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Arizona Cardinals
Overall: 32
Title track: 58
Ownership: 36
Coaching: T6
Players: 24
Fan relations: 41
Affordability: 33
Stadium experience: 27
Bang for the buck: 41
Change from last year: +26
Just two years ago, the Cardinals ranked 81st in these standings, in the bottom half of NFL teams after a losing season and a fired coach. Two years later, Bruce Arians is a legend in Arizona, after back-to-back double-digit win totals for the first time since the 1970s, and things are looking up in the desert. Now, as the Cardinals soar above the ruins of their past, they're setting their sites on a future that houses a Lombardi Trophy.
What's good
As long as the Cardinals have Bruce Arians as head coach, two things will always happen: They'll win, and he'll be in the hunt to be coach of the year. Though Arians hasn't taken the Cardinals to a Super Bowl yet, he's still tied with Seattle's Pete Carroll for sixth in our coaching category. All Arians has done is take a franchise that was mired in mediocrity and made it relevant, with 21 wins in two seasons, the first time that's happened since 1975-76.
What's bad
Even though Arizona's title track ranking is up 13 spots from last year, it's still positioned at No. 58, suggesting the Cardinals aren't poised to win a championship in 2015. Early returns, however, indicate otherwise; Arizona has started fast and has a relatively easy schedule. But good starts for the Cardinals aren't necessarily title-run omens. Take 2012, for example, when the team began 4-0 but finished 5-11. Even last season, Arizona started 9-1 before finishing 11-5 and losing in the NFC wild-card game.
What's new
Arizona has improved its relationship with its fans in many ways. The stadium experience is better (up 26 places), with more social media interaction and a massive move to build tradition. Fan relations jumped from 85th place to 41st. But mostly, the Cardinals are winning over their fan base by adding better players. They rank 24th in that category this year, up 30 spots, a reflection of the slew of talent Arizona has added, including wide receiver John Brown in 2014 and running back David Johnson this year. Signing Chris Johnson during the offseason put the fans in a frenzy.
Next: New Orleans Saints | Full rankings