Second Quarter
Week 5 (October 3-7) – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers come back to Arizona for the first time since 2011. An earlier in the season visit makes sense.
The NFL probably would rather see the Steelers play bigger games towards the latter part of the season. This will be a different look Steelers team with no Antonio Brown at receiver.
Week 6 (October 10-14) – @ Los Angeles Rams
This is another scheduling quirk the NFL likes to throw in from time to time. Throw in two games in three weeks against the same divisional opponent.
Last season the NFL did it to the Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals were drubbed 34-0 in Los Angeles last season.
Week 7 (October 17-21) – San Francisco 49ers
Speaking of the 49ers, here we are with the first of two games against this NFC West rival. The 49ers have visited in October each of the last two seasons.
The Cardinals have swept the 49ers in each of those seasons as well. Let’s see if 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is healthy enough to play in this one.
Week 8 (October 24-28) – @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Monday night)
Arguably the most interesting game on the Cardinals schedule this season, at least from a fan standpoint. The Cardinals will travel to Tampa Bay to take on former head coach Bruce Arians.
Arians had ‘retired’ after the Cardinals 2017 finale at the Seattle Seahawks. But after sitting just one season out in the broadcast booth, Arians returned to the NFL, not to the Cardinals but to the Bucs.