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Edgar Chaput
Cardinals vs. Commanders Point Spread: NFL Week 1 Odds, Prediction
The Washington Commanders enter the new campaign under new management, which in many ways was the biggest story out of D.C. this summer. They battled hard for a respectable record last year but didn’t make big splashes in the offseason. The Cardinals will play several games without QB Kyler Murray, and at times in 2022 things didn’t even go well with him.
The NFL odds currently have a lot of chalk written down for the Commanders, who sit as -7.0 favourites.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Despite contending in the same conference, the Cardinals and Commanders haven’t crossed swords on the football field since 2020. Arizona won the day 30-15, which put an end to a mild two-game winning streak Washington had over them at the time, dating back to 2017.
Arizona’s regular season record was one of the worst in the NFL at 4-13. Conversely, enough of their defeats were close enough to muster an okay 8-9 record against the spread. In fact, they covered five times away from home in 2022, making them a potentially interesting option given the sizeable spread in this instance.
Washington fared much better last season, battling its way to an 8-8-1 tally despite most people arguing they were clearly the least talented team in the NFC East. It didn’t earn them a ticket to the playoffs, but it was much better than anticipated. As for the spread, it was the exact same stat line, 8-8-1. Things were so split down the middle in 2022 that even when favoured, the Commanders went 4-4.
Arizona Cardinals
With Kyler Murray waiting to fully recover from an ACL he tore late in 2022, new head coach Jonathan Gannon will lead an offence that has Josh Dobbs at quarterback. Dobbs’ experience over the last couple of years is limited, to put it mildly. In fact, believe it or not, just this past preseason he was wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey, yet here he is in Arizona in Week 1. The +7.0 against them suddenly becomes clear.
His main target will most likely be QR Marquise Brown, who compiled over 700 yards and three TDs in only 12 games last year. Tight end Zach Ertz is still listed as questionable. James Conner will once again lead the running game. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry in 2022. That’s about the only weak spot the Cardinals might find success with, as Washington was a top three overall yards defence last year and fourth against the pass. There are no two ways about it. The Cardinals are entering 2023 behind the proverbial eight-ball. The lineup they’ll show up with in Washington will look very different down the road for the mere fact that their star QB can’t play.
Washington Commanders
Where does this franchise go from here? They proved several doubters wrong in 2022 by playing better than most thought that they were capable of. Then the club went under a massive ownership change that appears to have invited Washington back into everyone’s good graces.
A look at the offensive lineup suddenly puts some of the optimism in doubt. The Commanders start the season with Sam Howell under centre. He’s a 2022 draftee and saw action in just one game that year. Interestingly, he’ll be backed up by veteran Jacoby Brissett, who many pundits believed would be the starting quarterback. Stud wide receiver Terry McLaurin is listed as questionable at the time of writing, as is TE Logan Thomas. Much like with Arizona, attacking could be an issue in Week 1. Then again, as mentioned already, the Commanders have a strong defence and could win the day in a low scoring affair.
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