Arizona Cardinals don't even make Mike Sando's early 2015 playoff picks

While Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians was ready to pencil in the Arizona Cardinals for Super Bowl 50, not everyone considers them a top contender.

ESPN's Mike Sando put together a list of his "too early 2015 playoff picks" for both the NFC and AFC, and guess what? The Arizona Cardinals don't even make his top six contenders in the NFC.

His top six NFC contenders are the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.

Arizona almost makes his list, but Philly sneaks in ahead of them.

"Arizona was a strong consideration here with Palmer returning and the front office set on restoring speed to the defense," writes Sando. "I just think the Eagles have a better shot at the playoffs because their division could be more volatile at the top."

That would be the reasoning why two NFC East teams make his list and only the Seahawks do in the NFC West.

At the same time, Seattle is going to look different, especially if they are going to shell out all the money for Russell Wilson and to pony up some dough to Marshawn Lynch. They won't be able to pay everyone. Arizona has salary cap issues of their own, as well, but considering Arizona will get a healthy Tyrann Mathieu to start the year and the return of Carson Palmer, Andre Ellington, Dave Zastudil, Darnell Dockett and maybe Daryl Washington, they should get heavy consideration from all analysts as contenders for the division and the conference.