Predicting Cardinals 2025 Wins by Schedule

Zak Drapeau
Aug 11
6 min read

by Zak Drapeau 8/11/2025 Sportz Nation

Team Overview

Photo by Brooke Sutton via gettyimages.com

The Cardinals have been what I would consider an "under-performing team" for almost a decade now. Without too much exception, they consistently have a Top-15 roster on paper but somehow disappoint. With one playoff appearance and 0 wins in Kyler Murray's tenure on the team, the former #1 pick has yet to prove worthy of his draft pick or his $230 Million contract signed before last season.

In Jonathan Gannon's second year as Head Coach in Arizona, the team did improve their win total by 4 or double from 2023. The additions this team has made on both sides of the ball including Josh Sweat, Marvin Harrison Jr, Paris Johnson and Will Johnson is impressive but are still unproven.

The Cardinals are a very sound roster headlined by a great team-run game and a very young and promising defense. As an NFL Draft expert, their selections of Walter Nolen, Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Max Melton put them in the Top-5 teams in the league based on their previous 2 drafts.

Jonathan Gannon was the former DC in Philadelphia and it's clear he's brought his vision of a versatile and dominant defense to Arizona with him. Clearly, a team with a bright future ahead of it, the question is if they will ever live up to their potential they've come up short of for a decade.

___________________________________

Week 1: @ Saints

Starting their season off in what I'd consider to be the easiest away stadium to win in this season, the Saints have what it takes to defend Arizona's passing but should get trampled by the run. On the other end, the Cardinals loaded defense should be more than enough to stop the Saints even in New Orleans.

Prediction: Cardinals 27-17

___________________________________

Week 2: vs Panthers

Home opener and another team with a similar Quarterback situation comes to town. The Cardinals have a really good pass rush-secondary combo and I believe only a perfect-Bryce Young game could give the Panthers a chance. In the end I like the Cardinals to outlast them especially at home.

Prediction: Cardinals 28-24

___________________________________

Week 3: @ 49ers

Cardinals-49ers have been surprisingly decided by 2+ scores or more in 6 of their last 7 matchups. With the 49ers winning 4 of those occasions and Kyler Murray 4-7 against the 49ers in his career, you may think the 49ers have the advantage in this one. Unlike past years though, in the middle of a 49ers rebuild around Purdy's contract, the Cardinals have a much better roster and should get this one easy.

Prediction: Cardinals 28-20

___________________________________

Week 4: vs Seahawks (TNF)

Short notice week but back at home against another divisional rival, this matchup should be one of the closest we see all season. The Cardinals run game should be able to break free against Seattle but the opponents new offense around Sam Darnold should be able to outduel them with Kyler Murray being blanketed by the strong Seahawks' secondary.

Prediction: Seahawks 28-24

___________________________________

Week 5: vs Titans

The Titans, like the Saints could be a good team this year if they stick to their strengths and those strengths just so happen to be the Cardinals' weaknesses. A balanced offense that wants to take the top off on play action plays and a well-built run defending defense, the Titans could get their biggest upset of their season in this one.

Prediction: Titans 20-17

___________________________________

Week 6: @ Colts

For the same reason the Titans could win the last one, the Colts could too plus they'll be in Indy. The Colts front-7 is built to stop the run and Kyler Murray will have to throw the ball a lot to try and get a win. Likely turning the ball over multiple times, I'll take the Colts in another upset.

Prediction: Colts 28-17

___________________________________

Week 7: vs Packers

Another team that has under performed in recent year but to more playoff wins is the Packers and this matchup sees two of the closest rosters in the league square off. The key difference between the two is what I will be the difference and that's the Packers' secondary. Look for Maserati Marv to have his best game of the season here.

Prediction: Cardinals 26-20

___________________________________

Week 8: BYE Week

Sitting at their mid-season BYE Week at 4-3, the Cardinals see the rest of their schedule as harder than the beginning with more away games against better opponents. The good news is they've gotten their upsets out of the way and both sides of the ball are really rolling at this point.

