The Arizona Cardinals were always projected to be bad this season.
Now it’s getting historically bad.
DraftKings has dropped Arizona’s regular season win total over/under to 3.5 games for 2023, a number we haven’t seen since the New York Jets in 2017, according to SportsOddsHistory.com.
Only four NFL teams have had a projected win total over/under lower than four since 1990, according to the site:
- 1995 Carolina Panthers: 3
- 1995 Jacksonville Jaguars: 3
- 2017 New York Jets: 3.5
- 2023 Arizona Cardinals: 3.5
The Panthers and Jaguars had the excuse of being expansion teams. Despite the low totals, they both went over, winning seven and four games, respectively, that season.
The Jets went 5-11 in 2017, also rewarding bettors who had faith that they could reach at least four victories.
Arizona has -145 odds to go over 3.5 wins, so the oddsmakers believe four wins is more likely than three, and they also have the benefit of playing an extra regular season game compared to New York.
Either way, it’s a head-turning stat that details just how low the expectations are for the group in 2023. Despite its oftentimes-pathetic past history, Arizona’s lowest previous projected win total was 4.5 wins in 1992, per SportsOddsHistory.com.
The Cardinals are a 7-point underdog when they travel to face the Washington Commanders in their season opener on Sunday.
It will be the first substantive look at the on-field product after an offseason of pitiful projections, with DraftKings’ movement the final blow before the games begin.
