Thankfully, the NFL preseason is over and we’re days away from the start of the league’s 100th season. For the Arizona Cardinals, any improvement from last season’s misery is a welcome relief. Finally, it looks like the Cardinals have some semblance of a head coach/quarterback combination that is on the same page. This article explores the Cardinals most difficult games of 2019.
Both Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray have shown flashes of brilliance in between the rough edges that come with the preseason. Cardinals fans believe a foundation has been set and they’re fully aware the 2019 schedule is filled with difficult games on the docket. After their bye week (Week 12), the Cards embark on their toughest stretch of the season as they face the Los Angeles Rams twice, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks. All are quality opponents and potential playoff contenders this year.
Be sure to have a look at the eight easiest games on the Cardinals 2019 schedule.
Arizona Cardinals Most Difficult Games of 2019
1) Week 13: vs Los Angeles Rams
The best part of this Week 13 matchup is the Cardinals are coming off their bye week to face the best team in the NFC West. Kingsbury and company could use this contest as a barometer to the progression of their rebuild. It might come down to the Rams having too many playmakers on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals to handle at this moment.
2) Week Four: vs Seattle Seahawks
Last season, the Seahawks and the Cardinals played very tight affairs as both games were decided on the last play of the game. This contest will be Kingsbury’s first test in the highly competitive NFC West Division. If the Cards could prevail with a win, it could have a dramatic effect on the standings moving forward. Murray will learn fast how gaining yardage against a quality NFL defense as the Seahawks does come at a premium.
3) Week Eight: at New Orleans Saints
What makes this game so difficult is it’s the first consecutive road games on the Cardinals 2019 schedule and the Bayou hasn’t been hospitable to them in quite some time. Once again, the New Orleans Saints offense should be potent as quarterback Drew Brees is expected to have an outstanding season. The Saints are primed to make another Super Bowl run, despite crushing playoff ousters in back-to-back seasons. Kingsbury has a challenge on his hands as the Cards must match the Saints intensity on the field or they will fall behind early and often in this contest.
4) Week 14: vs Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s hard to fathom that Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are no longer a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but each player added to the locker room dysfunction that plagued the team all last season. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still anchoring the offense as James Connor and JuJu Smith-Schuster are poised to become key targets in a rejuvenated unit. The Steelers are ready to prove doubters wrong about their sudden demise and make a name for themselves in the AFC playoff chase.
5) Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks
No question, the Seahawks will be a part of the battle for an NFC playoff berth and hosting a late-season contest does play into their hands as far as staying ahead of the competition. This road game will be challenged for Murray as the Seahawks defense and crowd atmosphere inside CenturyLink Field will make his life difficult on this Sunday. Turnovers will play a key role in deciding the victor. If the Cards can limit their own, they could upset the Seahawks on the road.
6) Week 10: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Emotions should be running high in this contest as the Cardinals will face their former head coach Bruce Arians who returns to the sidelines after taking a year off to work in the TV booth for CBS. Now, Arians finds himself in a similar coaching predicament like his counterpart, Kliff Kingsbury, as both have to tutor a young, but talented quarterback. However, the clock is ticking on Jameis Winston to develop as Arians might have less patience if progress isn’t shown immediately. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have a different starting quarterback when the Cards come to town. Still, this should be a close affair as both team’s offenses will be able to move the ball on each opposing defense as the outcome might be decided by who has the last possession in the game.
7) Week 15: vs Cleveland Browns
It’s the last home game of the season as the matchup features the last two Heisman Trophy winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. You can expect both Oklahoma quarterbacks will have plenty to say on who wins this contest. The Browns bring their high-powered offense to the desert and Cardinals defense may want to flex their muscles to derail any hope of them securing a playoff berth at State Farm Stadium. The hope is to keep them confused by masking the pass defending schemes and send them home as the next most-hyped team not to make the postseason.
8) Week 17: at Los Angeles Rams
The outlook of this road game could be quite different if the Rams have secured the NFC West title. First, you could expect quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley and defensive tackle Aaron Donald will not play as all three will be rested for the coming playoffs. The odds are high that the Cards could win this contest as there is no incentive for the Rams to compete in this season-ender. Still, it will be a tremendous accomplishment for Kingsbury and his staff to end the 2019 campaign on a high note. And it will send all Cardinals fans off with confidence for next season.
