The Arizona Cardinals' projected win total heading into the 2026 season is currently set at 3.5, which is the lowest in the NFL. It should be more of the same for the team coming off a three-win season, especially since they have what is arguably the most difficult schedule in the league.
Besides the fact they're stuck playing NFC West rivals twice a year, Arizona also has six of its first nine games on the road, with a Bye that doesn't come until Week 14 to stop the bleeding. The schedule finally lightens up coming out of that Bye, but at that point it could very well be too little too late.
With the playoffs already seemingly out of reach before the season even starts, the Cardinals must redefine what success looks like as they continue to navigate this rebuild.
Arizona Cardinals 2026 schedule and predictions
Week 1: Sept. 13 at Los Angeles Chargers — 1:25 p.m. (CBS)
Starting off the season on the road against a recently engaged Justin Herbert? That's already a recipe for disaster.
Though it surprisingly may be the run game that's the difference-maker in this matchup. The Chargers like to establish the run under Jim Harbaugh, which could be a bad matchup for a Cardinals defense that surrendered an average of 126.9 yards on the ground last season. Expect the Chargers to hold onto an early lead as they find a way to control the time of possession.
Prediction: Chargers, 17–24
Week 2: Sept. 20 vs. Seattle Seahawks — 1:25 p.m. (FOX)
It doesn't get any easier as the Cardinals' home opener comes against the defending champion Seahawks. While you never truly know with divisional rival games like this, the talent disparity on the respective rosters should be too much for Arizona to overcome.
Even if Jacoby Brissett manages to move the ball against an elite Seattle defense, it's going to be difficult for Arizona's defense to hold its own and give this team a realistic chance to win.
Prediction: Seahawks, 14–27
Week 3: Sept. 27 at San Francisco 49ers — 1:05 p.m. (FOX)
The 49ers are already dealing with the injury bug yet again this year. That didn't stop them from pulling off a 12-win season, and they should experience more of the same success this time around. The Seahawks and Rams have understandably headlined the NFC West as arguably the two best teams in the league, but the 49ers aren't far behind as they somehow continue to fly under the radar.
They surprisingly played better on the road than at home last season, so hopefully that trend continues to start the season. Still, this is one of those matchups where the 49ers simply have more talent on paper, with one too many offensive weapons for Arizona's defense to contain.
Prediction: 49ers, 23–30
Week 4: Oct. 4 at New York Giants — 10:00 a.m. (CBS)
Week 4 against the Giants could be the first time the Cardinals don't enter the matchup as overwhelmingly heavy underdogs.
In order to win this, they'll have to rely on the experience advantage they have in Brissett compared to Jaxson Dart. If they can use the Giants' inexperience against them and force them into more mistakes, there's a pathway in which Arizona gets its first win of the year at MetLife.
Prediction: Cardinals, 24–21
Week 5: Oct. 11 vs. Detroit Lions — 1:25 p.m. (FOX)
In typical Lions fashion, this game could be a shootout. That's usually not a bad thing for the Cardinals to lean into their strengths on the offensive end, but that's not the case when trying to keep up with the perennially underrated Jared Goff and the amount of weapons he has at his disposal.
This could be an exciting game for fantasy managers, and the running back duel between Jahmyr Gibbs and Jeremiyah Love should be a fun battle to monitor. But if you're a fan of defense, or the Cardinals winning games, it's wise to go into this one with expectations tempered.
Prediction: Lions, 23–34
Week 6: Oct. 18 at Los Angeles Rams — 1:05 p.m. (FOX)
The Seahawks may have won the Super Bowl, defeating the Rams in their playoff path. It's still Los Angeles that's the better team heading into 2026.
They check every box required to contend, especially after their blockbuster acquisition of superstar defensive end Myles Garrett. When Vegas decided to list the Cardinals at 3.5 wins for the season, Week 6 on the road against the best team in football wasn't one of the games they had in mind.
A single-digit loss should be considered a moral victory for the Cardinals in this one.
Prediction: Rams, 20–28
Week 7: Oct. 25 vs. Denver Broncos — 1:05 p.m. (CBS)
The Broncos seem like a logical regression candidate after coming off a 14-3 season that exceeded expectations. With a top-tier defense, they should remain a playoff team, but a beatable one capable of losing on any given Sunday.
Bo Nix and Denver's offense are too inconsistent, potentially opening the door for Arizona to pull off the upset if their lackluster defense steps up to stall Denver's offense.
Prediction: Cardinals, 20–17
Week 8: Nov. 1 at Dallas Cowboys — 11:00 a.m. (FOX)
Similarly to the Lions in Week 5, the Cowboys' electric offense is not a team you want to get in a shootout with. Dak Prescott, George Pickens, and CeeDee Lamb playing at home compared to Brissett, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson? It's easy to see who wins that offensive battle.
The one area the Cardinals surprisingly have the advantage is at running back, which is a refreshing change after seeing them finish last season ranked 29th in rushing yards per game. Perhaps Arizona can pull off the upset if they dictate the tempo with the dynamic duo of Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier.
Then again, it's hard to establish a run game when Vegas considers you the worst team in the league. If Arizona plays from behind early on, it's going to be nearly impossible to catch up.
