After a rough opening run in 2026, the Arizona Cardinals’ back half of the schedule looks a little more manageable on paper. Their final eight opponents have combined for a 32-36-1 record, and that softer stretch sets up a finish that could still include a few surprises, even if the season has already gone sideways.
The first of those is a home game against the Rams, and the prediction here is a Cardinals loss despite Arizona having already upset Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium. With both teams dealing with injuries at receiver, this one has the feel of a defensive fight.
The edge goes to the Rams, though, because their front is simply too disruptive. Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald form one of the league’s best defensive duos, and Garrett is coming off a monster outing against the Washington Commanders, where he posted three sacks and three tackles for loss.
Against a shaky offensive line, that kind of pressure is enough to make rookie quarterback Carson Beck’s first start a tough one.
Then comes the game that feels like the biggest swing on the board: Arizona at Arrowhead against the Chiefs. This is the one where the Cardinals are projected to pull off the upset.
Kansas City still has Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Kenneth Walker, but the offense has also had some ugly stretches this season. Arizona’s wins have come when its defense has shown up, and that unit’s best trait is getting after the quarterback.
The Chiefs have had trouble handling pressure, as seen in losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, and if the Cardinals’ defensive line can make Mahomes uncomfortable, they have a real shot. Beck’s preseason work matters here too.
He was quick with the ball and kept the offense on schedule, and that could be enough to help Arizona steal a huge road win.
The momentum doesn’t last long. After beating Kansas City, the Cardinals are projected to come home and lose to Washington in a game that turns ugly for Arizona.
Jayden Daniels already showed what he can do against this defense back in Week 4 of the 2024 season, when he threw for 233 yards, ran for 47 more, and accounted for both a passing and rushing touchdown in a Washington win. The Commanders also have rookie linebacker Sonny Styles, who has been strong in coverage and could help limit Trey McBride, especially on routes where linebackers are usually responsible for tight ends.
Arizona’s next NFC East matchup is another strange one, this time against Philadelphia. The Eagles and Cardinals have both had their share of bad moments this year, but the edge here goes to Arizona because the Eagles’ offense has been so hard to trust.
Whether it’s Tanner McKee or Joe Milton at quarterback, Philadelphia has not been moving the ball. Beck has not played in a regular-season NFL game yet, but if his preseason rhythm carries over, the Cardinals could grind out a sloppy win.
Arizona has also had a habit of handling Philadelphia at home in this century.
After the bye, the Cardinals are expected to take care of the Jets. New York has some promising rookie playmakers and should be able to score enough to reach 23 points, but its defense is a mess.
Mike LaFleur should be able to dial up some effective answers, especially in the passing game, and the Jets’ secondary has been their biggest weakness. That opens the door for Beck to post what could be the best game of his career.
The road trip to New Orleans looks much less friendly. The Saints have been wildly inconsistent, looking like a contender one week and a draft lottery team the next, but they get the nod here because their offense is more explosive.
Arizona’s receiver room is thinner with Michael Wilson out for the year, while New Orleans has Chris Olave and rookie Jordyn Tyson, who returns to the state where he played college football. Tyler Shough has also shown growth as a passer in his second year.
The Saints’ defense has been porous, so Arizona can hang around, but in a close one the Cardinals are projected to lose their final road game.
Back home, the Raiders bring another rookie-quarterback matchup, with Fernando Mendoza facing Beck in a rematch of the College Football Championship, which Mendoza won. This one is expected to be a shootout, but Las Vegas gets the call because Mendoza is viewed as the better quarterback.
The Raiders took him number one for a reason, and even though their defense has been poor, Beck should still find some openings. In the end, Mendoza’s clutch play is the difference, and Las Vegas wins on a last-second field goal in Glendale.
The finish is brutal. San Francisco is expected to hammer Arizona in Week 18, with Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy proving too much for the Cardinals’ defense. The 49ers could also still be in the mix for the NFC West or the NFC’s No. 1 seed, which makes it unlikely they would rest starters.
All told, the prediction is that Arizona wins three of its final eight games and finishes 6-11. Beck and the offense may provide some entertaining moments, but the defense remains the biggest problem and the clearest area for the Cardinals to attack once the 2026 season is over.
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