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There is a lot of optimism around training camp for the Arizona Cardinals and it appears that it is starting to spread nationally. However, in a very competitive NFC West, it might not be enough.
In fact, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports predicted the outcome of every single game of the 2013 NFL season. In doing so, he projects a solid season for the Cardinals, but that will not be enough to make the playoffs.
He has the entire division going 8-8 and above, the 49ers going 12-4, the Seahawks 10-6, the Cardinals 9-7 and the Rams 8-8.
Arizona is close, but cannot secure a wild card berth, and almost all of their games are very close.
Here are the predictions:
Week 1: Rams 27, Cardinals 21
Week 2: Cardinals 31, Lions 27
Week 3: Saints 27, Cardinals 21
Week 4: Cardinals 24, Buccaneers 21
Week 5: Cardinals 21, Panthers 14
Week 6: 49ers 21, Cardinals 17
Week 7: Cardinals 21, Seahawks 20
Week 8: Falcons 24, Cardinals 23
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Cardinals 24, Texans 17
Week 11: Cardinals 24, Jaguars 20
Week 12: Cardinals 28, Colts 24
Week 13: Eagles 27, Cardinals 13
Week 14: Cardinals 14, Rams 10
Week 15: Cardinals 24, Titans 23
Week 16: Seahawks 21, Cardinals 13
Week 17: 49ers 20, Cardinals 17
They start evenly, get hot but fade down the stretch, losing to both Seattle and San Fran to give them the division and wild card spot.
As a couple of observations, you will see that the team is in a lot of close game. You will also note that the defense gives up its share of points. That would be a change. In the division, they finish 2-4, which in the end is their undoing.
As for the rest of the league, he picks the Bengals and the Falcons to make the Super Bowl, with Cincinnati winning.
What do you think? In a recent interview I did for an Austin, TX radio station, I said I thought that they would go 9-7 and just fall short at the end. Prisco and I think alike.
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