Acme Packing Company
The Arizona Cardinals demonstrated significant progress during their 2024 season. The team secured an 8-9 record, which led to a third-place finish in the competitive NFC West division, although they failed to qualify for the playoffs. The team demonstrated two main characteristics through their explosive offense and their struggling defense.
The team scored 400 points throughout the season, an average of 23.5 points per game, and ranked 12th in the NFL while their defense surrendered 379 points at 22.3 points per game, which placed them 15th in the league. In EPA/play, the Cardinals offense ranked 10th overall (13th passing, 8th running). The defense, however, was the exact opposite. They ranked 24th in EPA/play overall on defense (24th against the pass, 25th against the run).
Under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing (Gary Kubiak/Kevin Stefanski tree), the team advanced from 21st in EPA/play in 2023 to 10th in 2024. The team achieved stability through quarterback Kyler Murray’s full health, which led him to become the 13th-best EPA passer in the league. The team employed a balanced attack system, which combined fast passing plays with powerful running plays through “2 RB / 1 TE” formations to generate positive outcomes consistently.
The defensive unit continued to develop throughout the season. The team demonstrated several positive aspects despite their poor overall defensive performance. The defense performed well in crucial situations by allowing only six plays beyond 40 yards and stopping opponents from scoring touchdowns inside the red zone at a 52.6% rate, which ranked seventh in the league. They also did not have a reliable pass rush and run defense, which prevented them from creating negative plays.
In 2024, the team reached their highest point when they defeated the New York Jets 31-6 through Murray’s perfect 22 of 24 passing performance with 17 consecutive completions and reaching 6-4 before their bye week. The defensive breakdowns and missed scoring chances during their 16-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks revealed the team’s inability to achieve a winning record, finishing 2-5 after the bye.
The negative trend from 2024 continued into 2025. The Arizona Cardinals currently sit at 2-4 in their first six games, putting them in fourth place within the NFC West. The team experienced a decline in performance throughout both defensive and offensive units and now only scores an average of 21.7 points per game,...
