The Arizona Cardinals' 2024 schedule has been released and they will start off the season in Western New York taking on the Buffalo Bills. Then they will have three consecutive home games before having the rest of their schedule balanced out as evenly as possible. The Cardinals have a great chance at improving their record from last year (4-13) as long as their health is not affected early on. Going into this upcoming season, the Cardinals have the chance to turn things around in the franchise but without having to face massive pressure as a team. While Kyler Murray and even Jonathan Gannon may have some pressure, the Cardinals overall do not need to worry about not meeting any super high expectations.
From now until the start of the season, there will be predictions for each team and how they will perform in 2024. In this very early game-by-game record prediction, we look at each game for the Cardinals for this season.
These will change as time the offseason continues but this is just an eye test as to how the Cardinals could perform this season.
Here is an early game-by-game record prediction for the Cardinals in 2024.
Week 1 - @ Buffalo Bills
In the season opener, we will see Kyler Murray vs. Josh Allen in front of Bills Mafia. The last time these two quarterbacks faced off against each other was in 2020 where the infamous “Hail Murray” pass from Murray to DeAndre Hopkins took place that gave the Cardinals a 32-30 victory. Both teams are at different points within their franchise, but the Cardinals had a much better offseason as compared to Buffalo. At the same time, the Bills are the kind of team that will either fold early on and not show up, or put up 40+ points and not look back. As it stands, the Bills are also a touchdown favorite for this matchup.
The Bills were embarrassed last year in Week 1 after letting the New York Jets come back to beat them in overtime. While the Cardinals will put up a big fight, the Bills and Josh Allen come out with the win.
Record: 0-1
Week 2: Los Angeles Rams
The Cardinals will have their home opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. The Rams have dominated the Cardinals in recent memory and do not lose very often to the Cardinals. However, the Rams had a massive loss this offseason by losing Aaron Donald to retirement. While the Rams revamped their defensive line this offseason through the NFL Draft, Donald’s presence will certainly be missed.
Yes, LA has the best of Arizona but all things must come to an end eventually. With the moves the Cardinals made this offseason, there is no reason to count them out against the Rams. We see upsets all the time in this league and while Arizona will need to be almost perfect to beat the Rams, they do so in their home opener and defeat the Rams.
Record: 1-1
Week 3: Detroit Lions
It is Jonathan Gannon vs. Dan Campbell for Week 3 in Arizona. Both head coaches can motivate their players and both of their teams play hard, despite the outcome of the game. There is no doubt that the Lions have risen fast to the near top of the NFC and even the league. The Cardinals get themselves the home field advantage and Jared Goff, who just signed a massive four-year, $212 million dollar contract. While Goff deserved to get paid, players who get paid tend to decline just a bit from where they left off before their new contract.
There is no doubt that this will be an extremely tough matchup for the Cardinals. While Arizona will have the chance to take advantage of a young Lions secondary, it won’t be enough to get the win. Detroit comes to Arizona and wins this one to give the Cardinals their second loss in three weeks.
Record: 1-2
Week 4: Washington Commanders
For their third consecutive home game in four weeks, the Cardinals will host the Washington Commanders. This is the revenge game for Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was the head coach in Arizona from 2019-2022. Kingsbury has a new rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels who was the Heisman Trophy winner at LSU last year. The Commanders have quality veteran experience on both sides of the ball in Bobby Wagner and Austin Ekeler. Under new head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders will look to build themselves back up.
Last season, the Cardinals and Commanders faced off in Week 1 with the Commanders coming out on top 20-16. That was when the Cardinals did not have Kyler Murray or a majority of the weapons that they have now, including an improved defense. This will be a different outcome. Arizona gets their second win of the season in this game to go 2-1 in the three home game stretch.
Record: 2-2
Week 5: @ San Francisco 49ers
After three home games in a row, the Cardinals go up to northern California to take on the 49ers. The Cardinals have lost the last four games against San Francisco, giving up 30+ points in each of those games. The 49ers have built themselves up as the best team in the NFC in recent memory and they might have just one more season to get a Super Bowl before they start paying and losing key players that have contributed to their success. The Cardinals have not defeated the 49ers in the Bay since 2021 and that streak continues here.
Record: 2-3
Week 6: @ Green Bay Packers
The Cardinals get another schedule break by avoiding a winter game up in Green Bay against the Packers. Green Bay is coming off an overachieving season from last year and is looking to do the same thing now that they have their future in Jordan Love. The Cardinals will have to deal with a rushing attack from newly signed running back Josh Jacobs as well as A.J. Dillon. It is very simple to say that Green Bay could run the ball 25+ times in this game.
This game could be a big one for the Cardinals later on in the season because it could be a potential tiebreaker game. Both the Packers and the Cardinals have uphill battles within their respective divisions. With the Packers having a better secondary with Xavier McKinney and almost the same offense as last season, they get the best of the Cardinals.
Record: 2-4
Week 7: Los Angeles Chargers (MNF)
The one and only primetime game for the Cardinals takes place at State Farm stadium where they will host the Los Angeles Chargers. Arizona’s roster looks a lot better than the Chargers, there should be no debate about it. The Chargers lost a lot of offensive firepower and didn’t exactly do the best job at replacing it. Even though the offensive line should be much better, Justin Herbert may have another tough season once again.
