
Arizona Cardinals to face 2 of NFL's most interesting teams in 2025
The Arizona Cardinals were named one of the eight most interesting teams to watch in 2025. Because of their defensive additions, the continuity on offense and the belief that quarterback Kyler Murray still has a ceiling he can reach, they will be an intriguing team to pay attention to.
Bleacher Report named the eight most interesting teams entering this season. The Cardinals, in addition to being on the list, play two of the other teams.
Who are they?
Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 8)
The last player listed among the eight, the Jaguars are intriguing because quarterback Trevor Lawrence still has something to prove, because receiver Brian Thomas was one of the best rookie receivers in 2024 and they added the most interesting rookie in the league in Travis Hunter, who will play both receiver and cornerback.
The Cardinals play the Jaguars at home in Week 12.
Atlanta Falcons (No. 6)
Michael Penix Jr. will be the starter from Week 1, but they have the most expensive backup quarterback in league history in Kirk Cousins.
They added pass rushers in the first round of the draft (Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr.).
They had a shot at the postseason last year as they were 8-7 entering the final two games and lost their final two. They, like the Cardinals want to take the next step.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals Look to Remain Unbeaten Against Pirates' Paul Skenes
Cardinals Look to Remain Unbeaten Against Pirates' Paul Skenes originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Fresh off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians, the St. Louis Cardinals (47-38) now turn their attention to Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates (35-50). Advertisement The Cardinals sit in third place in the NL Central, two and a half games back of the division leading Chicago Cubs, and a half game back of the Milwaukee Brewers. As the calendar gets set to turn to July, the redbirds also occupy the third spot and final in the NL wild card race. Despite bringing up the rear in the NL Central, the Pirates enter on a little heater of their own, sweeping the New York Mets over the weekend by outscoring them 30-4 in the three contests. Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes throws a pitch in the fifth inningBenny Sieu-Imagn Images Monday, June 30, 5:40 p.m. CT How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM Probable starters: Cardinals: Erick Fedde (3-7, 4.11 ERA) Advertisement Pirates: Andrew Heaney (3-7, 4.48 ERA) Tuesday, July 1, 5:40 p.m. CT How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM Probable starters: Cardinals: Andre Pallante (5-4, 4.43 ERA) Pirates: Paul Skenes (4-7, 2.12 ERA) Wednesday, July 2, 11:35 a.m. CT How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM Probable starters: Cardinals: Sonny Gray (8-2, 3.36 ERA) Pirates: Mitch Keller (2-10, 3.90 ERA) What to watch for: 1. Can the Cardinals remain unbeaten against Paul Skenes? It might be hard to believe, but throughout his young career, Pittsburgh flamethrower Paul Skenes is 0-4 with a 2.76 ERA in five appearances against St. Louis. Two of those losses have come this year. The first on April 8 when he allowed five earned runs in a 5-3 loss, and the latest on May 6 when he was outdueled by Matthew Liberatore. No team has beaten Skenes three times in a season. Advertisement 2. Can Erick Fedde right the ship? In his last seven starts, Erick Fedde is 0-4 with a 5.09 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. The good news? Fedde has a career 2.05 ERA against the Pirates and threw six scoreless innings in his last start against them on April 9. A good outing in Monday's series opener could be huge for Fedde's confidence heading into July. 3. Andrew McCutchen is expected to break a personal record Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen is expected to start his 200th career game against the Cardinals on Monday, breaking a tie with the Cubs for his most starts against any team. He has played in 202 games against St. Louis during his 17-year MLB career, batting .266 with 19 home runs and 84 RBIs. This season, McCutchen is slashing .266/.342/.407 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs for the Pirates. Advertisement Related: Cardinals Predicted to Acquire $18 Million Veteran Before Trade Deadline Related: Cardinals Predicted to Acquire Tigers Top Prospect in Blockbuster Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals' No. 1 Prospect Added to NL All-Star Futures Game Roster
Cardinals' No. 1 Prospect Added to NL All-Star Futures Game Roster originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Rosters for the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game were revealed by the league on Monday with the NL roster featuring St. Louis Cardinals No. 1 prospect JJ Wetherholt among 16 other Top 100 prospects. St. Louis Cardinals No. 1 prospect stands with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after being selected 7th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The 22-year-old shortstop will be the 27th member of the Springfield Cardinals organization to represent the team on the Futures Game roster. Advertisement Wetherholt has been putting on a masterclass on both sides of the ball at the Double-A level so far this year, racking up 62 hits and 41 walks while striking out 35 times - 7th least in the Texas League - in 57 games played. His .305 average and .430 on base percentage lead all qualified Texas League hitters by a considerable margin and his 1.171 walk to strikeout rate ranks third on the league leaderboard. With a second-best walk rate (16.3%) and third-best strikeout rate (13.9%), Wetherholt finds ways to get on base in nearly half of his at bats. On top of his stellar performance at the dish, Wetherholt has made a variety of highlight-reel plays at both shortstop and second base this season, proving that he's more than just a big bat for the Cardinals' front office to be excited for. The former seventh overall pick says that while he is focusing on polishing his hitting and defense, he is taking a focused approach to baserunning this season, which he has shown through his 13 stolen bases. Advertisement The Futures Game will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta on Saturday, July 12 at 4 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on MLB Network with simulcast on and the MLB app. Related: Cardinals Farm Report: Luken Baker Turns Page After Rough Start at Memphis Related: Cardinals Leapfrog Yankees in Latest MLB Power Rankings This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Dethrones Athletics Denzel Clarke Per MLB Announcement
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Dethrones Athletics Denzel Clarke Per MLB Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. For the first time in five weeks we have a new recipient of MLB's Electric Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet. Advertisement MLB announced on Monday that St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has dethroned Athletics rookie centerfielder Denzel Clarke as this week's winner. Arenado claimed the honor for his bare-handed game-ending play against the Chicago Cubs on June 24. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning of an 8-7 game, and the game-tying run on third base, the Cubs' Danbsy Swanson hit a high chopper to third base. Arenado, a 10-time gold glove winner, charged the ball and made a barehanded play, throwing out Swanson at first base to preserve the crucial victory for the Cardinals. 'I didn't expect us to be winning like this, at this point,' Arenado told after the game. 'I expected us to play hard, I thought we were going to be good defensively and I thought our pitching would be fine. … Just seeing everyone one-through-nine contributing, I mean I like playing baseball like this … against the Cubs … where games matter. St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) barehands a ground ball and throws out Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (not pictured)Jeff Curry-Imagn Images 'As you get older, that's what you want. You don't want to play games just to play games. Individually, I've accomplished some things in this game and I want to accomplish something team-oriented and special and win a World Series. Games like this, it's easy to wake up for. This is the most excited [that] I've come to the ballpark for – this series – in about two years.' Advertisement Arenado's Electric Play of the Week win breaks the record streak set by Clarke, who won four weeks in a row. It's also the second win for Arenado in his career, and first by a Cardinals player since Jordan Walker took home the award on July 17, 2023. Alec Burleson's amazing diving catch against the netting in the same game also received votes. Related: Cardinals Look to Remain Unbeaten Against Pirates' Paul Skenes Related: Cardinals' No. 1 Prospect Added to NL All-Star Futures Game Roster This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.