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Arizona Cardinals: After Sunday, it’s primetime

By Scott Allen

Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) talks to the tv cameras during the second half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeat the Buccaneers 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) talks to the tv cameras during the second half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeat the Buccaneers 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals face an October in front of the entire nation

If the Arizona Cardinals don’t want to be embarrassed and want to show the country who they really are and can be Super Bowl contenders, the time is now.  Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams will be the last time they can hide for awhile.

After the Fox regional broadcast of the Cardinals-Rams game, the Cardinals are staring three consecutive primetime games in the face.  The first being next Thursday night at San Francisco.

After the Thursday Night Football contest on CBS and NFL Network against the 49ers, the Cardinals will be off for the next 10 days until they face the New York Jets on Monday Night Football on ESPN.  They finish off the national television tour with a spot on Sunday Night Football on NBC at home against the Seattle Seahawks on October 23rd.

If that wasn’t tough enough, after the three primetime games, the Cardinals must go on the road for a national television game on FOX against the Carolina Panthers.  Some have called the Cardinals schedule soft.  Maybe in spots, but this will be anything but soft.

So with a big October ahead, it is vital the Cardinals come out and take care of business against the Rams on Sunday.  A loss on Sunday will make the October stretch of games look that much tougher.

The good news is it will be the last of the primetime games of the regular season for the Cardinals unless they are flexed on Sunday night later in the season.  The way they are playing now, they are in no danger of that happening.

Should they turn back to their winning ways over the next several weeks, then they become a prime candidate to be flexed into another Sunday night game down the road. The games on the road against the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons in November seem the best shots at that happening.  The Cardinals must start winning first however.

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