Just when it seemed like the Arizona Cardinals had reached new heights and got off to a 7-0 start on the season, they suddenly lost their way and fell from the top as their play became horribly inconsistent and they lost the division crown to the Los Angeles Rams. Coincidentally, that's also who they wound up losing to in the Wild card round of the playoffs.
With so much to figure out and a slew of changes in the works for Arizona, it goes without saying they've got their work cut out for them as they head into the 2022 NFL offseason. So with all this going for the Cardinals, we'll now discuss the three major fixes they must make this offseason to win Super Bowl 57 in 2023.
Cardinals Offseason Fixes
DeAndre Hopkins and J.J. Watt must be back full strength for the entire season
When DeAndre Hopkins suffered a torn MCL that sidelined him for the season, the Cardinals air game wasn't nearly as lethal as it had been in prior weeks. Even with reliable deep threats like A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, and Zach Ertz at the helm, their offense still didn't have the same explosiveness as it did in previous weeks.
On the flip side, J.J. Watt's injury proved to be a huge loss for the Cards defense and even though they held their own in the last few weeks of the regular season, they weren't as dominant on that side of the field which showed during their weak performance against the Rams on Monday night. If the Cardinals want to reach the next level in 2023 and win the Super Bowl in commanding fashion then having Hopkins and Watt back fully healthy will be vital to their success next season.
Kyler Murray needs to learn how to adhere to the pressure
During their highly anticipated postseason match-up against their longtime NFC West nemesis, Kyler Murray was on the run and all out of sorts against the Rams elite pass rush all throughout the game. If the Cardinals want to elevate their play and go on a Super Bowl run in 2023 then Murray will have to step his game up immensely and learn how to thrive under pressure.
As one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, it goes without saying that Murray's ability to face adversity with their season on the line is a major area of improvement that he must capitalize on for next season. This is especially true if he's hoping to lead the Cardinals to the promised land next year. His continued efforts to improve and expand his game have made him a Pro Bowl caliber talent in the NFL and if he's going to play MVP-caliber football next season then he must learn to succeed in high pressure situations.
The Cardinals must find a coaching replacement for Kliff Kingsbury
With a disappointing end to their season and a poor showing during the Wild Card round of the 2022 NFL Playoffs, it's safe to say that the Cards should find a replacement for Kliff Kingsbury. His inability to implement a sound game plan and utilize their depth and talent to the fullest extent is why Kingsbury may not last in Arizona much longer and if the Cardinals are smart then making a coaching change may be in their best interest ahead of their 2022-23 NFL campaign.
His air-raid offense looked absolutely deflated against the Rams electric secondary and he wasn't able to generate any consistency out of Murray and co. throughout the entirety of the game. It would be hard to imagine them having a different result in next year's playoffs under Kingsbury. He may bring them more success in the regular season, but come the 2023 NFL Playoffs, the Cardinals may fall short once again and a coaching change may bring them closer to the outcome they're hoping for.
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