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NFL Predictions 2020: Dark horse picks to win each division

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns, KhaDarel Hodge #12 and Odell Beckham Jr. #13 walk out onto the field during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns, KhaDarel Hodge #12 and Odell Beckham Jr. #13 walk out onto the field during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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NFL 2020
NFL Predictions, Arizona Cardinals (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

NFC West: Arizona Cardinals

There were three teams with winning records in the NFC West and thanks to the San Francisco 49ers making it to the Super Bowl last year, they now have three teams that have represented the NFC in recent seasons in the championship game. The 49ers won the division with a record of 13-3, winning out over the 11-5 Seattle Seahawks. Just missing out on the playoffs was the Los Angeles Rams, who went 9-7 one year after losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

There’s no reason to think those three teams won’t be in the mix for the division once again but the favorites this year have to be either the 49ers or the Seahawks. The Rams did go 9-7 but they feel as though they’re trending in the wrong direction.

As for the dark horse this season, the only real candidate is the Arizona Cardinals. They’re the one team in the division that had a losing record in 2019 as they finished 5-10-1 but they don’t have the feel of a team destined to remain in the cellar.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury was an outside the box hire and his offensive strategy works great with young quarterback Kyler Murray. The No. 1 overall pick should be able to take another step this season as the Cards landed DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Houston Texans, giving him a true No. 1 wide receiver to grow alongside.

There was also the selection of Isaiah Simmons in the 2020 NFL Draft, which gives them a game-changer on defense. Arizona could be a team to watch out for as their young players are talented and dangerous and they now have a few more key pieces to build around.

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