Predicting the final record for the 2021 Arizona Cardinals

Week 15

Detroit Lions (Away)

• Date: Sunday, December 19
• Time: 11 a.m. MST
• TV: FOX

The Detroit Lions, for some reason, have been the bane of the Cardinals’ existence over the last two seasons. The last two games the Cardinals have played against Detroit resulted in an 0-1-1 record. Pick your poison for the more embarrassing game out of those two.

This may just be the biggest trap game on the schedule. Jared Goff holds a 7-1 record against Arizona in his career.

Prediction: Cardinals win (subsequent kneecaps are saved), record improves to 9-5.

Week 16

Indianapolis Colts (Home)

• Date: Sunday, December 25
• Time: 6:15 p.m. MST
• TV: NFL Network

Another hard forecast here. This all depends on the health and performance of Carson Wentz. If the Colts aren’t getting it done through the air, this is the Cardinals’ game to lose. Johnathon Taylor is a rusher that couldn’t be stopped last year, finishing 3rd in the league in rushing yards.

Darius Leonard is a bad man and will sack Kyler Murray for the game-winning play.

Prediction: Cardinals lose by a field goal (9-6)

Week 17

Dallas Cowboys (Away)

• Date: Sunday, January 2, 2022
• Time:11 a.m. MST
• TV: FOX

As the season winds down, the fight for the final wild-card spots increases to an all-out brawl. Arizona will desperately be trying to stop their former NFC East division rival from taking their destiny out of their own hands. A Byron Murphy interception will give the Cardinals the win here. Dallas quarterbacks just don’t do much in January since the 1990s.

Prediction: Cardinals win (10-6)

Week 18

Seattle Seahawks (Home)

Date: Sunday, January 9, 2022

Time: 2:25 p.m. MST

TV: FOX

Arizona’s first win against Seattle at home since 2012 was last year (the Isaiah Simmons interception game). It was a long time coming, but the Seahawks have bigger fish to fry as they’ll be in the race for the division crown, and the Cardinals won’t be able to get it done in their first 17-game season.

Prediction: Cardinals lose (10-7).

Arizona will miss the playoffs

The fan base wants this team to succeed. However, there have been questionable decisions made in multiple areas. Kingsbury as the head coach, no true offensive coordinator, drafting a linebacker when there were bigger needs- the list goes on and on.

Steve Keim’s inability to find a first-round pick that actually does something outside of Murray and D.J. Humphries (who nearly was a bust) is what will result in him being fired. It’s going to be quite the rebuild, but the right coach who can use Murray’s skills will have this team in the playoffs in no time.

Months ago, I suggested that the Cardinals send a breakup letter to Kingsbury and hire Eric Bienemy instead. If the Cardinals could somehow win those sweepstakes, then they would become instant contenders after what Bienemy did with Patrick Mahomes.