Cardinals on Schedule
By Walter Mitchell
The NFL scheduled the Cardinals for 4 pre-season games and 17 regular season games this season.
Pre-Season:
Hall of Fame Game vs CAR
G1 - @ LV
G2 - DAL (Home)
G3 - @ GB
Regular Season:
Week 1 LAC - vs. Justin Herbert - Away
Week 2 SEA- vs. Sam Darnold - Home
Week 3 SF - vs. Brock Purdy - Away
Week 4 NYG - vs. Jaxson Dart - Away
Week 5 DET - vs. Jared Goff -Home
Week 6 LAR - vs. Matthew Stafford - Away
Week 7 DEN - vs. Bo Nix - Home
Week 8 DAL - vs. Dak Prescott - Away
Week 9 SEA - vs. Sam Darnold - Away
Week 10 - LAR vs. Matthew Stafford - Home
Week 11 KC - vs. Pat Mahomes - Away
Week 12 WAS - vs. Jayden Daniels - Home
Week 13 PHI - vs. Jalen Hurts - Home
Week 14 - BYE
Week 15 NYJ - vs. Geno Smith - Home
Week 16 NO - vs. Tyler Shough - Away
Week 17 LV - vs. Fernando Mendoza - Home
Week 18 SF - vs. Brock Purdy - Home
All 17 regular season games are on Sunday at traditional time slots, although maybe the final game in Week 18 at home versus the 49ers will be flexed to Saturday.
Wow ---> 7 of first 11 games are on the road: LAC, SF, NYG, LAR, DAL, SEA, KC
Wow ---> 5 of the last 6 game are at home: WAS, PHI, NYJ, LV, SF
The Cardinals have no primetime games.
But they aren't the only ones:
Teams with Zero 2026 Primetime Games:
- New York Jets: Marked their first season without a scheduled prime-time game in 19 years.
- Tennessee Titans: Second consecutive season without a scheduled primetime game.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Zero prime-time slots.
- Arizona Cardinals: Zero prime-time slots.
- Miami Dolphins: Zero prime-time slots.
Do you think the NFL is sending a clear message to these 2025 doormats?
As in ---> you have to earn the right to be relevant.
As in ---> if you want to tank, you are going to keep paying the price.
TV Coverage:
Good news --- if you are an Arizona resident, watching all 17 games on local TV shouldn't cost you a penny beyond your monthly TV provider's fees.
For out of staters like me, I have to have a YouTubeTV package (mine is $82 a month) and NFL Sunday Ticket costs $420 a year. Cueing Bickley on Fire in 3, 2, 1, ...
Red Rain Question of the Day:
Context ---> not only does the Cardinals vanilla schedule have historic significance --- given that the Cardinals were not favored in any of their last 12 games (and yet Cardinals' fans, despite their team's absolute incompetence on defense, conveniently want to place part of that blame on Jacoby Brissett) --- what may become even more significantly historic if the Cardinals go 29 straight games slated each week as underdogs.
Think about that.
Which begs the question ---> what is the smartest way for the Cardinals to handle this season, given the daunting aspects of their schedule?
I have some very strong thoughts about that, which I intend to share, but I would like to hear your thoughts first.
Game 1
As I wrote yesterday in the blog "Bickley on Fire", I vow to take each game "bird by bird" and sprinkle my viewpoints with as much hope as I can.
I like the Week 1 draw of the Cardinals playing the Chargers at So-Fi Stadium where Mike LaFleur called home for the last 4 years.
The opening odds that posted yesterday are ARI @ LAC (-10.5)
ARI vs. LAC Personnel Matchups:
Thanks to our good friend Jace:
Cardinals week 1 match up against the Chargers via PFF.
Expect some changes (e.g. Cardinals OL) but roughly this is what it could look like.
#AZCardinals #BirdGang
I am feeling somewhat encouraged by these matchups, are you?
Most compelling storyline --- which offensive play caller outduels the other: Mike LaFleur or Mike McDaniel?
The schedule looks incredibly daunting. Opening with so many road games against toughest competition in league makes it even harder.
