The NFL calendar is heating up, and while official schedules won't drop until later this month, we already have a crystal-clear picture of which teams will face the steepest climbs in 2026. Spoiler alert: the Arizona Cardinals have drawn the shortest straw.
Let's rewind to the end of the 2025 season. Four teams finished with a dismal 3-14 record: the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Arizona Cardinals. For the Cardinals, that mark wasn't just bad—it was historically bad, setting a new franchise record for most losses in a single season. In the draft order that followed, the Raiders snagged the first overall pick, with the Jets, Cardinals, and Titans rounding out the top four.
Here's where the schedule math gets interesting. In the NFL, last-place teams in each division are traditionally pitted against each other the following year. The thinking is simple: the worst teams should get the easiest paths back to relevance. But for the Cardinals, who went 0-6 in the NFC West, that logic might not hold up. Despite earning a last-place schedule, Arizona's 2026 slate has been ranked as the toughest in the league based on opponents' 2025 win-loss records.
Here's how it breaks down. The Cardinals will play 17 games this season, with nine at home. Their division rivals—the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and reigning league champion Seattle Seahawks—are all on the docket, both home and away. Beyond the NFC West, Arizona will host the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders. On the road, they'll face the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs.
The last-place matchups are where things get tricky. The Cardinals are scheduled to play the Jets, Lions, Raiders, Saints, and Giants—all teams that finished at or near the bottom of their divisions. But here's the twist: the Lions went 9-8 last season and still ended up in the NFC North basement. That's a tough draw for a team hoping for an easier ride. Meanwhile, the Cardinals avoid the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, two other last-place finishers.
On paper, facing lesser competition from the previous year should help. But when you factor in the powerhouse opponents from the AFC West and NFC East, plus the always-brutal NFC West gauntlet, Arizona's road looks steep. The five hardest schedules based on 2025 win-loss records are led by the Cardinals, making their 2026 campaign one to watch—and one that will test every ounce of their grit.