What is an acceptable 2026 season?

[some dumb guy]

You build a team to win your division first, so that needs to be how you draft and plan your offense and defense. Being in one of the toughest should help winning games outside of the division. I also noticed we do seem to have a pretty tough schedule next year, but do you really want a team to win a bunch of "easy" games just to make the playoffs?

Yeah, I'd be ok with that too...

 

[ajcardfan]

I think there is no way we sniff 6 wins. I think we don't win 3. It would figure that we win 6 or 7 games and take ourselves out of range for the top 2 or 3 QBs and we stick with chopped liver at QB.

 

[kerouac9]

I agree with this, we have some top players on the roster, were better than some of the ***** out there, we just get buggered by the fact that the NFC West is hardcore

Citation needed

 

[WhackobyBrisket]

Citation needed

Ok I might have exaggerated Top, only McBride fits that on the offense. But there is very good players on this side of the ball such Wilson, PJJ and Froholdt, I think the expectation is that the new Guards and Love adds to that (I know the future is unknown).

We had historical levels on injury last season as well.

The part that concerns me though, is the defense, can Rallis turn around last season's **** show, I personally think this is a bigger impact than who plays QB.

For what it's worth I think we'll get around 6-7 wins this season

 

[dreamcastrocks]

To me it's simple.

1. Find out of Beck is our QBoF.
2. Stay healthy.

 

[Delmar M Lewis]

I voted 8-9 but realistically I think will be tough to reach that. Obviously will come down to how ML is as far as in game adjustments go and the QB situation, Beck, JB, etc.

I know some fans want us to tank/and or are ambivalent if we do, because of how deep next year's draft is, but I never really go for that and just want us to to put a full effort out and whatever happens, happens.

Overall though yes, I see us getting a few more wins than last season and overall be a better product.

Around 5-7 total for me still need that right tackle and edge plus that elusive QbOF hopefully someone emerges unlike this year where all the supposed top Qb's took a step back if say the draft position is say a top 5 my guess right now is a massive trade up for Arch if he shows a big improvement

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The only type of season that counts is one with at least a winning record

 

[slanidrac16]

With a brutal schedule in this division 7-8 wins would be miraculous.
I’m taking the under on the Vegas line.

 

[Cardinal88]

You build a team to win your division first, so that needs to be how you draft and plan your offense and defense. Being in one of the toughest should help winning games outside of the division. I also noticed we do seem to have a pretty tough schedule next year, but do you really want a team to win a bunch of "easy" games just to make the playoffs?

Yeah, I'd be ok with that too...

New England did last year!

By the way, your first sentence is clear to me that you aren't just some dumb guy. HEHE!

 

[ASUCHRIS]

New England did last year!

By the way, your first sentence is clear to me that you aren't just some dumb guy. HEHE!

Based on 2025 records, the Chicago Bears (.550), Miami Dolphins (.542), and Arizona Cardinals/Green Bay Packers (.538) face the hardest NFL schedules in 2026.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Acceptable and expected are two very different beasts.

Acceptable:
Either 8-9 wins or completely tank.

Expected:
4-6 wins. Crappy season too low for impact QBOTF.

 

[ajcardfan]

Acceptable and expected are two very different beasts.

Acceptable:
Either 8-9 wins or completely tank.

Expected:
4-6 wins. Crappy season too low for impact QBOTF.

I don't get this kind of optimism. How have we gotten so better that you expect 4 wins?

 

[AZ Native]

HOME​

• Philadelphia Eagles - L
• Washington Commanders - W
• Denver Broncos - L
• Las Vegas Raiders - W
• Detroit Lions - L
• New York Jets - W
• Los Angeles Rams - L
• San Francisco 49ers - L
• Seattle Seahawks -L

ROAD​

• Dallas Cowboys - L (I know, I know)
• New York Giants - W
• Kansas City Chiefs - L
• Los Angeles Chargers - L
• New Orleans Saints - L
• Los Angeles Rams - L
• San Francisco 49ers - W
• Seattle Seahawks - L

5-12

Not acceptable now, but no choice but to accept it after the fact.

 

[some dumb guy]

New England did last year!

By the way, your first sentence is clear to me that you aren't just some dumb guy. HEHE!

