Arizona Cardinals: Breakdown of Schedule Weeks 9-12
By Scott Allen
Sep 15, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) looks to pass while under pressure from Detroit Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch (55) and defensive end Israel Idonije (77) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals now face the middle part of their schedule in weeks 9-12. It would be nice if they really are 5-2 at this point as I have predicted based on my game by game analysis so far. They start off the third quarter of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. This time the Cards head to Texas to take on their familiar foe.
In the week nine match, one of only two early Sunday games for the Cards have all season, the Cards will probably still be playing the pretty good Cowboys. Unfortunately the Cards don’t get to face the Cowboys in their horrible month of December. You have to play them when they schedule them. I will keep the jury out on the Cowboys for the 2014 season for now until after I see what they do in the draft. I still think they are quite a formidable opponent on the road in their place. I think this will be one the Cards drop. Cowboys 26 Cardinals 14
In week 10, the Cards come back home to face the St. Louis Rams. They routed the Rams in Arizona last December. I think the Rams will be improved but not to the point where Arizona can’t still be dominant. Anything can happen in a divisional game and it’s not like the Cards have been consistently dominating anyone in the division lately. However I just can’t see the Cards dropping this one, especially after a loss in Dallas. Cardinals 35 Rams 9
Week 11 brings another home game. This is the only point of the schedule where the Cards play home games in back-to-back weeks. The Detroit Lions come rolling into town. Again. The Cards have won the last couple of matchups in Arizona against the Lions. You just don’t know which Matthew Stafford you are going to get from the Lions quarterback. I’ll give the Cards and their defense the benefit of the doubt and expect a few picks in this one. Cardinals 28 Lions 13
Week 12 will be the toughest matchup of the season. This is a rematch of the game last December in which the Cards broke Seattle’s long home-game winning streak, despite Carson Palmer’s four interceptions. The combination of great defense and a great fourth quarter touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to Michael Floyd was enough to hold the Seahawks at bay. The Hawks will be looking for revenge. I suspect they get it. Seahawks 23 Cardinals 20
The Cardinals should be 7-4 headed into the final quarter of the season. I think despite being in the NFC West, it’ll still put the Cards in position for a wild-card spot.