The NFL officially dropped its full 17-game schedule on Thursday, May 14, and for the Arizona Cardinals, it’s a wake-up call. This season, the Cardinals face the toughest slate in the league—both by last year's records and projected strength. By some metrics, it's one of the most challenging schedules the NFL has ever seen. That's what happens when you share a division with three Super Bowl contenders and draw tough matchups from the NFC East and AFC West.

But challenges bring opportunities. Under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, the Cardinals are looking to surprise the critics and outperform expectations. With a mix of veteran leadership and fresh talent from rookie mini-camp—like running back Jeremiyah Love and quarterback Carson Beck—Arizona is building something new. Here’s a game-by-game look at the 2026 schedule, with our early predictions for how the Redbirds will fare. All times are MST.