Before each NFL season begins, it can be difficult sometimes to identify which team is the worst in the league.
Some may have question marks at quarterback, others could have battered rosters with little talent or a rookie head coach.
Somehow, the 2023 Arizona Cardinals check each of those boxes, which is why they’re the overwhelming favorite to finish with the worst record in the NFL this season.
After finishing 4-13 in 2022, sportsbooks such as FanDuel have the Cardinals at +250 (28.7 percent implied probability) to be at the bottom of the standings in 2023 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+950) and Houston Texans (10/1) rounding out the top three options.
Those odds make sense given that the Cardinals have the lowest O/U win total at 4.5, which is two full games lower than the next team.
Let’s start with the issues at quarterback: Arizona is already behind the eight ball entering the season with franchise QB Kyler Murray recovering from an ACL injury.
He’ll be out for at least the first few months of the year, which means the offense will fall to journeymen QBs Colt McCoy and David Blough.
McCoy is projected to be the starter, and for a team that only threw 17 touchdown passes last year (ranked 28th), that phase of the offense isn’t likely to improve.
In his last seven games with the Cardinals, in which he has seen significant playing time over the past two seasons, including six starts, McCoy has generated only 198 passing yards per game, four touchdown passes and four interceptions.
| 2023 Arizona Cardinals odds |
|---|
| To win Super Bowl: 200/1 (PointsBet) |
| To win NFC: 100/1 (Caesars) |
| To win NFC West: 27:1 (FanDuel) |
| To have best regular season record: 500/1 (BetMGM) |
| To have worst regular season record: +250 (FanDuel) |
| Over/Under win total: 4.5 (+100/-120, PointsBet) |
It’s hard to win games when the offensive ceiling is so low.
Additionally, the Cardinals’ roster might be one of the worst collections of skill players ever assembled.
Star WR DeAndre Hopkins was cut in the offseason, while TE Zach Ertz is coming off a brutal ACL injury.
Both were security blankets when offensive plays broke down.
Rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon could be in over his head quickly if the losses start to pile up, especially since the NFC West could be a beast.
The 49ers have been picked by many to return to the NFC Championship game, the Seahawks continue to improve and added elite talent in the draft while the Los Angeles Rams are only 18 months removed from winning the Super Bowl.
There are no easy games coming for the Cardinals, who have a legitimate chance to go 0-6 in the division after going 1-5 in 2022.
Another glaring issue that can’t be overlooked is that Arizona’s home-field showings have been a disaster.
Over the last two seasons, the Cardinals are 4-13 SU at home and 11-6 on road.
Six of their eight home games in 2023 are against teams that went to the playoffs.
Sportsbooks already have betting lines out for every game with the Cardinals projected to be at least six-point underdogs in every home game except one versus the Falcons.
Barring a starting quarterback such as Justin Herbert or Kirk Cousins going down early, the Cardinals are the safest team to bet for this market.
Based on the talent discrepancy, schedule and starting quarterback, it’s a perfect recipe for a disastrous 2023 in Arizona.