17th), and most importantly still contributing, and will more than likely still be a valuable weapon for Matty Ice to find when the Falcons need a reliable receiver.
What is sometimes forgotten is just how ridiculously good their receiving core is, and between Roddy White and Julio Jones, Ryan has plenty to aim at. Last year, this team was on the verge of something great, and they've added Steven Jackson to the backfield (who can not only run but catch passes, so for Fantasy heads would be a good RB2) as well as Osi Umenyiora on the defence, who should bring more pressure on opposing QBs.
They also signed four defensive backs in the draft, so they've pinpointed that as an area to improve. There are reports that the new corner backs have been struggling, but then again they're facing Jones and White. That's a baptism of fire if ever there was one.
Verdict: They pretty much have to be considered as one of the top teams in the league, and will go close again, if not all the way to the big game proper this year.