Prediction: Cowboys, 30–24
Week 9: Nov. 8 at Seattle Seahawks — 2:25 p.m. (FOX)
Playing on the road in Seattle is one of the most difficult environments thanks to a contagious12th-man fan base.
This could be a make-or-break stretch to define the Cardinals' season, as they have to play the Lions, Rams, Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks, Rams (again), and Chiefs all in a row. If they can manage to pull off a few upsets, Arizona could keep its season alive. If not, fans and front office alike could be turning their attention to the 2027 NFL Draft.
This Week 9 loss to the Seahawks seems like a turning point in the season, as the Cardinals could very well have only one or two wins. A blowout loss on the road could be the breaking point.
Prediction: Seahawks, 14–24
Week 10: Nov. 15 vs. Los Angeles Rams — 2:05 p.m. (CBS)
The Cardinals simply don't have enough quality defenders to contain all of the Rams' weapons, making this a terrible matchup. To be fair, that's pretty much the case for any team Los Angeles will matchup with, as teams face a pick-your-poison situation between Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
One advantage Arizona may have is new head coach Mike LaFleur's familiarity with Sean McVay's system, but that can only do so much.
Prediction: Rams, 21–30
Week 11: Nov. 22 at Kansas City Chiefs — 11:00 a.m. (CBS)
This hasn't been the same Patrick Mahomes and juggernaut Chiefs teams were typically accustomed to. Still, playing against Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Chiefs in Arrowhead remains one of the most difficult environments in the league. It would be shocking if the Cardinals are able to go into Kansas City and pull off the massive upset.
We may have to redefine expectations for what would be deemed a success in this one, especially if Mahomes is back playing at an MVP level after his injury.
Prediction: Chiefs, 14–27
Week 12: Nov. 29 vs. Washington Commanders — 2:25 p.m. (FOX)
What version of the Commanders are we going to get? More specifically, which Jayden Daniels are we going to see?
Daniels was electric as a rookie, but regressed last season as injuries limited him to just seven games played. That was the difference between a 12-win season and a 5-win season.
This could be a winnable game for the Cardinals if the Commanders and Daniels are similar to last year. However, we expect a bounce-back season with a healthier Daniels, whose dual-threat ability could be too much for the Cardinals to contain.
Prediction: Commanders, 24–27
Week 13: Dec. 6 vs. Philadelphia Eagles — 2:05 p.m. (FOX)
The Eagles had their flaws last season, particularly on the offensive end. Saquon Barkley regressed, and Jalen Hurts never seemed quite on the same page as his elite receivers. With how out of sync they looked throughout the season, it's impressive Philadelphia was still able to finish 11-6.
Expect the offense to get back on track this season, making the Eagles one of the best teams in the NFC and a legitimate contender. The amount of talent on their offense should be too much of a challenge for a Cardinals defense that has even more concerning flaws of its own.
Prediction: Eagles, 20–30
Week 14: BYE
Week 15: Dec. 20 vs. New York Jets — 2:05 p.m. (FOX)
The Cardinals will desperately need that Week 14 bye to recover from what is likely the most brutal stretch of any team's schedule this entire season. Hopefully they respond well from that break and are rejuvenated to finish the season on a strong note, even if the playoffs are out of the question at this point.
They have an opportunity to carry momentum into next season, starting with a very winnable home game against the Jets. Who knows, this could even be the first time all season the Cardinals are actually favored in a matchup!
Prediction: Cardinals, 24–20
Week 16: Dec. 27 at New Orleans Saints — 11:00 a.m. (FOX)
Don't sleep on the Saints this season. They finished 6-11 last year but still have a realistic shot to win the weak NFC South division, with question marks surrounding the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Panthers.
Ultimately, it will come down to up-and-coming quarterback Tyler Shough, who looked far better than expected in his rookie season as a second-round selection. He was one of the more NFL-ready quarterback prospects considering he's already 26 years old, but the Saints genuinely may have found their quarterback of the future.
They've also done a great job of surrounding him with talent to help him succeed, which gives them the slight edge in this matchup against the Cardinals.
Prediction: Saints, 21–24
Week 17: Jan. 3 vs. Las Vegas Raiders — 2:05 p.m. (CBS)
The Raiders managed to land Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick this offseason in hopes that they found their long-term answer at the quarterback position. The Cardinals are still waiting for their turn, with Jacoby Brissett being nothing more than a stopgap.
Had this battle of the league's bottom feeders come earlier in the season, it would likely be a far more competitive matchup. With the draft position becoming clearer this late into the season, this game could potentially determine who has the top pick next season.
It makes you wonder if the winner of this matchup is really even the winner.
Prediction: Cardinals, 23–20
Week 18: Jan. 9/10 vs. San Francisco 49ers — TBD
The Cardinals were already at a disadvantage from a pure roster talent standpoint. This Week 18 matchup against the 49ers could get even uglier, as there's a realistic possibility the two teams have different incentives.
Arizona may be fighting for draft position to land its potential franchise-altering quarterback. San Francisco may be fighting for a playoff spot that's even harder to come by in the NFC West.
Regardless of external circumstances, the 49ers would likely win this one, but the two teams' differing situations make this one a blowout.
Prediction: 49ers, 17–30
Projected final record: 4–13 (Wins: Giants, Broncos, Jets, Raiders)
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