The Arizona Cardinals face a challenging 2026 schedule, ranked as the third most difficult based on opponents' 2025 records. Six of their 17 games are against division rivals who made the playoffs last season.
Key points
Arizona Cardinals have a challenging 2026 schedule
Ranked as the third most difficult based on 2025 opponent records
Six games against playoff teams from their division
Cardinals finished fourth in the previous season
Arizona CardinalsNFL
A view of State Farm Stadium seats (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A view of State Farm Stadium seats (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Arizona Cardinals knew that, despite being one of the fourth-place finishers in last yearâs regular season, their schedule this year wasnât going to be an easy one. In fact, it is the third most difficult based on the 2025 win-loss records of their upcoming opponents.
Part of the issue is the fact that three of their division mates all made the playoffs with very good records. And that accounts for six of the Cardinalsâ 17 games.
And now that the schedule has been approved and is public, what is going on with Arizona? Their opponents were already announced months ago, but are now aligned. What have we learned?
Right out of the gate
Great googly moogly. Are you kidding? Right off, the NFL is giving the most ardent dance lessons to the one-legged man.
In the first seven games, they play both #1 seeds from last yearâs post-season, five playoff teams, and another who won 15 games the year before. And even the New York Football Giants are going to be much improved based on the fact that John Harbaugh is now their head coach.
Q&A
What makes the 2026 Arizona Cardinals schedule so difficult?
The schedule is ranked as the third most difficult due to the strong performance of their opponents in 2025, particularly three division rivals who made the playoffs.
How many games do the Cardinals play against playoff teams in 2026?
The Cardinals will play six games against division rivals who all made the playoffs last season.
What was the Cardinals' performance in the previous season?
The Arizona Cardinals finished as one of the fourth-place teams in the previous regular season.
When will the Arizona Cardinals' 2026 schedule be released?
The specific dates for the 2026 schedule have not been announced yet, but the NFL typically releases schedules in the spring.
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Just one year earlier, the Lions had 15 wins. Five of those eight losses this past season were by seven points or fewer, so Detroit isnât one of those easy games despite its fourth-place finish in its division.
The Week 10 threshold
In Week 10, the Cardinals host the Rams on November 15. That means the franchise would have already played all of its division games except for the finale against the 49ers.
Week 2, September 20: Seahawks
Week 3, September 27: @ 49ers
Week 6, October 18: @ Rams
Week 9, November 8: @ Seahawks
Week 10, November 15: Rams
Late bye is a good thing
Most players like their bye week to be somewhere around Week 9 or 10. Arizonaâs is after the Week 13 contest at home against the Eagles.
But something magical happens after the bye week. The schedule becomes the easiest itâs going to get:
Now, keep in mind, teams flip their season all the time. The NFL is built for parity. In 2024, the New England Patriots finished 4-13-0, and last year won their division with a 14-3-0 record and a trip to the Super Bowl. The Washington Commanders went to the NFC Championship in 2024 and last year finished 5-12-0, so it cuts both ways.
However, if you look at this schedule strictly from the amber lens of the 2025 season, the final four games for Arizona are all winnable. The 49ers, you say? Remember last year when the Cardinals began 2-0-0 and had the lead on the Niners when a Zay Jones pass that he cradled became incomplete? A reception would have ended the game.
What the Cardinals will need to do this year is become one of those season flippers and end up with 10 or 11 victories.
Think itâs not possible? Be honest, is this roster a helluva lot better than last yearâs? If Arizona had a stud QB, wouldnât Vegas be singing praises on the Cardinals with all the weapons they have stockpiled on offense?
Think about how many wins they blew last year:
Leading the 49ers 15-13 with 3:26 left
Tied the Seahawks 20-20 with :28 left
Was killing the Titans 21-3 and led 21-19 with 4:39 left
