GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals have the 27th easiest schedule in the NFL, but it doesn’t eliminate a brutal final stretch of the season. Arizona plays four of its final six games on the road against five teams with a winning record in 2024. While the first half is easier in contrast, it contains must-win matchups against lower echelon team for the Cardinals, who’re aiming for a postseason berth.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The schedule is in place for the franchise to achieve that, but it has to win these three tough matchups below to make the doubters believers.
1. Week 18: @ Los Angeles Rams
Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) shake hands following the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Last year’s NFC West winners, the Los Angeles Rams, are likely to repeat with the addition of Davante Adams. Arizona smoked LA in State Farm Stadium early last season, but the Rams came back from a 1-4 start to beat the Cardinals in Week 17 and win the division. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay are winners, and they find ways to win football games despite the roster around them.
The emergence of rookie linebacker Jared Verse brought a defense with low expectations into playoff caliber and almost knocked off the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round. The Week 18 matchup could potentially be for the division if quarterback Kyler Murray can handle the easy and home-friendly first half of the schedule.
2. Week 9: MNF @ Dallas Cowboys
Sep 24, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs (9) escapes a tackle from Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Murray returns home to Texas on a national stage. The Cardinals will be coming off a bye week and has a potential to make a statement on ESPN. Arizona plays two teams with a winning record from last year in the first seven weeks and can have one of the best records in the league against America’s team.
The Cowboys had a down year because of injuries, going 7-10 and missing the playoffs. However, expectations come when you play in Jerry’s World, and the franchise is ready to bounce back. A healthy Dak Prescott will try to bring Dallas back to relevance with the help of All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Murray’s former teammate at Oklahoma.
3. Week 4: Vs. Seattle Seahawks
Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Cardinals haven’t beaten the Seahawks since 2021, a seven-game losing streak. Seattle has gone through an extensive makeover this offseason, getting rid of quarterback Geno Smith and trying to find another career-long backup in Sam Darnold to save the franchise.
Darnold did it with the Minnesota Vikings last season, throwing 4,319 passing yards for 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 27-year-old struggled in last year’s playoff wild card game but has a 17-game sample size on why he is a dangerous starter in the league. The Pro Bowler showed that last year against the Cardinals in Week 13, where Darnold threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-22 win.
Arizona’s first five games are against four teams with losing records, Seattle being the lone winning record. If the Cardinals can break their losing streak against the Seahawks, it signifies a change in the team’s perception around the league.
Cardinals get two national TV games and a critical home-heavy start
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
