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Without a doubt, the Arizona Cardinals have been one of the best surprises of the 2021 NFL season. From being a mediocre team, Kliff Kingsbury, Kyler Murray and their squad have emerged to be one of the favorites to come out on top of the NFC this year. However, their path to Super Bowl 56 won't be easy as they still have a number of good teams left to overcome which include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, and division rival Los Angeles Rams, among others.
Through the course of the season, the Cardinals have shown that they can keep up with the stronger teams in the league but they must play at a higher level if they want to have a long run in the playoffs. There are challenges along the way but Arizona will surely aim to overcome those in order to prove that they can go all the way and vie for the title in 2021.
With that said, here are three reasons why Kyler Murray the Cardinals have a legitimate shot at booking a seat in Super Bowl 56:
Kyler Murray And Cardinals Super Bowl Run Reasons
3. Having a win-now mentality
The Cardinals had a huge offseason as they made several moves in order to improve their roster. They brought in a handful of experienced vets including J.J. Watt, Matt Prater, and A.J. Green to bolster their squad for this season. Certainly enough, these acquisitions were made in order to help them get over the hump as soon as possible.
However, the clock isn't only ticking for the players but for the front office as well. General manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury are also pressured to deliver and end the franchise's longstanding title drought, especially with their current roster this season. It would be a shame for the Cardinals to form a star-studded team in the offseason only to fall short and have an early exit in the playoffs.
With the level of talent that this squad possesses, they are surely expected to live up to the lofty billing and make it far this season. Ultimately, having pressure and a sense of desperation on their side can be a double-edged sword but it is up to the Cardinals to utilize it to their advantage in order to reach the championship stage in 2021.
2. Hungry veterans
As mentioned earlier, the Cardinals have hauled in tenured vets who have been in the league for quite a while already. Most of them are already playing in their 30s with at least 10 years of experience under their belts. However, players like J.J. Watt, Matt Prater, A.J. Green, and Rodney Hudson seldomly saw action in the postseason and have never won a title throughout their careers.
Despite their lack of playoff experience, the veteran presence and leadership that they bring to their respective units remain to be crucial for the team's continuous development. Though they might not be the players that they once were, these veterans are still hungry to prove their capabilities at this stage of their careers.
Suiting up for a playoff-bound team like the Cardinals may already be the best opportunity for Watt and company to win the chip that they've been aiming to get for a long time. With this, fans can expect them to come out with an added fire to contribute and give the team an upper hand in the postseason.
1. Overall talent on both ends of the field
It is safe to say that talent remains to be a huge factor in determining a team's capability to make a strong run in the postseason and eventually reach the Super Bowl stage. Fortunately for Arizona, they do have a stacked roster full of capable players that can help them compete against the other NFC powerhouses like the Bucs and the Rams.
Starting with the offense, the Cardinals have a young and dynamic quarterback in Kyler Murray who continues to improve in his third year in the league. Though he still needs to gain more experience, the Oklahoma product has shown that he can compete with the league's best, especially with his two-way style of play on the field.
He also has a multitude of weapons to throw to which include All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and the other pass-catchers in Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, and Rondale Moore. The ground game is also no pushover as they currently have Chase Edmonds and the resurging James Conner who can run the ball well. The mid-season arrival of tight end Zach Ertz also gave Murray a reliable option who can be a threat on the field and score in the endzone.
The Cardinals aren't lacking firepower on the defensive end as well as they have Chandler Jones, Budda Baker, and Isaiah Simmons playing alongside J.J. Watt. Through the course of the season, they have been getting the job done in limiting their opponents and have also fielded one of the best-ranked defenses in the league in 2021.
Having a loaded team on both ends will surely be a huge advantage for the Cardinals but it is still up to them to maximize their talents and execute their schemes effectively on the field. If they manage to do so while also maintaining the health of their depth players then Arizona will definitely have a good chance of making it all the way to Super Bowl 56 to compete for the title this season.
