Finding a new head coach is not the problem. The problem is in the rest of the NFC West. While the Cardinals have the dream of a quick turnaround to be competitive, it’s hard not to notice where the rest of the division is.
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The other three teams (the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams) not only made the playoffs, each winning at least 12 games in the regular season, but they are three of the four teams left in the NFC in the playoffs. One is guaranteed to be in the NFC Championship, and there’s a chance the NFC title game features two teams from the Cardinals’ division.
And looking at head coaches in the division, the Cardinals need to hit a home run with this next hire.
The division has two coaches considered among the best in the league: Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan, who have led their teams to multiple playoff and Super Bowl appearances. In Seattle, Mike Macdonald helped the Seahawks become the best team in the league in just two seasons.
The Cardinals’ next head coach will take over well behind the rest of the division. The quarterback position is uncertain. A squad that was expected to be good was decimated by injuries and simply wasn’t good.
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The Cardinals play in one of the best divisions in the entire league. Unfortunately, while they are in the same division, they are not in the same class as the rest of the West.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL Playoffs Reveal How Far Arizona Cardinals Are in NFC West