Arizona Cardinals — 2026 season outlook, updated Oct 14, 2026.
Arizona Cardinals finished the 2026 season 1-4.
Arizona Cardinals: 3-14 regular season.
Based on verified play-by-play data (nflverse).
By the numbers — 2026
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2026 schedule
- Bye week 14 — see all 2026 byes.
- 1st-hardest schedule — opponents average 9.32 projected wins.
- Cardinals backfield and handcuffs — depth chart, refreshed daily.
Cardinals players we cover
Cardinals 21, Lions 45 — Week 5: Third-Down Stops, Fourth-Down Scores
Arizona lost 45-21 at home after stopping Detroit on 9 of 13 third downs and then watching the Lions convert all four of their fourth downs, three for touchdowns; Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 151 yards against a run defense that had allowed -0.21 expected points a play through Week 4.
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More episodes
- Camp · Sep 3, 2026
Cardinals Camp — Sep 3: Pappoe Claimed, Arizona Claimed Nobody
Arizona held the third waiver priority on Monday, was awarded nothing, and lost the one player it wanted back — linebacker Owen Pappoe, claimed by Tennessee. Carson Beck was cleared to return to full practice this week after nearly a month out with the rib injury, and the lineman who caused it, Jared Harrison-Hunte, joined Arizona's practice squad Tuesday. Love's ankle and Isaiah Adams's knee are game-weekend calls.
- Camp · Aug 31, 2026
Cardinals Camp — Aug 31: Three Backs and a Bet on Love's Ankle
The Cardinals reached their 53 by keeping three running backs — Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight — a decision the beat reads as confidence Love's high ankle sprain heals in time for Week 1, even though the rookie has yet to return to practice. Sean Murphy-Bunting, the camp starting nickel, was released with Garrett Williams back from an Achilles tear, and Arizona traded for blocking tight end Hunter Long with Tip Reiman out at least four games. Carson Beck made the roster without a snap since August 1.
- Camp · Aug 23, 2026
Cardinals Camp — Aug 23: Love's Ankle Is a High Ankle Sprain
The ankle Jeremiyah Love tweaked in his 14-touch debut came back as a high ankle sprain, and the third overall pick went the whole week without a practice rep. In his absence the Cardinals lost 34 to 13 to the Cowboys in a game defined by penalties — two touchdowns wiped out on one drive — while Gardner Minshew quietly went 19 of 23 and Carson Beck's ribs kept the rookie quarterback shelved for a third straight week.
- Camp · Aug 16, 2026
Arizona Cardinals Camp Update — August 16: Jeremiyah Love Finally Went First, Then Tweaked an Ankle
The pecking order finally moved: Love took the first snaps with the starters, then handled a start-caliber workload in a 27-14 win over the Raiders before an ankle scare the team is calling minor. Brissett went 5-for-5, Beck sat with sore ribs, and the guard battle ended the worst way — Chase Bisontis tore his MCL.
- Camp · Aug 9, 2026
Arizona Cardinals Camp Update — August 9: Jeremiyah Love Isn't First Out of the Backfield Yet
The hold-in ended, the third overall pick looks exactly like a third overall pick, and Tyler Allgeier keeps trotting out first anyway. Mike LaFleur says the backfield rides the hot hand. The year-of-positioning framing is holding on every front.
- 2026 Preview
Arizona Cardinals 2026 Season Preview — Priced for Dead Last, Built to Bounce
The market gave 3-14 Arizona the lowest win total in football — but the ten-year bounce math, a five-loss margin of 13 total points, and a new play-calling head coach say the floor is wrong even if the ceiling is 2027.
- Season Review
Cardinals 2025 Season in Review
3-14 regular season
- Draft Recap
7 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
- Week 4
Cardinals 24, Giants 36 — Week 4: Fourth and Four, Ninety-Eight Back
Arizona lost 36-24 at the Giants after reaching fourth and 4 at the New York 4 with 11 seconds left, down 30-24, and throwing an interception that Banks returned 98 yards; Jacoby Brissett threw three interceptions after one in the first three weeks, and 37 pass plays were worth minus 18.2 expected points.
- Week 3
Cardinals 30, 49ers 36 — Week 3: Thirty Points, No Gain Over Nineteen
Arizona lost 36-30 at San Francisco after scoring 30 points without a play from scrimmage longer than 19 yards, while its pass defense allowed plus 22.9 expected points on 27 pass plays, the worst of the 28 teams to play so far in Week 3.
- Week 2
Cardinals 7, Seahawks 31 — Week 2: Tied at the Half, Scoreless After
Arizona lost 31-7 at home to Seattle on Sunday after a 7-7 first half, gaining 165 total yards and 95 passing yards, both the fewest of the 28 teams that have played Week 2, with no completion longer than nine yards, one week after gaining 396 in a win at the Chargers.
- Week 1
Cardinals 26, Chargers 14 — Week 1: Two Takeaways and a Blocked Punt
Arizona won at SoFi Stadium twenty-six to fourteen and never trailed. The defense held the Chargers to minus twelve expected points, took the ball away twice, and stopped a fourth and three at its own three-yard line. A blocked punt in the fourth quarter turned into a touchdown two plays later.
- Week 3 · What Repeats
Cardinals, Week 3 — What Repeats: The Deep Throws Landed
A week after none of Jacoby Brissett's four throws of 15 or more air yards was catchable, five of his nine against the 49ers were, and 41 of his 51 throws were charted catchable, 80 percent, eighth of 32 this week; the defense flipped from the fullest box in the league to a light box on 18 of 21 designed runs and allowed 5.1 yards a carry.
- Week 2 · What Repeats
Cardinals, Week 2 — What Repeats: Four Deep Throws, None Catchable
A week after Jacoby Brissett's throws were charted 84 percent catchable, fifth in the league, his throws against Seattle were charted 64 percent catchable, 27th of 32 — none of his four throws of 15 or more air yards was catchable — while the defense stacked the box on 37 of 40 Seattle designed runs and still gave up 162 yards.
- Week 1 · What Repeats
Cardinals, Week 1 — What Repeats: Brissett, Fifth in Catchable Rate
Jacoby Brissett's 37 throws at the Chargers were charted 84 percent catchable — fifth in the league in Week 1, 15 points above his own 2025 — with 3 drops and 1 interception-worthy ball; the offense called play-action on 5 of 39 dropbacks (30th), and the defense sent five or more rushers on 6 of 35 dropbacks (23rd) while contesting 7 of Justin Herbert's 27 throws.
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