The Arizona Cardinals' season opener is Sunday, September 13, in a road matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Their schedule to start the season doesn't get any easier after that, with a September 20 home opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Seven of the Cardinals' first 11 games are on the road, and their home matchups during that stretch include Seattle, Detroit, Denver, and the LA Rams.
Absolutely brutal.
Things finally lighten up after a Week 14 bye that Arizona could desperately be looking forward to at that point. They have the Jets, Saints, Raiders, and 49ers to finish off the year. But that will, in all likelihood, be too little too late.
Arizona was already at a massive disadvantage by being stuck in the toughest division in the league, but the additional opponents on their 2026 slate make the playoffs essentially out of reach before the season even begins.
Cardinals 2026 schedule could be a blessing in disguise
It's one of many reasons we believe it would be in their best long-term interest to call this year a wash and look ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft to address their quarterback concerns.
Jacoby Brissett continues his holdout, but even if the Cardinals do ultimately bring him back on a more lucrative deal, it's not going to change anything in the scheme of things. It would certainly make for a more entertaining season, but could also be the very thing that causes Arizona to miss out on the likes of an Arch Manning or Dante Moore.
This brutal schedule should only be further confirmation that the Cardinals shouldn't give in to Brissett's demands, though it remains to be seen whether they ultimately will.
Besides the quarterback saga, another issue with this demanding schedule is the Cardinals' newfound identity as a team that heavily invested in the running back position this offseason. A handful of these games will quickly get out of reach, making it that much more difficult to find that offensive balance.
Mike LaFleur's offensive ingenuity, coming over from the Sean McVay coaching tree, will help in that regard, as he'll figure out creative ways to get Arizona's playmakers involved. But it was always apparent that LaFleur would have his work cut out for him with this roster, and those concerns have only intensified after Arizona's rough draw.
A Week 4 win against the Giants and a Week 12 win over the Commanders seem realistic. But there's a good chance this team is looking at two or three wins heading into that Week 14 bye.
Hopefully, their offense clicks under LaFleur and they exceed expectations. Still, it's a weird predicament for fans who refuse to root against this team but also know that losing could ultimately be in their best interest.
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