Now we know.
The Arizona Cardinals are going to have a lot of work to do early in the season, and then get a somewhat manageable end of the season schedule.
The question becomes, who will be playing quarterback at the end?
For now, let’s take a look at a game-by-game prediction for the Arizona Cardinals 2026 season.
Week 1 – @ Los Angeles Chargers, Sep 13 – Loss
The team opens the season on the road against a defense that finished top ten in scoring and top five in yard against. They had problems moving
the ball in 2025, but the Cardinals had problems stopping anyone. The line has been seen as large as +10.5 for the Cardinals.
Week 2 – v Seattle Seahawks, Sep 20 – Loss
It would be a bit disappointing to start the season 0-2, but this game just doesn’t look like one that is winnable on paper. The Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions… the Cardinals are the Cardinals.
Week 3 – @ San Francisco 49ers – Loss
If the Cardinals had been even a bit competitive against the 49ers last year with Jacoby Brissett, maybe you can see something here, but they were blown out so fast that we applauded a passing performance that saw Brissett throw the ball 57 times and score 22 points.
Week 4 – @ New York Giants, Oct 4 – Win
I have seen people predict the Cardinals to only win one game. That is hard in the NFL. I have seen people predict the Cardinals to go winless, that is nearly unheard of. So, I think the Cardinals will win one earlier than most people think, although with Harbaugh in charge, I could be wrong.
Week 5 – v Detroit Lions, Oct 11 – Loss
The Lions are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025, and the Cardinals early is a nice gift towards that.
Week 6 – @ Los Angeles Rams, Oct 18 – Loss
Spoiler alert, I don’t think the Cardinals win a division game once again, but if they do, I don’t think it’ll be a road game against the Rams.
Week 7 – v Denver Broncos, Oct 25 – Win
Call me a cynic, but I don’t buy the Broncos. I think they have a fall back to earth.
Week 8 – @ Dallas Cowboys, Nov 1 – Loss
I know, I know. The Cardinals recently always beat the Cowboys.
Week 9 – @ Seattle, Nov 8 – Loss
Again, not expecting a divisional win, but especially in Seattle.
Week 10 – v Los Angeles Rams, Nov 15 – Loss
The Rams should be rounding into form here, the Cardinals could be rounding into finding out what they have in Carson Beck.
Week 11 – @ Kansas City Chiefs, Nov 22 – Loss
Until Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are gone, I wouldn’t predict this road game as a win no matter what I think of the Cardinals.
Week 12 – v Washington Commanders, Nov 29 – Loss
This was the hardest one for me. I really want to mark this as a win, but I have a vision.
Week 13 – v Philadelphia Eagles, Dec 6 – Loss
Cardinals get a late bye, are ready for it, and are ready to see what they have in Carson beck after a 2-11 season with Brissett… Which I guess is double the win total of Brissett last year, so not terrible.
Week 14 – Bye Week, Dec 13
The Cardinals sit at 2-11 on the season and probably should have gone to Beck earlier, but where in the schedule? After the bye week, three winnable games and then who knows what the Niners look like in week 18.
Week 15 – v New York Jets, Dec 20 – Win
The Carson beck era kicks off with a win, and the Cardinals are a little excited and exciting to watch.
Week 16 – @ New Orleans Saints, Dec 27 – Loss
Another one I really want to mark as a win, but hard for a rookie to win on the road against a team I believe could be playing for something still in New Orleans.
Week 17 – v Las Vegas Raiders, Jan 3 – Win
A rematch of the Natty, the Cardinals and Beck get the win and fall out of the top three picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Week 18 – v San Francisco, TBD – Loss
Week 18 games are always screwy, but I will say the Niners have something to play for.
4-13 on the season for the Cardinals, with tossup losses against the Cowboys, Commanders and Saints. I guess you could say tossup wins for the first two I picked as well.
This is why our friends at FanDuel Sporstbook have the line at 4.5 wins. I see both sides of it, especially with the potential of going to Beck the final four games of the season.
Ceiling – 7-10
Floor – 2-15
What do you think?
