The NFL will be here sooner than we think, even though it is farther away that we would like it to be. With the schedule set to be released this week, there will be plenty of predictions to make about each team in the league about how they could play out in 2024. The schedule is bigger than fans think because different scenarios can make or break a team. If a warm weather team heads north to play a team that plays in the snow in November/December, then it causes a big disadvantage. Vice versa with a warm weather team hosting a team up north in early September where the temperature is still scorching.
When it comes to the Arizona Cardinals, they will have a tough schedule despite finishing 4-13 last season. In an already tough NFC West division, the Cardinals will have many other uphill battles throughout the season. Arizona had a boom of an offseason through free agency and the NFL Draft, but now it is time to hit the field and see what they will be this upcoming season.
Outside of the NFC West, the Cardinals will have four tough opponents that will bring their best and cause trouble for the Cardinals. Jonathan Gannon and his coaching staff will have to be almost perfect as these four teams have either new faces or have had success in the last few seasons.
Here are the four tough non-NFC West opponents the Cardinals will play in 2024.
4.) Los Angeles Chargers
This might seem odd to have the Chargers on this list as they have lost so much this offseason. They traded away Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears, and let both Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler walk in free agency. The Chargers look a lot different and it all starts with the head coach change from Brandon Staley to Jim Harbaugh who will get another shot in the NFL after a successful Michigan career. Why the Chargers exactly?
With Harbaugh and Justin Herbert, this might be the start of Herbert finally unleashing his true potential. The Chargers have addressed the offensive line this offseason that is headlined by Joe Alt who was a top five pick in this year’s NFL Draft. In addition, all signs point to the Chargers having a steady running game led by Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. If they stay healthy and can gain solid yardage against the Cardinals, this can open up the passing game for Herbert. Arizona was among one of the worst run defenses in 2023 so this could be a tough matchup, despite getting free agent veterans Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones.
3.) Miami Dolphins
Since trading for Tyreek Hill going into the 2022 season, the Miami Dolphins have been the fastest offense in the league. With Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert and now the addition of Odell Beckham Jr., Miami is looking to go all in before potentially having to pay Tua Tagovailoa money that the quarterback market demands. The Dolphins are one of those teams that either don’t show up, or they can put up 70 points (just ask the Denver Broncos…). Assuming that the Dolphins have their stars healthy on offense, the Cardinals’ defense will have a major challenge to slow down this offense let alone stop them.
It is quite simple, get pressure on Tua early and often to take him out of his rhythm. The Cardinals had a tough time getting to the quarterback last week and unless the secondary comes up big against this receiving core, Arizona has no choice but to put massive pressure on Tua. This should be a fun matchup between both of these offenses but the Dolphins more speed which could put pressure on Kyler Murray and the offense to keep up.
2.) Green Bay Packers
One of the surprises of the NFL last season was Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love. With Aaron Rodgers being traded to the New York Jets last season, the Packers were expected to take a step back. Instead, they shocked the NFL by going 9-8 and giving a beatdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round. Not to mention, they were one drive away from getting to the NFC championship game but came up short against the San Francisco 49ers. Near the end of the season last year, Love showed that he will be the future of Green Bay and he finished with over 4,000 passing yards and 32 touchdowns with no clear number one wideout.
A possible advantage for the Packers when they face the Cardinals will be weather. Arizona will head to Green Bay this season and they need to hope that it is early on in the year. If the Cardinals have to play in that frigid weather in November/December, it is going to make life difficult for the Cardinals. Green Bay is already an established team and is ready to win now and the Cardinals will have some big challenges.
1.) Buffalo Bills
Sure, the Buffalo Bills had more major losses than gains this offseason. Although they still have a top three quarterback in Josh Allen in his prime with an upgraded play caller in Joe Brady. For the past four seasons, the Bills have won the AFC East, which included being 6-6 at one point last year and winning their last five to take the division from the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. The reason why they are number one on this list for the Cardinals is because Buffalo is a team that either plays down to their competition or they smack opponents around and don’t look back. After their disastrous Week 1 performance against the New York Jets last season, the Bills, over the next three games, would win by no less than 28 points against the Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins.
Yes, the Bills look a lot different now as compared to last season. There is no more Stefon Diggs and their secondary is almost brand new. However, when a defense has Josh Allen on their schedule, he is someone where if a team does not plan for him, he will take over in a short amount of time. While he will need to connect with new receivers like Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel, don’t think that he can’t get a connection early on. The Cardinals’ defense is in either for an easy or super hard challenge when they head to Buffalo.