In this moment, heading into Week 6, the Arizona Cardinals have had it relatively easy.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), they have so far played the easiest schedule in the league despite having two division games against good to solid teams, taking one-score losses to the 4-1 49ers and 3-2 Seahawks.
That evaluation is buoyed by games against the 1-4 Saints, 2-3 Panthers and 1-4 Titans. Not sweeping the group looks uglier in the moment because of how Arizona lost to Tennessee.
Anyway, it doesn’t get easier.
Their remaining strength of schedule is tied for the hardest based on total opponent winning percentage (.623).
FPI ranks it the third-toughest remaining strength of schedule.
There are four teams with 4-1 starts among the 12 games left on the Cardinals’ schedule. Only two future opponents are currently below .500, and five games left are teams with top-five offenses by yards per game averaged through Week 5.
The Cardinals line up to play the six most prolific passing offenses by the statistics as of Week 6 — and they do so in seven of the 12 remaining games because Arizona still has to play the Los Angeles Rams two times this season.
When the 2025 schedule was released, it looked light for Arizona.
Its opponents’ combined 2024 win percentage was .457, which ranked 27th-worst across the NFL. But several teams have made moves since or surprised, shifting what the road previously looked like.
Let’s take a look at the full remaining schedule and take quick notes on why nearly every one of those teams might be in a better spot than previously assumed.
The remaining 2025 Arizona Cardinals schedule looks more challenging than it did in the preseason
Week 6 — at Indianapolis Colts (4-1)
The update: It looked like an Anthony Richardson-Daniel Jones quarterback battle was bad news for third-year coach Shane Steichen. Instead, Jones running away with the gig has led to an impressive start and a career revival for the former New York Giant.
Week 7 — vs. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
The update: The Packers took advantage of the Dallas Cowboys’ decision to piss off one of the best pass rushers in the NFL during contract negotiations. Green Bay added Micah Parsons just before the start of the season, and he’s put up a shrug-worthy 2.5 sacks.
Week 8 – BYE
Week 9 — at Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1)
The update: Despite the above whoopsie, the Cowboys have been carried by a strong offense. Quarterback Dak Prescott is just ahead of the Colts’ Jones and second in the NFL with 1,356 passing yards under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, and running back Javonte Williams has brought balance.
Week 10 — at Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
The update: Sam Darnold has exceeded expectations and is second in the NFL in QBR (78.9), third in completion percentage (73.1) and third in passer rating (114.8). Arizona receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.’s former Ohio State teammate, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is second in the NFL with 534 receiving yards.
Week 11 — vs. San Francisco 49ers (4-1)
The update: Mac Jones has played in three games, all wins, with starting quarterback Brock Purdy hurt. Cardinals fans, that game-winning drive was not a fluke, and he’s actually done more damage in wins over the Saints and Rams.
Week 12 — vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1)
The update: The mess of how the Jaguars hired head coach Liam Coen made it look like more bad things were on the way for Jacksonville. Instead, they have figuratively and literally fallen on their butts, gotten up and found themselves in the end zone. The Jags also lead the NFL with a +8 turnover differential and 10 interceptions.
Week 13 — at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)
The update: Despite losing Coen, their play-caller in 2024, Tampa Bay has used its own easy schedule to get off to a strong start. Rookie and first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, another Harrison teammate from Ohio State, is fourth in the NFL with 445 receiving yards. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is fourth in passing yards this year.
Week 14 — vs. Los Angeles Rams (3-2)
The update: We were guessing if quarterback Matthew Stafford’s back issues might lead him to miss part of the season or flat-out call it a career. Instead, he is leading the NFL with 1,503 passing yards and, unsurprisingly, aided by the NFL’s leading receiver Puka Nacua.
Week 15 — at Houston Texans (2-3)
The update: One of the few teams that has failed to meet expectations, Houston started off 0-3 against the Rams, Bucs and Jaguars. But they have blown out the Titans (26-0) and Baltimore Ravens (44-10) in the past two weeks to at least take the finger off the panic button. Houston leads the NFL by allowing just 12.2 points per game.
Week 16 — vs. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
The update: Here’s one team that appears to be who we thought they are, with a struggling offense under second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., despite running back Bijan Robinson’s versatility.
Week 17 — Dec. 27 or 28 at Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
The update: More good news for Arizona: The Bengals’ update is that expectations have failed to be met. Starting quarterback Joe Burrow could be out or just returning from a three-month injury recovery for this game. Joe Flacco was traded on Tuesday to replace struggling backup quarterback Jake Browning. Where the Bengals are in the playoff hunt could sway their quarterback decision-making.
Week 18 — Jan. 3 or 4 at Los Angeles Rams (3-2)
from Arizona Sports https://ift.tt/0179ai2
0 comments:
Post a Comment