Arizona Cardinals Sweeped by Diamondbacks, Fall to Fourth in NL Central

The Arizona Cardinals face mixed expectations as they head into the 2025 NFL season, with some analysts viewing them as potential NFC West contenders and others favoring rivals like the San Francisco 49ers. Despite a tough start to the second half of the MLB season for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Arizona Cardinals football team enters with optimism due to key players like Kyler Murray and a bolstered defense from recent drafts and acquisitions. Analysts highlight the importance of forcing turnovers and maintaining clean football as critical for the Cardinals' success, alongside a strong running game featuring James Conner, Trey Benson, and Murray himself. While NFL.com's Kevin Patra emphasizes the 49ers' talent and coaching strengths, including a favorable schedule, FOX Sports' Will Hill argues that Arizona offers good value with a soft early schedule and improvements over last season. Overall, the Cardinals are seen as a team with potential to surprise in a competitive NFC West, though they will need some luck and consistent execution to fulfill championship aspirations.