___________________________________

Week 9: @ Cowboys (MNF)

After their BYE Week you know the Cardinals are ready to come out swinging in Dallas and it should lead to a shootout on Monday night. With the Cowboys defense predicated on their pass rush, I can see the Cardinals improvised offense causing fits and Kyler outdueling Dak here.

Prediction: Cardinals 38-34

___________________________________

Week 10: @ Seahawks

A HUGE game at this point in the season especially after the Seahawks won in Arizona in their last matchup. Kyler and the offense has really looked good in the past few weeks and that will be needed against the Seahawks defense.

Prediction: Cardinals 28-20

___________________________________

Week 11: vs 49ers

Back-to-back divisional games again but the 49ers are coming for revenge and at this point in the season will have much more momentum this time. If the front-7 can hold the Cardinals to a slow running game, the underdog could really have a chance to end the Cardinals' win streak.

Prediction: 49ers 31-21

___________________________________

Week 12: vs Jaguars

The Jaguars have a really good chance at having a vastly improved offense with Liam Coen and Travis Hunter coming to town. I believe the youth and potential on their offense and the Cardinals defense will cancel out but the Cardinals run game should give them the slightest of advantages.

Prediction: Cardinals 21-20

___________________________________

Week 13: @ Buccaneers

The Buccs pass offense is one of the few that should be able to beat up the Cardinals. Happening in Tampa Bay, the Cardinals will have a great showing and may even be able to take advantage of Maserati Marv's matchups but will still ultimately come up short.

Prediction: Buccaneers 24-21

___________________________________

Week 14: vs Rams

Another team whos' passing should neutralize the birds, the Rams will take on the Cardinals for their first divisional matchup here. One thing I will give the Cardinals is their pass rush advantage and if they make Matt Stafford have to use his legs, I'll give them a win. The Cards will have to throw the ball though as the Rams' in defense has improved so much in the last two years.

Prediction: Cardinals 23-20

___________________________________

Week 15: @ Texans

In the past month or so the Cards' offense has really slowed down and due for a matchup with the Texans won't make changing that easy. I can see Kyler having a turnover or two here and costing his team a game down in Houston.

Prediction: Texans 28-21

___________________________________

Week 16: vs Falcons

Back at home, this game will be a great matchup between two teams who have as unpredictable seasons ahead of them as each other. The Falcons' pass rush may improve this year but I don't think it will be good enough to really get Kyler off his game. Take the Cardinals here as their offense finally gets back on track.

Prediction: Cardinals 31-22

___________________________________

Week 17: @ Bengals (TBD)

At this point in the season the Bengals are eliminated from the playoffs and the Cards are neck-and-neck in their division. This coupled with the Bengals defense that couldn't stop a pop warner team at this point in the season, give the Cardinals another win and set them up for the biggest Week 18 game around the league.

Prediction: Cardinals 28-21

___________________________________

Week 18: @ Rams (TBD)

This game will be given the Monday night slot and the winner will take sole lead of the NFC West with the loser getting a Wild Card spot. The Rams lost last time but are back at home and ready to really test the Cards' secondary. Matt Stafford may be in the twilight of his career but should outduel Kyler here to take the division.

Prediction: Rams 31-28

___________________________________

Photo by Christian Petersen via gettyimages.com

The Cardinals finish this exercise with a 10-7 record including a 5-3 record at home and a 3-3 record in the NFC West.

Finally getting back to the playoffs, the Cardinals came up just short of their first NFC West title since 2015. A well-balanced team, the defense carried the middle part of their season but the offense really came alive towards the end and right in time for the playoffs.

Kyler and Marv improved in their second year together and James Conner and Trey Benson had a great 1-2 combo. Young players on the defense like Walter Nolen and Will Johnson stepped up and made this unit Top-10 in the league. This team may not be ready to make a real playoff run just yet but have progressed in every year of Gannon's tenure and look promising.

___________________________________