NFC Update: Arizona Cardinals, a Year Later

Last night, as was the case a year to the day earlier, the Arizona Cardinals were victorious in the Thursday night game, improving upon an already impressive record.

Similarities largely end there. Last year was the 14th game for Arizona (their record stood at (11-3) after the Thursday night win), but having lost quarterback Carson Palmer to injury, were underdogs in that Thursday victory vs the St. Louis Rams.

Without Palmer and the defending Super Bowl  champion Seattle Seahawks close in the NFC West standings, most felt Arizona would be no more than a wild card team.

That turned out to be the case and despite a stellar (12-4) record, Arizona had to trek to Carolina where they lost a wild card round game to the (7-9) but NFC South champion, Panthers.

This year the Cards are (11-2) after beating the now (8-5) Minnesota Vikings by a field goal as 10 point favorites.

With Palmer healthy and a nice lead, not only over the now defending NFC champion Seahawks, but over all teams, but the (12-0) Panthers, Arizona is a viable contender to win it all.

If form holds and it rarely does, again the Cardinals would journey to Carolina for a post-season game.

This time instead of a “you can miss it” wild card round tilt between two non contenders, it would be for a Super Bowl berth from the NFC, in that conference’s title game.

For now, it is fairly safe to say the Panthers and Cardinals will earn first round byes and host divisional round games.