It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
The 2021 season was a lopsided one for the Cardinals, who faltered after a strong start and were crushed in their wild-card playoff clash with the Rams.
The good: Arizona started 8-0, riding a wave of performances from Kyler Murray and a dynamic running game that featured defender Chase Edmonds and striker James Conner.
The bad: The Cardinals fell apart when the injuries hit. Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, JJ Watt and Maxx Williams all spent time on the sidelines, breaking the continuity that Kliff Kingsbury’s team built over the first two months.
All of that culminated in a 3-6 record in Arizona’s last nine games and a non-competitive playoff appearance.
Murray is back, for now: The 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year earned his fifth-year option and is scheduled to earn $29.7 million in 2023.
Hopkins isn’t back, at least not yet: The three-time All-Pro wide receiver was suspended six games by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
So what are the prospects for Arizona in 2022? It’s hard to say. The team still has a lot of talent, but that talent has failed to push the team into the upper stratosphere.
For now, here’s a full breakdown of the Cardinals’ 2022 schedule, including dates, start times and analysis of all 17 games.
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2022 Arizona Cardinals Schedule
The Cardinals schedule will be released as part of the NFL schedule release on Thursday, May 12.
- House: Chiefs, Chargers, Buccaneers, Saints, Eagles, Patriots, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams
- Far: Falcons, Panthers, Raiders, Broncos, Vikings, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams
| Week | Date | Adversary | start time | TELEVISION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| eleven | Monday, November 21 | vs 49ers (in Mexico City) | 20:15 | ESPN |
| 12 | ||||
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| 18 |
Seven of the teams the Cardinals will face in 2022 made the playoffs in 2021, and four of those teams advanced beyond the first round: the Buccaneers, Chiefs, Rams and 49ers.
They will face the Bucs, Chiefs, Patriots, Rams and 49ers at home and the Raiders, Rams and 49ers on the road.
Cardinals Calendar Force
The Cardinals’ opponents in 2022 were a combined 157-132 in 2021, a .543 winning percentage that is second-highest in the NFL.
Tougher tests: The Cardinals could be in for a brutal slate of home games. Arizona will face the Chiefs, Chargers, Buccaneers and Rams in Glendale; all of those teams enter the 2022 season with Super Bowl aspirations.
Few teams are as complete as the Rams. The reigning Super Bowl champions are packed with star power. They showed it in their 34-11 rout of Arizona in their NFC wild-card game last January: Cooper Kupp scored a touchdown, Odell Beckham Jr. added another and the Rams’ forward seven harassed Murray with two interceptions and a rating. of pin of 40.9.
Biggest breaks: While Arizona’s schedule is pretty strong, the team also has a handful of compelling matchups. The Seahawks, Panthers and Falcons seem destined for a lackluster 2022. Cardinals fans are hoping those games will help Kliff Kingsbury’s team build confidence for their more imposing opposition.
Bottom line: Arizona was solid for much of last season. Injuries broke the continuity that helped build an 8-0 start, and the team struggled in the second half.
Which version of the Cardinals will shine in 2022? The confident team that strutted through its first eight games last year? Those Cardinals defeated the Rams in Week 4 and seemed capable of embarking on a deep postseason run. Or will it be the injury-plagued team that has lost four of its last five, a streak that included losses to the Lions (3-13-1) and Seahawks (7-10).
Arizona has the schedule strength to prove its worth. He will be facing some of the best teams in the league this year. If the Cardinals play to their full potential, they could establish themselves as a playoff force.
But it’s hard to look past the Rams in the division. A wild-card berth seems more realistic at this point, especially after factoring in DeAndre Hopkins’ suspension.
Record prediction: 10-7
Reference-www.sportingnews.com