Arizona Cardinals

Steve Mariucci: Cardinals will win NFC West

Published Apr. 22, 2015 5:04 p.m. ET

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It may not be a popular pick as the majority of analysts are picking the Seattle Seahawks to once again repeat as NFC West Champion.

But Steve Mariucci thinks otherwise and believes the Seahawks lost too much to win the division. Mariucci told the NFL Network during a schedule preview on Tuesday his reasons for picking the Cardinals:

"It's a tough division. It's not going to be the Niners or the Rams. You're probably going to expect me to say the Seahawks, aren't you?

Not so fast! You lose Byron Maxwell, right? Max Unger, the starting center. But, most importantly, they lost (defensive coordinator) Dan Quinn and Kenny Norton. They've lost a bunch. They've still got a lot over there. They're still a good team.

But the Arizona Cardinals, if Carson Palmer stays healthy -- the guy was 6-0 last year, and they got better. They got Mike Iupati and Cory Redding, and they've got Woodley and Weatherspoon. They have added to the team. They are knocking on the door. That's a playoff team and I say if Carson Palmer stays healthy, Arizona wins that division."

He did base his prediction on Palmer staying healthy, which is fair considering how fast they faded last year once Palmer went down with his injury.

The Cardinals have Super Bowl aspirations this year and Mariucci makes some good points on why they will be crowned NFL West division champs. 

(h/t Revenge of the Birds)

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