It's official! The Arizona Cardinals have released their 2023 schedule. And while it's a rather tough going, anything can happen over 18 weeks of NFL action.
The Arizona Cardinals 2023 schedule is here. And I am excited to give you the rundown and to make a few predictions.
Now, the Redbirds may have a tougher schedule and they will be definite underdogs heading into the season. But that doesn't mean they won't surprise us. This is a young football team who should see its incumbent franchise quarterback return at some point this season. They also have a new coach, a stellar draft class, and a new outlook.
So although the critics are already counting out our Arizona Cardinals, there is still reason to get excited for the season. That said, how do I feel they will fare in 2023? Keep reading for a rundown of the complete schedule, and a prediction of each game.
Introducing the 2023 Arizona Cardinals schedule! (Home games in bold)
- Week 1: Washington Commanders
- Week 2: New York Giants
- Week 3: Dallas Cowboys
- Week 4: San Francisco 49ers
- Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 6: Los Angeles Rams
- Week 7: Seattle Seahawks
- Week 8: Baltimore Ravens
- Week 9: Cleveland Browns
- Week 10: Atlanta Falcons
- Week 11: at Houston Texans
- Week 12: Los Angeles Rams
- Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 14: Bye
- Week 15: San Francisco 49ers
- Week 16: Chicago Bears
- Week 17: Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 18: Seattle Seahawks
Week 1 Prediction at Commanders
The first game of the year could not have worked out any better for the Arizona Cardinals. They will kick off the year on the road against a much more manageable opponent than they had in 2022 with the Washington Commanders.
Since Sam Howell is the projected starter at the time of this writing, even if the Cards end up starting a backup in either Colt McCoy, Jeff Driskel, David Blough, or even Clayton Tune, don't be shocked if they emerge on top in this one. And that's exactly what I'm predicting.
Like the Cards, the Commanders are likely in rebuilding mode for 2023, so many analysts may see this game going either way. But recent history is on the Cardinals side, as they've played far better on the road than they had at home over the previous two seasons.
Game 2 vs. Giants
It's safe to say the New York Giants were the surprise team last season, coming out of nowhere to make an unprecedented playoff appearance. This season, New York will take no one by surprise, so can the Arizona Cardinals pull off the upset?
This is one of those situations where I want to say yes, they will, but logistically, I just don't see it. Look for an improved Giants team to fly into State Farm Stadium, take the W, and send the Redbirds into Week 3 with a 0.500 record.
Game 3 vs. Cowboys
This is one game fans will have circled in red, as the Cardinals square off against a former division rival, the Dallas Cowboys. This is one of those teams that will always bring out the best in the Redbirds, so regardless of who's playing quarterback in this one, I'm picking the upset - The Arizona Cardinals will triumph over the Cowboys in a nail-biter.
Game 4 at 49ers
This will be a tough one for any team to win, let alone the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals. With the San Francisco 49ers boasting what could be the NFL's best defense, it's tough to see the Redbirds escaping Santa Clara with the W, so chalk this one up as another loss.
The best-case scenario here is that the Cards at least keep this one interesting. But if they roll with a backup quarterback here, I don't like their chances.
Game 5 vs. Bengals
Yikes! This is what we didn't want, but we knew it was bound to happen. The Cardinals would be playing two Super Bowl-caliber teams back-to-back, and don't be surprised if this happens multiple times this season.
Following what will likely be a big loss to the 49ers, things get no easier when Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals come to town. Look for the Cards to drop their second straight game as the playoff races start to take form.
The good news in all of this? At least the Cards have an easier opponent for Week 6. Let's check them out.
Game 6 at Rams
Both teams are in rebuilding years, so don't expect either the Arizona Cardinals or the Los Angeles Rams to contend for playoff spots in 2023. But both will be looking to prove that they are better than they were last season, so look for a hardfought one here.
This could be one of those games that would give any outsider not following the two teams headaches. But at the end of the day, I'm rolling with the Cardinals, who will win what could be a field goal infested contest.
Game 7 at Seahawks
You have a lot of NFL experts predicting the Seattle Seahawks will be a good team in 2023, but there is also a chance that this team crashes if quarterback Geno Smith falls back to Earth. I'm taking a more pessimistic scenario here, and the former second-round-pick uses the talent around him to light up a suspect Cardinals defense.
While I believe the Cards will make this an interesting contest, I'm not expecting them to stick around past the midway point of the third quarter. They will drop this one by two touchdowns.
