The Arizona Cardinals dropped their previous five games, and they are deservedly the worst team in football. But with Kyler Murray slated to return the following week (if not this Sunday, depending on what Jonathan Gannon says tomorrow), there will be excitement brewing in the desert.
No, there isn’t a chance for the Cards to turn their season around enough to make the playoffs, but they can always end it on a high note, especially with Murray taking his first in-game reps in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s offense. So whether you are a fan or a critic of the quarterback, chances are, you will be watching.
So how will Murray fare when he returns? Keep reading to see how well the Cardinals stack up against their next four opponents, and if the former number one pick can win a couple of games by Week 12.
Predicting the Arizona Cardinals next four matchups
Week 9: at Cleveland Browns
The Arizona Cardinals officially have Kyler Murray listed as questionable for their matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland’s league-best defense could be too much for quarterback Clayton Tune if he takes the reins, and they will also be without running back Emari Demercado.
Michael Wilson is also questionable, and if he misses his one, then Tune and Company will have a tough time overcoming this defense. The only way Arizona wins this one is if they can get Keaontay Ingram rolling early and take pressure off of Tune (or Murray), but on paper, this one looks like a loss.
While the Cards will drop to 1-8 on the year, the excitement should start brewing for quarterback Kyler Murray’s return. And he may have some magic up his sleeve when Week 10 rolls around.
Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Kyler Murray will return for the Cardinals Week 10 matchup vs. the Atlanta Falcons unless he suffers an unforeseen setback between now and then. Regardless, it will be his first home game in nearly a year, so the energy will be high both among the Cardinals players and those attending the game.
The Falcons, however, boast a top 10 defense, and that will make this sorely underrated team tough to beat. However, a potential quarterback controversy could be erupting, so if that lingers into Week 10, that could play into the Cardinals hands.
Atlanta’s passing has been up-and-down this season, but they also take a lot of sacks: the fifth-most in the league after eight weeks. They can get the ball rolling with the running game, but the Cards could also have James Conner and Emari Demercado back for this matchup to counter the Falcons.
Overall, expect a low-scoring game, but a narrow Cardinals win in Murray’s first game back. His presence will be the deciding factor.
Week 11: at Houston Texans
The Arizona Cardinals have a good reason to win this game: Beat the Houston Texans, and they are one step closer to getting a higher draft pick from the team they traded with back in April–and that’s the way it should be. Houston has been playing well for a team that supposedly lacked talent, so this one won’t be easy to win.
Despite C.J. Stroud looking good, the Texans have collectively had a pedestrian offense. However, if there is one thing they do well, it’s keeping their quarterback’s uniform clean, as they have given up only 15 sacks in seven games, and it’s not like the Cardinals defense fares well against opposing offenses, so that could play to Houston’s advantage.
Their defense is also a top 10 unit, and once again, we could be looking at a lower-scoring game in Week 11. So the way things currently stand, Houston looks like the better team on paper, and they take this one despite Murray giving the Cardinals offense more life than we would have seen under guys like Joshua Dobbs.
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
And finally, the Los Angeles Rams will make their way to State Farm Stadium to face the Cardinals in what will be a better showing than the last time these two teams met. Murray will generate more than nine points against a Rams defense that ranks 21st in the league, and this one could see both teams light up the scoreboard.
It’s the perfect opportunity for Murray to come up big in clutch moments, and we’ll see him thrive in the new-look offense, converting those red zone chances that Dobbs couldn’t just a few short weeks ago. The Cards will hit the 30-point mark in this game, and sneak by with a narrow win thanks to us seeing a vintage Kyler Murray.
Overall, the Redbirds will finish 2-2 and go into the final stretch of the 2023 season at 3-9. No, it won’t be a good record, and once more, 3-9 teams often have their fans looking toward April. But this may be a more optimistic 3-9, especially if the Cards can outduel the Rams.
(Information provided by Pro-Football-Reference)