It’s no secret that everyone knew how difficult the schedule would be for the Arizona Cardinals over the first eight weeks of the season, with six against 2023 playoff teams.
Conversely, the second half of the slate wasn’t as daunting with only three playoff teams from the year before.
In those first eight games, they won three of four games against playoff teams: the L.A. Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, edged the L.A. Chargers and then beat up on the Chicago Bears and New York Jets to be 6-4 at the bye.
Winning close games was a big reason. Prior to the Week 5 game at San Francisco, the Cardinals were 2-7 under head coach Jonathan Gannon in one-score games. That included losses to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions earlier this season.
Starting with the 49ers game, the Cardinals have won three consecutive one-score games (by a total of four points), all on late Chad Ryland field goals.
It doesn’t take a math major to realize that if only two of those were flipped, the Cardinals would be 4-6.
Conversely, the 49ers’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday on a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining was their third loss this season on scores in the final two minutes.
Against the Rams, a touchdown tied the game with 1:51 to play and the Rams then won on a field goal with two seconds on the clock. The third, of course, was to the Cardinals on a Ryland field goal with 1:37 remaining.
Playing the “flip” game, if two of their four overall one-score losses were wins, San Francisco would be 7-3 instead of 5-5 and no one would be wondering what’s wrong with the 49ers.
That’s life in the NFL.
Now, back to what’s ahead on the schedule.
The combined record of the Cardinals’ seven opponents (counting the Seahawks twice) is 34-37 and the Minnesota Vikings are the only opponent with seven or more victories.
The other three teams have a decidedly tougher road.
The 49ers play Detroit (9-1), Buffalo (9-2) and Green Bay (7-3), and the combined record of their seven opponents is 44-27.
The Rams play Buffalo and Philadelphia (8-2) and the combined record is 40-33.
The Seahawks play Minnesota and Green Bay and the combined record is 39-32.
What’s most important is that the Cardinals control their own destiny and they have to make sure to take advantage of this opportunity. No matter the opponent, most of the time it’s hard to win games in the NFL.
It’s simply a reality to know that just as this season turned around the way it is, it doesn’t take much to head back in the other direction.
As Gannon said Monday about what he expected in the first practice after the bye, “Attention to detail, focus, enthusiasm. We can’t be moping around today. We have to get a lot done today. You have to use the bonus day as a bonus day. Break a sweat, get going with our winning behavior. Let’s pick up where we left off.”
Remaining schedules in NFC West
Cardinals
- Week 12 at Seattle (5-5)
- Week 13 at Minnesota (8-2)
- Week 14 vs. Seattle (5-5)
- Week 15 vs. New England (3-8)
- Week 16 at Carolina (3-7)
- Week 17 at L.A. Rams (5-5)
- Week 18 vs. San Francisco (5-5)
Combined opponent record: 34-37
Rams
- Week 12 vs. Philadelphia (8-2)
- Week 13 at New Orleans (4-7)
- Week 14 vs. Buffalo (9-2)
- Week 15 (Thursday) at San Francisco (5-5)
- Week 16 at N.Y. Jets (3-8)
- Week 17 vs. Arizona (6-4)
- Week 18 vs. Seattle (5-5)
Combined opponent record: 40-33
49ers
- Week 12 at Green Bay (7-3)
- Week 13 at Buffalo (9-2)
- Week 14 vs. Chicago (4-6)
- Week 15 (Thursday) vs. L.A. Rams (5-5)
- Week 16 at Miami (4-6)
- Week 17 (Monday) vs. Detroit (9-1)
- Week 18 at Arizona (6-4)
Combined opponent record: 44-27
Seahawks
- Week 12 vs. Arizona (6-4)
- Week 13 at N.Y. Jets (3-8)
- Wek 14 at Arizona (6-4)
- Week 15 vs. Green Bay (7-3)
- Week 16 vs. Minnesota (8-2)
- Week 17 (Thursday) at Chicago (4-6)
- Week 18 at L.A. Rams (5-5)
Combined opponent record: 39-32
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