With the NFL schedule set to be released tonight, Arizona Cardinals fans will finally get to see when the Cardinals will face certain opponents. The Cardinals have an easier schedule based on their opponents’ win percentage from last season, but that doesn’t mean that it is going to be a walk in the park for them. One advantage that they do have is taking on the fourth place teams in specific divisions and the Cardinals had a much better offseason than they did. Jonathan Gannon and the coaching staff will have a great advantage because they have an established quarterback in Kyler Murray who has the talent to be a top ten quarterback.
There are three opponents that the Cardinals will face next season and they should easily win against these three teams. Arizona has had four wins in each of the last two seasons and there should be no reason why the Cardinals get atleast three of their wins against specific teams. However, with the Cardinals having a boom type of offseason, they are expected to win more than just three or four games.
Here are the three opponents that the Cardinals should easily beat in 2024.
3.) Washington Commanders
The Cardinals and Commanders were Week 1 opponents last season and Washington came out on top in a 20-16 win. The Cardinals had the chance to make a comeback against the Commanders but came up short. Since that game, the Cardinals and Commanders have taken two different routes within their franchises. The Commanders will have a different look defense than they did last year with players like Chase Young and Montez Sweat on different teams now. Then the biggest change for the Commanders is taking place at the quarterback spot with Jayden Daniels, the second overall pick of the NFL Draft.
The Commanders’ offense looks exciting but Daniels is still a rookie at the end of the day and will have growing pains. The Cardinals improved their defense in free agency and the draft so they will need to find a way to disrupt Daniels’ gameplan and welcome him to the NFL.
2.) Carolina Panthers
The Cardinals will hit the road to face the Panthers next season and there is no reason to believe that the Panthers will have much improvement from their awful season last year. With having a new head coach in Dave Canales, and a big project to work on with Bryce Young, the Panthers are looking to turn things around from last season. Carolina does not have the firepower on offense to make the Cardinals’ defense worried and they also have a defense that has a lot of improvement to do.
When it comes to matchups, the Cardinals have the more experienced head coach who has a “play tough” mentality and the much better quarterback. In addition, Arizona has more stable weapons in the backfield and on the outside as well. The Cardinals should get themselves an easy road win against the Panthers in front of their fans this season.
1.) New England Patriots
Who would have thought that we would be at a point in the NFL where the Patriots are one of the weakest teams in the NFL. However, all good things must come to an end the Patriots are officially out of the Bill Belichick era. The Cardinals get the biggest schedule break hosting the Patriots at some point this coming season. New England has a brand new head coach in Jerod Mayo and a quarterback competition between veteran Jacoby Brissett and rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
The Patriots do not have any true stars on their roster and quite frankly, have the least exciting offense in the league. As they look to rebuild, this is the perfect opportunity for the Cardinals to not just win this game, but to dominate. Arizona will have a passing attack that could be too much for the Patriots’ secondary to handle. While New England could be looking to just figure out what they have for the future, the Cardinals will be looking to take the next step forward in the right direction.