Arizona Cardinals’ 2016 NFL Schedule Released

Arizona’s slate includes road games against defending division champions Carolina and Minnesota.

If the Arizona Cardinals are to repeat as NFC West champions in 2016, they will have certainly earned it. Arizona’s strength of schedule is .531 (136-120), a mark that is tied for seventh highest in the league.

While the opponents for next season have been known since the conclusion of the 2015 regular season, the NFL officially unveiled its 2016 schedule Thursday night. In addition to its six combined home and road games against division rivals Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, Arizona will face teams from the AFC East and NFC South.

This, of course, includes defending NFC champion Carolina and perennial Super Bowl contender New England. NFC division winners Washington and Minnesota are also on the docket.

The Cardinals are coming off one of the most successful seasons in franchise history. Arizona went 13-3 and earned a first-round bye, both firsts for the franchise. The Cardinals defeated the Green Bay Packers 26-20 in overtime in the divisional round before being routed by the Carolina Panthers 49-15 in the NFC Championship Game.

Veteran quarterback Carson Palmer had a career year, passing for 4,671 yards, 35 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The 36-year-old Palmer garnered one MVP vote, tying with Tom Brady behind landslide choice Cam Newton. Arizona also boasts a trio of standout receivers in Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and Michael Floyd.

The Cardinals bolstered their already stout defense by trading for 26-year-old defensive end Chandler Jones in the offseason, adding a proven pass rusher to the mix. Jones had 36 sacks in four seasons with the Patriots.

Arizona also holds the No. 29 overall selection in this year’s draft.

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