ReplyDeleteChargers matchup is a winnable game. I give edge to Chargers in game due to coaching, QB, & Defense. This will be first test of our defense to see if they can actually play together and hold off an offense from putting up 30+. No excuses.
Still shocked that Buddha didn’t request a trade before the draft. I don’t see Rallis making it to the bye week
ReplyDeleteEarly Lines (per Yahoo sports) for Cardinals games for season. One to keep an eye how actual performance is versus expectations of Vegas & National pundits...
ReplyDeleteHighlights:
(A) Not favored in a single game for 2026 season
(B) In 13 games the Cardinals are underdogs by 7pt or more
(C) Cardinals underdogs in all Division games (only one game is handicap by less than 10 pts)
(D) It seems Vegas/National Media is expecting a lot of blowout losses by Cardinals making them "unwatchable"
1. Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers (-9.5, 46.5)
2. Seahawks (-10, 44.5) at Cardinals
3. Cardinals at 49ers (-11.5, 46.5)
4. Cardinals at NY Giants (-7, 45.5)
5. Lions (-8.5, 49.5) at Cardinals
6. Cardinals at Rams (-13.5, 47.5)
7. Broncos (-7.5, 43.5) at Cardinals
8. Cardinals at Cowboys (-10.5, 49.5)
9. Cardinals at Seahawks (-13.5, 45.5)
10. LA Rams (-10.5, 47.5) at Cardinals
11. Cardinals at Chiefs (-11.5, 44.5)
12. Commanders (-4.5, 47.5) at Cardinals
13. Eagles (-8.5, 43.5) at Cardinals
14. Bye
15. NY Jets (-1.5, 41.5) at Cardinals
16. Cardinals at Saints (-5.5, 44.5)
17. Raiders (-1.5, 42.5) at Cardinals
18. 49ers (-8.5, 44.5) at Cardinals
If it all plays out as Vegas has predicted, what is the future of:
(A) Monti Ossenfort
(B) Nick Rallis
(C) Mike LeFleur
(D) Projected as #1 draft pick --> Which QB (A. Manning, D. Moore, J Sayin, other?)
As a betting man-I appreciate you posting the odds and across the board I don't think the Cards are getting enough points on any game. I'm managing expectations after too many disappointing seasons and rebuilds.
DeleteBiggest shock for me when reviewing odds - We are underdogs @ home -vs- LVR & NYJ? Seriously!!! No respect at all.
DeleteWhat is the smartest way for the Cardinals to handle this season, given the daunting aspects of their schedule? Show improvement across the board every game regardless of the final score. Play Brissett every game regardless of record to prove to the foundation of this squad that this iteration of coaches plan and expect to win every game. Give every starter and sub a chance to play to improve and play to earn contracts, if not here, then elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteNow I'll discuss the smartest way for fans to handle the season-it has been suggested, way more than once, that I am not rooting for this team. That's wrong. I will never root for a Bidwill to accomplish anything beyond the humiliation that family has earned but that never extends to the employees for whom I feel the utmost loyalty and owe support. They are in the same boat as us fans-saddled with pathetic cheap unmotivated ownership.
So, now understanding that I'm rooting for every kid on this squad, please let me describe how a long suffering fan handles what he believes will be another very difficult season for all Look for and just appreciate the following-
We will definitely be better than we were the last 3 seasons- maybe not in terms of W/L but in terms of entertaining, more physical, exciting football
We will run the ball as well as any team in the League and that will mean our OL has greatly improved
We will tackle
We will see an engaged passionate leader as HC on the side line
Jacobi Brissett will outperform Kyler in Minnesota — and we're going to enjoy every second of that. A competent veteran game manager behind a dominant running game will put up cleaner numbers than a fragile, overpaid franchise quarterback who was handed everything and delivered nothing
We will see young players emerge that nobody was talking about in August — that electric moment when a second-year guy suddenly looks like a real NFL player is one of the best things about following a rebuilding team. ex. Michael Wilson
We will see kids not languishing on IR but excited/eager to rehab and get back on the field
Finally-handle your expectations and don't focus on the record. There's always next season.
I cannot dispute your list.
