First of all, I don’t believe in
any of the wild-eyed beliefs espoused by fans in some
NFL precincts (I’m talking to you, San Diego and New
England) that the people who make the schedules are out
to get certain teams.
I can tell you who the Cardinals
will be playing 2026 if you tell me what place they
finished in their division in 2025, as well as the
standings for every other division. Two games change
each year for each team. Everything else is constant.
So, really being able to predict 14 out 16 of the teams
they’ll play in 2026 ain’t bad, right?
But… I will say that the Cardinals
and the Saints got the ugly end of the stick last year.
The Cardinals had to give up a home game to play in
Mexico (granted, it was probably nice to play in front
of 100,000 screaming fans when you’re used to 3,200
disgruntled season ticket holders). And the Saints had
to give one up to play in… New Jersey. Yeah, that was a
raw deal.
I’ll have to say, though, that the
schedule makers did do the Cards a favor by
scheduling two games against the 49ers (division or not,
those are nice games to have).
At first look, I’m going to predict
that if the Cardinals get off to a fast start, they
might have a chance to steal away with the division.
With three straight division games, then 4 out of 5
against the AFC West and NFC North (where I think KC,
Oakland, and San Diego are likely to take a step back
and Green Bay – yes Green Bay – and Minnesota are going
to regress), that’s 8 important, yet imminently winnable
games to start the season.
After the bye, they have tough
games against Denver and Seattle (assuming the Seahawks
haven’t lost too much). Other than that, it’s more of
the mediocre teams in the NFC North and AFC West. Plus
Dallas. I’d like to say for sure that Dallas is going
to be tough, but that game immediately follows the bye.
If the Cardinals are 5-3 or 6-2 going into that game and
are well rested, we could resurrect the memory of Jake Plummer and Arizona’s only playoff victory in franchise
history.
Sure, it’s early. Sure, a number
of “experts” like myself were calling for Holmgren’s
head and handing the division to Dennis Green at this
time last year. But with a number of significant free
agent additions, a hopefully solid draft, and the
advantage of playing in the diluted NFC West, the
playoffs are not an impossible dream. Just ask Seattle.
2006 Preseason Schedule
|
Date |
Opponent |
Location |
Site Time |
AZ Time |
|
Sat. Aug. 12 |
Pitsburgh Steelers |
Cardinals Stadium |
1:05 PM |
1:05 PM |
|
Sat. Aug. 19 |
at New England Patriots |
Gillette Stadium |
8:00 PM |
5:00 PM |
|
Frid. Aug 25 |
at Chicago Bears |
Soldier Field |
7:05 PM |
5:05 PM |
|
Thur. Aug 31 |
Denver Broncos |
Cardinals Stadium |
7:05 PM |
7:05 PM |
2006 Regular Season Schedule
|
Date |
Opponent |
Location |
Site Time |
AZ Time |
|
Sun. Sept. 10 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Cardinals Stadium |
1:15 PM |
1:15 PM |
|
Sun. Sept 17 |
at Seattle Seahawks |
Qwest Field |
1:05 PM |
1:05 PM |
|
Sun. Sept. 24 |
St. Louis Rams |
Cardinals Stadium |
1:15 PM |
1:15 PM |
|
Sun. Oct. 1 |
at Atlanta Falcons |
Georgia Dome |
1:00 PM |
10:00 AM |
|
Sun. Oct. 8 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Cardinals Stadium |
1:05 PM |
1:05 PM |
|
Mon. Oct. 16 |
Chicago Bears # |
Cardinals Stadium |
5:30 PM |
5:30 PM |
|
Sun. Oct. 22 |
at Oakland Raiders |
McAfee Colesium |
1:15 PM |
1:15 PM |
|
Sun. Oct. 29 |
at Green Bay Packers |
Lambeau Field |
Noon |
11:00 AM |
|
Sun. Nov. 5 |
BYE |
|
|
|
|
Sun. Nov. 12 |
Dallas Cowboys* |
Cardinals Stadium |
2:15 PM |
2:15 PM |
|
Sun. Nov. 19 |
Detroit Lions* |
Cardinals Stadium |
2:05 PM |
2:05 PM |
|
Sun. Nov. 26 |
at Minnesota Vikings* |
H.H Humphrey Metrodome |
Noon |
11:00 AM |
|
Sun. Dec. 3 |
at St. Louis Rams* |
Edward Jones Dome |
Noon |
11:00 AM |
|
Sun. Dec. 10 |
Seattle Seahawks* |
Cardinals Stadium |
2:05 PM |
2:05 PM |
|
Sun. Dec 17 |
Denver Broncos* |
Cardinals Stadium |
2:05 PM |
2:05 PM |
|
Sun. Dec. 24 |
at San Francisco 49ers |
Monster Park |
1:05 PM |
2:05 PM |
|
Sun. Dec 31 |
at San Diego Chargers* |
Qualcomm Stadium |
1:15 PM |
2:15 PM |
# Monday night on ESPN
* Have the potential to move to Sunday night on NBC
based on flexible scheduling decisions
Read more from
Brad Keller at
http://thesportsfarm.com