So many variables here.
Do you carry balances regularly?
Do you have any history of late fees?
Do you have a variety of cards and credit available/ annual fees/ types, etc.? (not saying this is good or bad, just pointing out how myriad factors are at play at any time).
How old is your oldest vs. newest credit line?
Have you recently taken out new debt like a car loan, mortgage, or cosign for a loan (e.g. son/daughter's car or college)?
Is your wife's credit linked to yours in any way? You presumably live at the same address. Do you share business cards/ authorized user status?
Are some of your apps too recent? Chase 5/24, Amex pop-up jail. All those unwritten barriers.

I certainly don't know have the foggiest, but the fact I can generate so many questions that may (or may not) factor could offer you reasons to consider. No one can tell you, but with specifics we can help make educated guesses.

I have about a dozen--maybe closer to 20 cards--no trouble with approvals. High credit score, stable factors in my history. No debt. No balances carried--everything goes on cards, then paid in full. I don't apply often. I wait and play strategically. E.g., I just earned my CSP 100K bonus because I waited a good while to even apply for that one. Now I am slowly moving credit lines within Chase, and plan to downgrade my UA card that just went to $150 a year. I don't fly UA (thought I would when I got it, kept it for the primary insurance and gifted the lounge passes, but now that's over). CSP has better benefits for me. Will keep the card $0 AF or ask Chase to allot the $5K to one of my other 6 personal cards. I also downgraded the Hilton when Amex raised the AF to $150 and cut PP. I earned Diamond so the card giving me Gold was not worth it. I never close down a card I can downgrade. I use every card a little bit to show activity.

To me, it is more about being strategic. I don't know if cards can see that in applications with some algorithm or not, but I have not had any issues, and I try to pace with a strategy in mind, probably slightly slower than most in part because. I am single with one income. I keep one premium card currently, the AA Executive card since AA gets me everywhere I need in the US and OWE is the pass I need for lounges worldwide. If I need to fly another carrier, I will but the seat I want.

My "way" is absolutely limiting for most. BUT never get a card just to get it. Have a reason and strategy. That's my $.02.