The Arizona Cardinals are heading into 2026 with little national confidence behind them, and ESPN’s Football Power Index reflects that skepticism.
Even with a new head coach in place, the outlook remains grim after a 14-loss season in which Arizona dropped 11 of its final 12 games and finished on a nine-game skid. The roster still looks largely the same on offense and defense, and that hasn’t inspired much optimism.
ESPN’s numbers paint the Cardinals as a team likely to be stuck near the bottom again. The FPI projects them for 4.9 wins, with a best-case record of 7-10. Their playoff odds sit at 1.4%, and their chances of winning the NFC West are just 0.1%.
The schedule doesn’t offer much relief, either. Arizona owns the league’s hardest strength of schedule, and the path ahead is brutal from the jump. The Cardinals are underdogs in every game on the slate, and they’re listed as at least a touchdown underdog in each of their first 11.
Part of the problem is the division. Arizona is stuck in what may be the NFL’s toughest group, with the other three teams all viewed as legitimate title contenders.
There are still some reasons for hope on the offensive side. The Cardinals do have good skill players, and there’s at least the promise of a better offense. But the defense remains mostly unchanged, with the same defensive coordinator still calling the shots.
That unit struggled badly down the stretch, giving up 37 points or more six times in the final nine games.
For Arizona, 2026 looks like a season with plenty to prove and not much belief surrounding it.
In Other News...
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Depth Question Fans Can't Ignore
With the regular-season opener getting closer, the Cardinals spent part of the week taking a long look at six tryout players, a group that included four offensive linemen and two cornerbacks. Austin Deculus, Corey Robinson, Colby Sorsdal, Aamil Wagner, Art Green and Jerrick Reed all got a chance to show what they can offer as Arizona continues sorting through the back end of the roster.
The positions alone tell the story here. Arizona is clearly keeping an eye on depth in the trenches and in the secondary, and any move that follows could end up pointing back to injuries already affecting the roster. Practice squad additions remain a possibility, but for now the Cardinals are still in evaluation mode with a few spots worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat Could Become A Cardinals Pivot Point Fast
The edge-rusher market could get busy before the trade deadline, and Josh Sweat has already surfaced as a name to watch. For Arizona, that alone says plenty about where the veteran pass rusher stands in the bigger picture: he is valuable enough to draw outside attention, even as the Cardinals sort through what kind of season they are really building toward.
Chicago's reported interest adds another layer, especially with the Bears looking for help up front and a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick mentioned as a possible framework. The Cardinals are not believed to be shopping Sweat right now, but that stance could be tested if their competitive outlook shifts, which is why his status feels like a potential pivot point in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Are Finally Closing In On A Crucial Jeremiyah Love Test
The Cardinals are finally getting a closer look at Jeremiyah Love after the rookie running back spent time recovering from injury. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Love will be ready to practice on Wednesday, giving Arizona its first real chance to assess how the No. 3 overall pick responds to a live workload and whether he can handle the daily grind without any setbacks.
For a team that already has James Conner and Tyler Allgeier in the backfield mix, the next step is less about rushing Love back and more about easing him into the rotation the right way. Arizona plans to build him up gradually, and this weeks practice stretch should tell the Cardinals plenty about where he stands and how close he is to becoming part of the offense for real. [Read more 🡒]