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5 Things the Arizona Cardinals Must Do in 2016

By John Sarianides

November 22, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (left) talks to quarterback Carson Palmer (3) against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 22, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (left) talks to quarterback Carson Palmer (3) against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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After falling short last season, the Arizona Cardinals will look to take the next step in 2016 and get to Super Bowl 51.

The Arizona Cardinals exceeded most people’s expectations in 2015 by reaching the NFC Champuonship game. However, they failed to meet their ultimate goal of getting to and winning the Super Bowl.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians doesn’t like to play second fiddle. He’s a winner and he has high expectations for himself and his team. Meanwhile, the Cardinals return most of their core from last season and the addition of defensive end Chandler Jones fills their biggest need from last season which was pass rusher.

The Cardinals have their sights set on Houston and Super Bowl 51. Of course, things have to go well for that to be the end result of this season. Here are five things they must do well if they want to get there.

1. Get More Out of Carson Palmer

Palmer was good for most of last season, but he really struggled in the playoffs. If the Cardinals want to get to Houston, Palmer needs to play well from start to finish.

2. Make David Johnson the Centerpiece of the Offense

David Johnson had a tremendous second half of last season and went from an unknown rookie from Northern Iowa to one of the premier playmakers in the NFL. Johnson is an elite talent and he’ll be a factor on all three downs. Look for Arians to get Johnson the ball in a variety of ways and make him the centerpiece of the offense.

3. The Offensive Line Must Stay Healthy

Injuries and inconsistency were an issue for the Cardinals last season. Arizona added some toughness and experience with veteran Evan Mathis. While Mathis helps, he’s not enough. The Cardinals need their front five to play better if the Red Birds are going to be explosive on offense.

4. Win the NFC West

The Cardinals cannot make a Super Bowl run as a wild card. They need to win the NFC West and secure one of the top two seeds in the NFC. If they don’t, they’ll struggle to make the playoffs.

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5. Get Over the Panthers Loss

If the Cardinals are going to meet their expectations and the expectations of their fans, the first thing they need to do is get over the NFC Championship game loss. That was last season and is in the past. The Cardinals are good enough to get back to the NFC Championship game and beyond. But they must get over this mental hurdle to do so.

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