DeleteJust to have a roster that is competing and improving would make it more enjoyable to watch.
The one item I would add, coaches who quit making excuses for their poor level of execution, motivation, and general overall play. It is sickening to me the number of lame excuses Ganon regime made...
Brissett already out-played Kyler for his job. Regardless JB's W?L record the offense was 10x better under JB than KM. Had Ganon and Rallis Defense actually held an opposing team we could have finished .500 easily, but I am guessing Bidwill intervened with the tank scenario in week 6 of last year.
Only thing I disagree with is playing Brissett regardless of the record. If he's playing well that makes sense, but what if he's playing like he was 2 years ago in NE? Then you aren't proving that you're trying to win, you're proving that you're okay with losing.
Deletetotally agree with this-if JB is not playing well to the point he's holding back the offense-replace him. However, he should be the best prepared, experienced, connected to our receivers, and maybe most talented option, so if he can't get it done...Also, if the team is doing so poorly what will Beck's opportunity accomplish? Should we ask Clayton Tune? If Beck even looks better than we expected-better than average-should we not take a QB at the top of round one? The Beck pick was a wasted top75 pick especially for a team with so many needs.
DeleteIf I were Lafleur, my mindset would be that since we have a very tough schedule, playing it safe is probably going to get them another 3-win season so why not takes some risks. There is nothing worse than watching the Cardinals get a 7-point lead playing aggressive football and then switching to a conservative offensive game plan and playing an extremely soft zone on defense afraid of giving up the big play letting QBs like Staford, Purdy and Darnold dink and dunk down the field and losing the game. I am good with this team losing a few games because they continued to play aggressive football after getting a small lead over putting their tail between their legs every time they get a small lead. This is what I hate most about this team. They always play like habitual losers.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Look at how Bruce Arians' "no risk it, no biscuit" changed the team's love for the game and confidence.
DeleteYes, BA wanted to build a team that everyone was afraid of instead of being a team that was afraid of everyone. AI nails it.
DeleteAI Overview
Throughout his stints with the Arizona Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bruce Arians earned a reputation as one of the most unapologetically aggressive play-callers in the National Football League. His entire coaching identity revolves around this aggressive mindset, which comes down to a few distinct philosophies:
"No risk it, no biscuit": This was Arians' ultimate mantra. He favored a pass-heavy, vertical offense that frequently called for deep strikes to stretch the field rather than playing it safe with checkdowns or conservative runs.
Hyper-aggression: Whether it was calling deep shots late in the fourth quarter with the lead, or dialing up all-out blitz packages on defense, Arians refused to sit on leads or play prevent defense.
Coaching to maximize potential: He held his players to an incredibly high standard. He was notorious for calling out players for giving the "bare [fucking] minimum," pushing them to always take the calculated risks needed to break games wide open.
Ultimately, Arians coached like someone who had nothing to lose, constantly putting the ball in his playmakers' hands to deliver the knockout blow.
AI on fire.
DeleteThey should start Jacoby for about 8 games, then if they're not .500 give Carson Beck the keys the rest of the way. Injuries may sort out the situation naturally too. Everyone here on local radio is pleading to tank for this mysterious unknown QB class of next year but I think we will end up with about 7 wins. The big mystery is the defense and if there will be any significant philosophical changes from last season. If there are no changes and influence from any of the other coaches hired then they will win about 4-5 games again.
ReplyDeleteIf the record is bad, I think you bring Beck in after the bye. That way he gets 2 weeks of practice as a starter and he gets to play against the "easier" teams. If you feel you have to pull Brissett, you can let Minshew try to prove himself vs the all those tough defenses.
DeleteEither way, Beck is going to play at some point this season. No ifs ands or buts about it
DeleteI don't think the lack of primetime games is the NFL sending a message to the bad teams. I think it's the streaming platforms demanding games that people will watch.
ReplyDeleteIt's both
DeleteI'm not really sure which of the games was aligned for "primetime" for the Cardinals anyways. Maybe against a Philadelphia or a Seattle on Monday or Thursday Night?? No chance they would get a 1:25 primetime Fox game this year
Delete