With reports about the NFL schedule being released next week Wednesday, the Arizona Cardinals will finally learn when they will play their scheduled opponents in 2024. They have known who they will play, which include four potential starting rookie quarterbacks. However, they will face some serious competition as well which includes Miami, Buffalo, Green Bay and Detroit. The Cardinals are 8-26 over the last two seasons. In the last ten seasons, the Cardinals only have five seasons of 8+ wins and Jonathan Gannon will be looking to turn around the franchise.
While it takes hard practice and focus, it also takes a little bit of luck for a team to come out with a win. Part of that luck can come from their schedule. Whether it is injuries or bad play, teams can benefit or suffer from their schedule. Arizona will need some luck with the release of the NFL schedule.
Here are the four best case scenarios for the Cardinals’ 2024 schedule.
4.) Arizona faces LA Rams twice early on
Since 2017, the Cardinals have beaten the Los Angeles Rams just three times. Long story short, the Cardinals have a tough time defeating the Rams. While Arizona should be able to try and beat the Rams at any point, they would benefit heavily by facing the Rams twice early on so that the matchups are done and over sooner than later. The Cardinals only put up 23 total points against the Rams last season, while LA would score no less than 26 points in a game against Arizona. One factor to consider when these two matchup is that the Rams will no longer have Aaron Donald causing chaos.
The Cardinals would majorly benefit from getting a break in their schedule by getting their games against the Rams early on rather than later in the season. However, it is more likely that LA and Arizona will face each other atleast once in November or December.
3.) The Bears come to Arizona in September
The Cardinals will host the new-look Chicago Bears this season. Sure, maybe Caleb Williams will pan out eventually and be the next big player in the league. It does help that he has a solid supporting cast with wide receivers in Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore, in addition to having a promising run game led by D’Andre Swift. Despite the Bears having a lot of promise for this season and beyond, Williams is a rookie quarterback at the end of the day. Rookie quarterbacks are destined to make mistakes because the NFL is a faster and more physical game than the college level.
There is no denying that the Cardinals can play hardnose football. While they did not win much last year, they played tough under Jonathan Gannon and have improved their roster since then. Getting the chance to take on a rookie quarterback early in September or early October would give the Cardinals a break when it comes to facing quarterback play. This is not to say that Williams won’t impress with his talent, but the Cardinals will have the chance to welcome Williams to the NFL and make his game a rough one when taking on the Cardinals’ defense. The potential early struggles by a rookie would be a massive favor for Arizona.
2.) Cardinals play Miami in November/December
Anyone who has to play the Miami Dolphins early in the season will need to deal with the sunshine that makes the temperature much hotter than it is. Arizona will be on the road when they face the Dolphins. If the Cardinals are able to get a game against the Dolphins where it is not the scorching Miami heat, they will not have to worry about the sun hitting down on them on the sidelines. Not to mention, the Dolphins are built to win early in the season off of their speed. They usually do not have as much success in the later part of the season.
Kyler Murray vs. Tua Tagovailoa, both who have great number one options at receiver, will be a fun matchup to watch. The Cardinals took a step forward this offseason as compared to the Dolphins, who have lost pieces all over their roster. However, Miami still has a wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the Cardinals are not going to want to be having to defend that duo in the Miami heat.
1.) Cardinals avoid cold weather games
There is only one worse thing than playing in the heat, and that is in freezing temperatures. The Cardinals were dealt road games against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, as well as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The freezing temperatures in Green Bay and Buffalo can put a lot of stress on a visiting team, especially if they are a warm-weather team like the Cardinals. The Packers and Bills are coming off of postseason appearances and are looking to take the next step forward. They already have an advantage of hosting the Cardinals this season, but may have more leverage if it takes place in late November or December.
Arizona needs to hope that they are not put down on the schedule to head to Green Bay and Buffalo in the later part of the season. The last thing Cardinals fans need is to see the Cardinals find a way to win in potential snow and cold weather.