![\"Kyler](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1-arizona-cardinals-warms-prior-1066006048.jpg\")
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The Arizona Cardinals finished 3-14 in 2025, earning the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL DraftCredit: Getty<\/p>\n
The Cardinals moved on from Kyler Murray<\/a>, who they later waived after nobody wanted to take on the contract of the former No.1 pick.<\/p>\n The Cardinals also swapped coaches in the offseason, dumping Jonathan Gannon for Los Angeles Rams coordinator Mike LaFleur.<\/p>\n The full NFL<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n They play three of the best teams in the entire league twice thanks to their membership in the NFC West.\u00a0<\/p>\n READ MORE ON THE NFL<\/p>\n That means six-total games against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks<\/a>, the Rams with MVP Matthew Stafford,<\/a> and the injury plagued, but somehow always competitive San Francisco 49ers.<\/p>\n The Cardinals also play all teams from the AFC West and NFC East.\u00a0<\/p>\n The fourth-place schedule somehow also includes the Detroit Lions<\/a> and the New Orleans Saints<\/a>, who surged late in the 2025 season under quarterback Tyler Shough.<\/p>\n Arizona\u2019s 2026 opponents had a combined win percentage of .538 in 2025, but surprisingly, they don\u2019t have the hardest schedule next season.<\/p>\n That honor, if you wish, belongs to the Chicago Bears<\/a>, whose opponents had a .550.<\/p>\n According to Yahoo Sports\u2019 senior betting analyst Ben Fawkes,<\/a> the Cards are the only team in the league who are currently underdogs in all 17 of their slated games.<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n The Cardinals are underdogs in all 17 of their slated games in 2027Credit: Getty 4<\/p>\n Arizona will play six games against their NFC West opponents, considered the hardest division in the NFLCredit: Getty<\/p>\n In eight of those, they are on the wrong side of a double-digit spread.<\/p>\n However, there could be a silver lining at the end of a long, bleak tunnel.<\/p>\n Cardinals rough 2026 slate could land them Arch Manning<\/p>\n The Cardinals did make some splashy picks in this year\u2019s draft that will give fans hope in what is presenting to be a tough season.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n They also selected Chase Bisontis — the second-rated offensive guard in ESPN\u2019s rankings — in Round 2 and quarterback Carson Beck, who some believe is moving better than Fernando Mendoza at minicamp.<\/a><\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n The Cardinals being underdogs may not be such a bad thing, as it could land them Arch ManningCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Being at the bottom might not be the worst situation in the world for the Cardinals.<\/p>\n Arch Manning is the current favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Texas Longhorns quarterback<\/a> threw for 3163 yards with 21 touchdowns in 2025, also rushing for 399 yards and 10 additional scores.<\/p>\n They won’t be the only team with this scenario in mind. The New York Jets<\/a> are also expected to play 2026 with their future in mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read More on talkSPORT<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n![\"Jacoby](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7-arizona-cardinals-scrambles-dallas-1035947963.jpg\")
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