National Football League

Three reasons why the Cardinals can win it all this year

Published Jan. 2, 2015 2:59 p.m. ET

Alex Marvez

With playoff football on the horizon, it's Super Bowl or bust for all 12 teams. FOX Sports NFL insider Alex Marvez gives three reasons why each team will win the Super Bowl XLIX.

Experience overcoming adversity: Few teams have been plagued by more key injuries than the Cardinals. Arizona enters Saturday's game against Carolina without its top two quarterbacks (Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton), pass rusher (John Abraham), running back (Andre Ellington) and nastiest defender (end Darnell Dockett). Yet the Cardinals still managed to post the franchise's highest win total since 1975. That speaks volumes about Arizona's resiliency, which is a plus heading into such a high-pressure situation as the playoffs.

Superior coaching: Bruce Arians is a frontrunner to win his second NFL Coach of the Year award in the past three seasons. Besides the respect he has earned from Cardinals players for his honesty and frank demeanor, Arians is one of the league's brilliant offensive minds. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is a strong candidate to win NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. Bowles has done such a good job covering for his unit's deficiencies through creative scheming that he is in heavy demand for job interviews with every team that has a head coaching vacancy. A veteran coaching staff led by offensive guru Tom Moore will have Arizona well prepared for the playoffs.

Hope at quarterback: Yes, hope. Maybe it's just his optimism, but Arians said his comfort level with Ryan Lindley has grown by leaps and bounds since the third-string quarterback started the past two games in place of Stanton (knee). Arians also said Lindley has earned the trust of his offensive teammates, which is equally significant. If the Cardinals can get past the Panthers, Arians has publically left open the possibility of Stanton returning later in the postseason.