The Arizona Cardinals have a demanding schedule this season against elite teams. Combine the difficult schedule with Kyler Murray’s return date still in question as he recovers from a torn ACL, and Arizona could be in for a long season. This article predicts the result of each game the Cardinals have on the schedule and a brief reasoning behind the outcome.
Arizona Cardinals: Game-by-game Predictions for 2023 Season
Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders
Kyler Murray likely won’t be back in time for week 1. The Commanders have one of the league’s most underrated defenses. They win this one because of their defense, home-field advantage, and Murray’s absence.
Predicted winner: Commanders
Week 2: Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants
The Giants made the playoffs last season, yet still seem a bit underrated going into next season. They have a solid defense and offensive line to protect superstar running back Saquon Barkley and emerging quarterback Daniel Jones.
Predicted winner: Giants
Week 3: Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys
This one likely won’t be close if Murray doesn’t return. The Dallas Cowboys are a talented team with playoff aspirations. The Arizona Cardinals addressed their defense through the draft, but they still need more talent against the Cowboys offensive playmakers; this is the start of a brutal stretch for the Cardinals, as they get the 49ers and Bengals next.
Predicted winner: Cowboys
Week 4: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers arguably have the league’s best defense and are a legitimate championship contender; this likely won’t be a close matchup.
Predicted winner: 49ers
Week 5: Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow and company will be too much for the Arizona Cardinals defense, which still needs to improve its secondary. The Bengals give the Cardinals their fifth loss in a rough start to the season, with Kyler Murray still recovering from his ACL.
Predicted winner: Bengals
Week 6: at Los Angeles Rams
There’s a chance Kyler Murray is back in time to play around Week 6 against the Rams. If that’s the case, the Arizona Cardinals get their first victory. The Rams are also a struggling NFC West team, and, interestingly enough, the Cardinals are arguably a better road team than they are a home team.
Predicted winner: Cardinals
Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Arizona Cardinals ride the momentum of Murray’s return to win two in a row. The Seahawks are a talented team with playoff aspirations. However, divisional rival games are typically closer than they should be. Arizona pulls off the upset in this matchup.
Predicted winner: Cardinals
Week 8: vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are a dark horse team with the offensive weapons they have surrounded former MVP Lamar Jackson with. Their firepower is too much for the Cardinals in this one.
Predicted winner: Ravens
Week 9: at Cleveland Browns
Similarly to the Ravens, the Browns should be an improved team this year. Watson has more time to get acclimated to the Browns players and system. Also, the Arizona Cardinals likely won’t have an answer to one of the NFL’s best pure rushers, Nick Chubb.
Predicted winner: Browns
Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Arizona Cardinals have a shot to win this one. However, the Falcons get the nod here as they have many offensive weapons in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson that will be difficult for the Cardinals defense to contain.
Predicted winner: Falcons
Week 11: at Houston Texans
The Arizona Cardinals get the win here over the rebuilding Texans team. With Kyler Murray back in the mix, they are more talented than the Texans and should capitalize on rookie quarterback CJ Stroud.
Predicted winner: Cardinals
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Arizona Cardinals get the sweep over the divisional rival Rams. The Rams are one of the NFL’s top-heavy teams – they have Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald, but not much else behind those three stars. The Cardinals completed the sweep here with their depth and emerging talent.
Predicted winner: Cardinals
Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are one of the most underrated teams heading into next season. Mike Tomlin is one of the league’s best coaches, and Kenny Pickett is one of the league’s most under-the-radar quarterbacks. The Arizona Cardinals have a chance to pull off an upset in this one but ultimately fall short on the road.
Predicted winner: Steelers
Week 14: Bye
Week 15: vs. San Francisco 49ers
As mentioned in their Week 4 matchup, the Arizona Cardinals need more talent on their roster to keep this matchup close. San Francisco is one of the most elite defenses, while Arizona is one of the worst.
Predicted winner: 49ers
Week 16: at Chicago Bears
This matchup should be a competitive game against up-and-coming quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Justin Fields. The Arizona Cardinals offense comes away with the win here on the backs of Kyler Murray, James Conner, and Marquise Brown.
Predicted winner: Cardinals
Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles
The NFC Champion Eagles return with a very similar roster from last year. This matchup won’t be close, as Philadelphia is more talented in almost every aspect.
Predicted winner: Eagles
Week 18: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Arizona Cardinals will have a chance to win this one, which could have playoff implications for the Seahawks as the last regular season game. They ultimately fall short, with the Seahawks offensive weapons being too much for the Cardinals, particularly in the secondary.
Predicted winner: Seahawks
Final record: 5-12
The Arizona Cardinals have a legitimate shot at ending up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It depends on how long Kyler Murray is out as he recovers from his ACL injury. Regardless, they still have a ton of gaps to fill in their roster, which their tough-scheduled opponents could exploit this season.
Main Image: Diannie Chavez / USA TODAY NETWORK