Game 8 vs. Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are an injury-prone team, but even if they aren't at full strength, they've still shown time and again that they can beat almost anyone, especially teams that are building for the future. Regardless of who is healthy, expect the Ravens to fly into the desert and take this one handedly.
Like the previous contest, this is one of those games where you just want the Cardinals to stick around for a while. If they make it interesting, then maybe you can see some good come out of this one.
Game 9 at Browns
I've long said that the Cleveland Browns are one of the NFL's most overrated teams heading into 2023. Sure, they have DeShaun Watson and Nick Chubb, but the former has shown us little since he arrived in Cleveland, and the latter is at least middle-aged in running back years.
Therefore, the Cardinals will fly to the lakefront and upset Cleveland, before coming back to the desert and enjoying a 4-5 record heading into Week 10. And they just may pull off a back-to-back.
Game 10 vs. Falcons
If quarterback Kyler Murray is back by this point, then there is no question: Chalk this one up as a win for the Arizona Cardinals. Even if Murray still isn't available, it's not too much to worry about, as the Falcons are yet another rebuilding team the Redbirds can handle.
Either way, I feel that they will get the best of the Atlanta Falcons. While I can see this game being a little close for comfort, the Cards sneak away with another win with the hometown fans at their backs, and improve to 5-5.
Game 11 at Texans
This midseason run against weaker teams could prove to work in the Cardinals favor. The Falcons and the Houston Texans are two teams in similar positions as Arizona, but with a dynamic receiving unit, I'm once again saying the Cards hold the edge here.
While no win will come easily this season, I'm once again looking for Arizona to take it to the Texans and come away with the W. They will stand at a surprising 6-5, and have some momentum built as the back-half of the season takes fold.
Game 12 vs. Rams
Sooner or later, the Cardinals are going to lose one against a weaker opponent. And after riding a three-game winning streak, this young team's luck may have run out in their twelfth contest of the year. But that's okay, as you can't beat every team on your level.
Game 13 at Steelers
The Arizona Cardinals will head into their bye week in Week 14, and if that bye was flip-flopped with this contest, then I'm saying the Cards pull off the upset and celebrate on that long flight back to the desert. But that's not the case, and with the Pittsburgh Steelers looking to become a force in the NFL once more, I'm predicting the Cards lose big in this one.
At this point, though, sitting at 6-7, you couldn't be happier for the Redbirds if this result is indeed the case. With six wins in this scenario, just about any expert out there will say the same thing: The Cardinals exceeded their expectations. And chances are, they may not be finished winning just yet, despite the two-game losing streak.
Games 14 vs. 49ers
The good news? At least the Arizona Cardinals have a couple of weeks between games for this one. The bad? It won't matter, as the 49ers are going to be battling for a top seed in the playoffs at this point, and will likely be giving their all against what is now an ailing Cardinals team.
Look for another blowout loss in this one, which will drop the Redbirds to 6-8. But there are still three games left, and plenty of time to end this season on the high note.
Game 15 at Bears
There is no better team to play against than the Chicago Bears if you're the Cardinals. Although it's not a traditional division rivalry, many will consider the Bears the Cardinals biggest rival thanks to the fact that the two teams played in the same city for decades.
And while the Bears are a step ahead of the Cards, I'm saying Kyler Murray (now in midseason form) and company take this one by putting 35-plus points up on the scoreboard. It will improve the Cards to 7-8, and while the playoffs are unlikely, I can't stress enough over how much this team overachieved in this scenario.
Game 16 at Eagles
Say what you're going to say, but I'm predicting the upset of the year in this one, There is no love lost between these two franchises, and although the Cardinals aren't going anywhere, they will be playing for head coach Jonathan Gannon.
And while the coach's job will be more than safe, it's the will to beat the team they took Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis from. This will be a close, hardfought classic battle between a perennial playoff contender and a team content with a 0.500 (or close to) finish, and the Arizona Cardinals take it on a last-second field goal, stunning the Eagles.
Game 17 - vs Seahawks
Sitting at 8-8, the Cardinals want nothing more than to finish the year with a winning record. But it's highly likely the Seahawks, under quarterback Geno Smith, will be fighting for their playoff lives, and it will fuel them in this one.
Not that the Cardinals won't go down without a fight, as I can see it happening. But this game means too much to Seattle and their head coach, Pete Carroll, to lose, and they drop the Cards to an 8-9 finish.
Source: Cardinals Release Official 2023 Schedule by Darren Urban, AZCardinals.com