The Arizona Cardinals season finished as average as it could possibly finish, at 8-8, but the fans seemed okay with that.
Not exactly okay, they were still disappointed, but okay with the idea of what the Cardinals and Bruce Arians were able to accomplish in 2017.
I asked the fans on Twitter, how would you describe the 2017 season for the Arizona Cardinals, here is a smattering of your responses.
Hell of a coach to go against. Definitely made for some tough battles.
— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) January 1, 2018
Enjoy retirement, Coach! https://t.co/SIVNovK2Ff
First, a nice well wish from the guys over at Turf Show Times, the Los Angeles Rams blog.
Not the send off you'd have liked to have seen for Palmer (maybe Fitz?) but Arians & young, talented defense willed team to 8-8. Even w/ guys back feels like end of an era.
— Blake Allen Murphy (@blakemurphy7) January 1, 2018
What might have been without injuries... (See also the 2016 Arizona Cardinals, 2015 Arizona Cardinals...and so on.)
— BruceAriansGang (@BritishBirdgang) January 1, 2018
Two great follows if you are thinking of dipping your toe into the Twitter waters, don’t. Injuries killed a lot of the chance for this team to be great.
Teams window is still open. If a team with that many injuries to important players, including their best offensive player and qb, can finish 8-8, they’re definitely a playoff team if healthy.
— Robbie Patterson (@RobbiePIII) January 1, 2018
This is not a bad team.
— Wendy (@suazobyf) January 1, 2018
Honestly all they need is a QB and their a scary team.
— (@MikeyDinie) January 1, 2018
They played 16 times
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) January 1, 2018
Scott is a miserable Arizona sports fan, much like the rest of us.
Bittersweet. I’m glad the season is over because I don’t think I could have handled any more injuries. But I’m terrified of losing BA, Palmer, and Fitz.
— Thatguy_11 (@craig_bragg) January 1, 2018
Only lost one game they should have won-the Redskins game. Injuries affected the team but they showed lots of heart late in the season to finish .500. And Larry is awesome.
— Steve Helwick (@s_helwick) January 1, 2018
Too mediocre to get a good QB,and too old to compete next year
— Tanner (@the_tanner21) January 1, 2018
If healthy, would have made the playoffs
— Rahul Mistry (@ra_ra_mistry) January 1, 2018
Baker needs to be better in coverage.
— Monsterdemo (@Monsterdemo3) January 1, 2018
8-8 with injuries to major stars. Lost a couple winnable games even without them. Team isn't far off which makes BA retiring even more difficult. Way defense played last month and a half is something the team could lean on going forward.
— Jared (@PhxHxC) January 1, 2018
It was one of those seasons.
It was upsetting to see so much talent lost and that clearly had an impact on the outcome of the season for the Arizona Cardinals.
Yet, the ride to 8-8, while bittersweet, was enjoyable, especially with the way the team came together for Bruce Arians in his final season.
It would have been easy and understandable to fold up with Blaine Gabbert as quarterback, but they stepped up.
Drew Stanton came back in and was a calming influence on the end of the season, allowed the defense to make plays and kept the offense on time. It also was a show of how Bruce Arians undying faith in his players and coaches helps them raise up, through injury, through ineffectiveness and through down times.
It was quite the ride.
What were your final thoughts on the 2017 season for the Arizona Cardinals.