Arizona Cardinals

In the two decades now since this franchise moved from St. Louis, rarely have hopes been as high for the Arizona Cardinals as they are coming into the 2008 season. Last year, their first under new head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals went 8-8 – just their third non-losing season in Arizona. And three of their losses came by a field goal or less, while another game was lost in OT.

So with a new coaching regime that has installed some toughness and, dare we say, the beginnings of a culture of success, along with a great set of WRs, the Cards seem poised to take over the top perch in the NFC West from the Seattle Seahawks.

Arizona ranked 12th in total offense last season at 344 YPG, but even with RB Edgerrin James running for 1,200 yards, the team ranked just 29th in rushing at 90 YPG. On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals ranked 17th in total defense at 330 YPG and ninth vs. the run at 98 YPG. Arizona also ranked in the top half of the league in both total yardage (14th) at +14 YPG and in average time-of-possession (11th) at a +1:18 per game.

The Cards went 9-7 vs. the NFL betting lines last year, and 6-3 ATS when getting points. And the totals went a lopsided 11-5 in Cardinals games last season, which averaged a robust 50 total points, second-most in the league (behind New England's 54).

This year Arizona returns to the field with their roster virtually intact. Third-year man Matt Leinart went to camp topping the QB depth chart, but the Cards are fortunate to have a veteran like Kurt Warner, who threw 27 TDs in relief of the injured Leinart last season, hanging around. And with Leinart coming off a broken collarbone, Warner may get his shot at the starting job before the season is through.

James got his thousand yards last year, but needed well over 300 carries to do it and is not the back he once was. On the outside, though, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald may be the best receiving tandem in the league. Arizona went defense with its first two picks in the draft, and must improve upon its 28th ranking vs. the pass.

The Cardinals have toyed with their backers a couple of times before over the last 20 years, only to disappoint them. But this time could be different. Whisenhunt seems to know what he's doing, and the four-time division champion Seahawks seem on their way down the ladder of success. In a weak West this year, Arizona looks like contenders in terms of NFL betting.