The Arizona Cardinals won their first two games of the season and then decided to see how high they could get their 2026 draft pick to. Quarterback Kyler Murray lasted five games before suffering a foot sprain that curiously kept him out for the rest of the season. Jacoby Brissett took over and consistently put up better numbers than Murray, but wins were not one of those numbers. The fact that Brissett did play better than Murray may have pushed the team to sit Murray and look to move on from him, but everything remains in flux for Arizona as we wrap up the regular season. General Manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon might not be long for their jobs, so it’s hard to know if a new regime would look to keep Murray on or not. Unfortunately for the Cardinals and their fans, this situation isn’t going to miraculously turn around in a season.
Arizona Cardinals opponents 2026: Who’s on the schedule, how easy or hard will their schedule be
The Arizona Cardinals did not make the playoffs in 2025. We already know their 2026 opponents and what it means for their playoff chances next year.
The good news for the Cardinals is that tight end Trey McBride had a season for the ages and wide receiver Michael Wilson was unlocked by Brissett, showing they have more talent on offense than what Murray could coax from his team.
Arizona Cardinals list of opponents
Home opponents
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Detroit Lions
Road opponents
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Dallas Cowboys
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- New York Giants
- New Orleans Saints
Arizona Cardinals schedule analysis
The Cardinals had the unfortunate luck of playing in the NFC West, which was a powerhouse this season. The Cardinals likely had more wins in them, but facing the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams twice each was not a good base to start from and won’t be again next season.
Besides their own division, the Cardinals will take on the NFC East and the AFC West. As long as Patrick Mahomes can return healthy next season, the AFC West will again be strong, while the NFC East should get Jayden Daniels back healthy, giving the division a good group of quarterbacks for next season along with Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott. The Giants will likely still be an easy out, but they have some fight in them.
Overall, it’s a tough schedule for a team that needs a much lighter schedule. But, at this point, they have bigger problems than worrying about what their 2026 record will look like. They need some help, starting at quarterback.
