More Like Twenty-Twenty-BYE

We’re wrapping up the 2025 Cardinals season and taking a hard look at what the numbers got right — and what they completely whiffed on. ZiPS nailed Sonny Gray’s ace-level season, Alec Burleson’s breakout, and Masyn Winn’s rise… but missed big on Jordan Walker and Nolan Arenado’s decline. We break down the biggest projection hits and misses, the disappointing –5 win gap from expectations, and the players who kept this team afloat. Plus, we share three things we actually liked about the 2025 Cardinals — because even a chaotic year has its bright spots.