Under the lights, the Cardinals handle the Chargers to get back into the win column.
Record: 3-4
Week 8: @ Miami Dolphins
The Cardinals head to the southeast down to south beach for an exciting offensive matchup with the Miami Dolphins. Early on in their season, the Dolphins usually have early success but things start to slowly come down for them. Miami has an offense that can take over right from the start. The key to shutting them down is by pressuring Tua Tagovailoa early and often. He does not handle pressure well and is not as mobile as other quarterbacks who can make plays off script.
Arizona has the chance to get their first out-of-conference win here at Hard Rock stadium and if they can slow down Miami’s passing offense, the Cardinals will come out victorious.
Record: 4-4
Week 9: Chicago Bears
The number one overall pick Caleb Williams and the Bears travel down to the desert in the first week of November. Chicago has a ton of pressure on them. They made solid free agent moves to surround Williams with and Matt Eberflus is under an enormous amount of pressure as he looks to start over at the quarterback position. There is no doubt that the Bears look like a better team heading into 2024. Barring any major injuries, there should be no reason why they are not a playoff team.
When they come to Arizona, they will be looking to get an in-conference win against the Cardinals. Arizona has more experience at quarterback and the better rookie wide receiver. However, the Bears played great defense at the end of last season and their offense vastly improved which is too much for the Cardinals. Chicago picks up the win here.
Record: 4-5
Week 10: New York Jets
The following week, the Cardinals will host Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. Much like the Bears, the Jets have a talented defense and upgraded their offensive line this offseason. Just like Eberflus, Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh has a great amount of pressure if he wants to be in New York beyond the 2024 season. The Jets overall have more proven talent but they seem to always get hit with some bad luck at some in the season.
However, while the Cardinals put up a fight, the Jets overpower Arizona to give the Cardinals another loss.
Record: 4-6
Week 11: Bye Week
Week 12: @ Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals head up to the northwest for a date with Seattle. The last time these two met, the Cardinals missed a game-winning field goal in Week 18 of last week that gave the Cardinals the 4th overall pick of the NFL Draft. With that pick, the Cardinals selected their future WR1 in Marvin Harrison Jr. The Seahawks have a new head coach in Mike MacDonald and a quarterback room of Geno Smith and Sam Howell. While it is not the worst, it is certainly not one of the best either. In this expected defensive battle, the Cardinals get back on track and steal this game from the Seahawks.
Record: 5-6
Week 13: @ Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are great at every position in their offense, except for the quarterback spot. Minnesota traded up for Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in this year’s draft and while he seems to do nothing but win, it is easy to do so when he had Jim Harbaugh and NFL talent around him at Michigan. However, he walks into yet another great situation with Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson (who could return by this point from his knee injury last year) and running back Aaron Jones.
Arizona’s defense has a lot to defend against the Vikings’ offense. At the same time, the Cardinals’ offense has a lot of strengths that Minnesota has to defend. This game could easily come down to having the ball last and in this scenario, the Cardinals get the opportunity to get the game-winning touchdown. Arizona gets their first back-to-back wins this season at this point.
Record: 6-6
Week 14: Seattle Seahawks
Just two weeks ago, the Cardinals faced off against the Seahawks and stole a win against Seattle. Now they host the Seahawks in Arizona in Week 14. It has been awhile since the Cardinals took the season series against an NFC West opponent and while they have the chance to do so here, they come up short at home against the Seahawks to split the season series 1-1 on the year.
Record: 6-7
Week 15: New England Patriots
After losing at home to the Seahawks, the Cardinals get themselves a favorable matchup against the new look Patriots who could either have Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye at quarterback. No matter who is under center, the Patriots just do not have much firepower on offense. As far as their defense, they do have some talent but the Cardinals’ offense has more explosiveness that can take over the game. Arizona gets back on track here with a win.
Record: 7-7
Week 16: @ Carolina Panthers
Yet another favorable matchup for the Cardinals. The only disadvantage is that they have to travel out east to Carolina, but they do not have any major superstars that they have to plan for. The Panthers are looking to right their wrongs from last season and help Bryce Young get back on track from a horrendous rookie season. While Carolina made a couple of solid moves to add to their roster, there still are not any big time x-factors for them to give them a chance against the Cardinals.
Arizona takes care of business against the Panthers and get above .500 for the first time this season.
Record: 8-7
Week 17: @ Los Angeles Rams
Another road trip for the Cardinals as they head to southern California to take on the Rams. In Week 2, the Rams suffered a shocking loss to the Cardinals in Arizona but much like the season series against the Seahawks, it is hard to imagine the Cardinals getting a season sweep within the NFC West. Arizona and Los Angeles split the series with a Rams victory here.
Record: 8-8
Week 18: San Francisco 49ers
This will be interesting to see how everything plays out in the final week of the regular season. The 49ers could easily have the conference locked up at this point and if that does happen, there is no reason as to why they should play any of their starters. Sitting at 8-8, the Cardinals could be fighting for a potential playoff spot so this would be the perfect setup for them. Unless, the 49ers absolutely want to keep Arizona from making the playoffs, the Cardinals can get a steal here and end the regular season on a high note, with a shot at making the playoffs.