The Arizona Cardinals had a miserable 2025 season, and things aren’t looking promising for 2026.
Arizona managed just three wins, and ranked 23rd on offense and 29th on defense, and the offseason saw significant change.
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The Arizona Cardinals finished 3-14 in 2025, earning the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL DraftCredit: Getty
The Cardinals moved on from Kyler Murray, who they later waived after nobody wanted to take on the contract of the former No.1 pick.
The Cardinals also swapped coaches in the offseason, dumping Jonathan Gannon for Los Angeles Rams coordinator Mike LaFleur.
The full NFL schedule was released on Thursday, 14 of May and the consensus is that it could be a very long year for the red and white.
They play three of the best teams in the entire league twice thanks to their membership in the NFC West.
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That means six-total games against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the Rams with MVP Matthew Stafford, and the injury plagued, but somehow always competitive San Francisco 49ers.
The Cardinals also play all teams from the AFC West and NFC East.
The fourth-place schedule somehow also includes the Detroit Lions and the New Orleans Saints, who surged late in the 2025 season under quarterback Tyler Shough.
Arizona’s 2026 opponents had a combined win percentage of .538 in 2025, but surprisingly, they don’t have the hardest schedule next season.
That honor, if you wish, belongs to the Chicago Bears, whose opponents had a .550.
According to Yahoo Sports’ senior betting analyst Ben Fawkes, the Cards are the only team in the league who are currently underdogs in all 17 of their slated games.
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The Cardinals are underdogs in all 17 of their slated games in 2027Credit: Getty
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Arizona will play six games against their NFC West opponents, considered the hardest division in the NFLCredit: Getty
In eight of those, they are on the wrong side of a double-digit spread.
However, there could be a silver lining at the end of a long, bleak tunnel.
Cardinals rough 2026 slate could land them Arch Manning
The Cardinals did make some splashy picks in this year’s draft that will give fans hope in what is presenting to be a tough season.
The 2026 class was headlined by Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who at No.3 became the highest to be selected at the position since Saquon Barkley.
They also selected Chase Bisontis — the second-rated offensive guard in ESPN’s rankings — in Round 2 and quarterback Carson Beck, who some believe is moving better than Fernando Mendoza at minicamp.
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The Cardinals being underdogs may not be such a bad thing, as it could land them Arch ManningCredit: Getty
Being at the bottom might not be the worst situation in the world for the Cardinals.
Arch Manning is the current favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Texas Longhorns quarterback threw for 3163 yards with 21 touchdowns in 2025, also rushing for 399 yards and 10 additional scores.
They won’t be the only team with this scenario in mind. The New York Jets are also expected to play 2026 with their future in mind.
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Bottoming out for the second season in a row would be brutal after a three-win campaign, but it could land the Cardinals their franchise signal caller.
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