Cardinals GM Steve Keim expects team to make playoffs

The Arizona Cardinals' 2020 season might have ended in a very disappointing fashion. But the late-season collapse hasn't completely crushed the spirit of general manager Steve Keim.

Keim recently said in an interview with Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic he thinks the Cardinals are "no doubt" a playoff-bound team.

"I know everybody’s got different expectations, but my expectations are certainly to go to the playoffs and even further," Keim said. "There’s no year where we waive the white flag and say, ‘Hey, we’re just going to rebuild or whatever.’

"I mean, you’ve got to win. Those are the expectations and I think that we’ve put together a roster that can certainly challenge in the NFC West.”

Arizona looked primed for a playoff run last season before losing five of their last seven games and ending the season with an 8-8 record. Reim admitted he thinks last year's team was still a playoff-caliber team but that "we didn’t play up to standards when it comes to discipline and penalties and all the things that we knew we had to improve upon."

He appears confident, however, the adjustments the team has made in the offseason will keep that from happening again. 

"I think this offseason with the additions that we made we certainly put our best foot forward with leadership and accountability and attention to details," he said, "as well as the physical traits we needed, which were taking the top off the defense, having guys that were physical on defense that can run and cover. I think we’ll certainly play up to expectations this year because of all those additions."

The Cardinals open up the 2021 season on Sunday with a visit to Tennessee to face off against the Titans.