Lies, nothing but lies...don't believe the man behind the curtain..
You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with some dumb guy....???

That really doesn't work, does it? LOL
but much appreciated

 

[Brian in Mesa]

A balanced attack. Rushing/passing, which JB never had in his games last season. Offense and defense, too, which we rarely had also. It would be nice to resemble an NFL team this season.

 

[Zeno]

I don't get this kind of optimism. How have we gotten so better that you expect 4 wins?

History, as bad as this team has been in AZ last year was their lowest win total ever. Just staying healthy compared to to last year gets us a couple more wins.

 

[kerouac9]

Ok I might have exaggerated Top, only McBride fits that on the offense. But there is very good players on this side of the ball such Wilson, PJJ and Froholdt, I think the expectation is that the new Guards and Love adds to that (I know the future is unknown).

We had historical levels on injury last season as well.

The part that concerns me though, is the defense, can Rallis turn around last season's **** show, I personally think this is a bigger impact than who plays QB.

For what it's worth I think we'll get around 6-7 wins this season

Every team has good players. The raiders and jets have good players. The question is whether we have enough/more good players compared to our opponents.

Blue chip: Budda, McBride

Red chip: PJJ, Mack Wilson, Josh Sweat, Michael Wilson

Bunch of players could move up, but I think six blue or red chip players would be among the worst in the NFL.

I don't get this kind of optimism. How have we gotten so better that you expect 4 wins?

You have to be especially inept or actively tanking to be worse than 7 wins in the NFL.

 

[AZ Native]

Every team has good players. The raiders and jets have good players. The question is whether we have enough/more good players compared to our opponents.

Blue chip: Budda, McBride

Red chip: PJJ, Mack Wilson, Josh Sweat, Michael Wilson

Bunch of players could move up, but I think six blue or red chip players would be among the worst in the NFL.


You have to be especially inept or actively tanking to be worse than 7 wins in the NFL.

Budda is blue chip? Really?

 

[ajcardfan]

Every team has good players. The raiders and jets have good players. The question is whether we have enough/more good players compared to our opponents.

Blue chip: Budda, McBride

Red chip: PJJ, Mack Wilson, Josh Sweat, Michael Wilson

Bunch of players could move up, but I think six blue or red chip players would be among the worst in the NFL.


You have to be especially inept or actively tanking to be worse than 7 wins in the NFL.

Yes, that is what we saw last year. Inept and then tanking, we were both. And STILL beat Dallas.

I understand the high number of bad teams. I don't see how we are better right now than we were one year ago today. One year ago today, you couldn't have handpicked a more favorable schedule going into the season. This year? Much more daunting.

Maybe we can be like the 2025 Saints. That would be six wins, playing well late. That's the very best season I can see. And even that seems out of reach realistically.

 

[kerouac9]

Budda is blue chip? Really?

Bruh he’s an all pro. I don’t know what to tell you

 

[JRakes]

0-17 is a perfect season. Then go get your QB1

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Bruh he’s an all pro. I don’t know what to tell you

We all watch him every game. He's not a top safety anymore, nor should he be mentioned in the same breath as McBride, who is definitely a top 5 player at his position. You aren't seriously saying you think Budda is a top 5 safety, are you?

 

[TigToad]

2 wins or less. 1st pick next year.

UnlessBeck turns out to be a huge draft steal, I am with the good Dr.

 

[kerouac9]

We all watch him every game. He's not a top safety anymore, nor should he be mentioned in the same breath as McBride, who is definitely a top 5 player at his position. You aren't seriously saying you think Budda is a top 5 safety, are you?

Man I dunno. I’m willing to accept the judgement of the nfl on this one.

 

[mel typer]

Ok. First of all we wouldn't have Love at #3 if the defense could have held up. A long with some unforseen things like Demarcado. You know

Secondly it was Murray. Started 2-0 everyone was happy AF and then the wheels came off the bus. Murray got injured........

We lost a lot by 4 points or less. Last second field goals and the injury bug but us. We were hoping for a defense that could keep us in games but no.

In stead we got the high draft pick and it is what it is.

Looking forward I see a healthy defense and we'll see. Hoping to tank isn't cool. We're the Arizona Cardinals; not the St Louis Cardinals (baseball) so let's give us a chance. Plus a lot can happen until late June or early July.