The Arizona Cardinals play their next two games on NBC’s Sunday Night Football
The next two Sunday nights the NFL will showcase the Arizona Cardinals. Next week it is an NFC West matchup against the Seattle Seahawks up in Seattle. Then in two weeks it is the Cardinals hosting the Cincinnati Bengals.
Certainly it shows the confidence the NFL and NBC have in the Cardinals to make a good showing, despite their last showing on Sunday Night Football against the Seahawks last December. Of course the Cardinals have quarterback Carson Palmer this time around.
I’ll be honest, I’ve complained a lot about the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots, and the Denver Broncos getting a lot of love from NBC. So, of course now that shoe is on the Cardinals foot. The exposure can be good and bad.
I love the fact the Cardinals are getting noticed. However we are going to quickly find out if the Cardinals can handle the spotlight the next two weeks. I get it though. The Bengals will likely be undefeated when they come to Arizona at 9-0. The Bengals play the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football next week.
However, as much as I love the Cardinals in the spotlight, I do love variety as well. I like seeing different teams each week. So I’m a little mixed on the Cardinals being on national television two weeks in a row. At least in this case it’s because they are good, not because the network and league executives have a thing for the same team over and over regardless of record.
Seattle may be 4-4 but they will be tough. I’m not sure I’m ready to watch another debacle like we had in Glendale last December in a 35-6 Sunday Night Football loss to the Seahawks. Then again, I don’t think this game will be anything close to that.
If the Cardinals win one or both of those games, it may not be the last time they are on Sunday Night Football this season. Looking at the schedule in week 17, the rematch of the Seahawks and Cardinals is in Glendale and this appears to be one of more intriguing games of that week. It will all depend on the division and playoff races though at that point.
For now, the next two Sunday’s, we’ll have to wait all day for Sunday Night.