I think 10 wins is pretty secure. Like others have noted the schedule while weak overall, could have been kinder. Starting with N.O., a weak team the Cards should beat, but they will possibly have to guess at the offense. Likely a rookie QB should help, but the strategy will probably be a mystery with only preseason to observe the Saints. The Pats come next, another potentially weak team. Everyone is cheering about a likely early winning record. Delaying games against the strong teams means those teams will have plenty of film to study before the Cards face them. Hopefully the Cards will win easily and not have to show any exotic defenses or blitzes. I’m presuming the Cards are no worse than 5-2 going into the bye. Any weaker performance makes a playoff projection highly marginal.
Coming out of the bye week hopefully the Cards will be healthy and aggressive when facing the Cowboys. The Boys seem to lack overall direction and should be taken out by a playoff level team. Week 10 seems critical to me. I believe the Cards are the better team and historically have often played well in Seattle. I think the Seahawks are being overrated. I am not a Darnold fan and if I’m correct about the Cards’ defense I believe there’s a good chance Darnold will be overwhelmed.
The Cards then return home to face the Niners. I see this as a winnable game, but the Cards will have little margin for error. The Niners health could be a factor as I think their depth is questionable. Jax is better than some think, but a playoff team will handle them as well. Again the pass rush group should star and force some wayward passes.
By this point the Cards should be 8-3, though I think 9-2 is reasonably achievable. The Bucs may be a trap game. A mobile QB with a recently productive history can challenge even good pass rushes. They also have receivers skilled in recognizing the need for hot routes. The game is winnable, but will be a significant challenge. Then home against the Rams is again a potential victory, but they will likely be one of the league’s best teams. If the Cards have 10 wins by now, they will be in great shape. If they’ve become stuck at 8, everyone will recall the Cards’ last few finishes. The pressure could be severe.
Houston will present a major defensive challenge for the Cards’ offense. The defense must suppress the Texans’ offense. They likely need to keep the Texans below 20 points. Atlanta at home should be the easiest of the finishing games. Still overlooking them considering the surrounding games is a danger.
Finally, the Cards face 2 teams on the road that had winning records in 2025. If the Cards have banked 11 wins, they’re in good shape. If they’re stuck on 8 or 9, they’re in big trouble. Burrow hasn’t been too durable and neither has Stafford, so maybe the Cards will catch a break. Perhaps one or both have clinched all they can and they’ll rest players. However, that would seem to be a long shot. If the Cards become the best they can be, the Cards would still be competitive with either one.
So there it is. 10 wins looks likely. 12 or more is actually plausible. This should be exciting.
Coming out of the bye week hopefully the Cards will be healthy and aggressive when facing the Cowboys. The Boys seem to lack overall direction and should be taken out by a playoff level team. Week 10 seems critical to me. I believe the Cards are the better team and historically have often played well in Seattle. I think the Seahawks are being overrated. I am not a Darnold fan and if I’m correct about the Cards’ defense I believe there’s a good chance Darnold will be overwhelmed.
The Cards then return home to face the Niners. I see this as a winnable game, but the Cards will have little margin for error. The Niners health could be a factor as I think their depth is questionable. Jax is better than some think, but a playoff team will handle them as well. Again the pass rush group should star and force some wayward passes.
By this point the Cards should be 8-3, though I think 9-2 is reasonably achievable. The Bucs may be a trap game. A mobile QB with a recently productive history can challenge even good pass rushes. They also have receivers skilled in recognizing the need for hot routes. The game is winnable, but will be a significant challenge. Then home against the Rams is again a potential victory, but they will likely be one of the league’s best teams. If the Cards have 10 wins by now, they will be in great shape. If they’ve become stuck at 8, everyone will recall the Cards’ last few finishes. The pressure could be severe.
Houston will present a major defensive challenge for the Cards’ offense. The defense must suppress the Texans’ offense. They likely need to keep the Texans below 20 points. Atlanta at home should be the easiest of the finishing games. Still overlooking them considering the surrounding games is a danger.
Finally, the Cards face 2 teams on the road that had winning records in 2025. If the Cards have banked 11 wins, they’re in good shape. If they’re stuck on 8 or 9, they’re in big trouble. Burrow hasn’t been too durable and neither has Stafford, so maybe the Cards will catch a break. Perhaps one or both have clinched all they can and they’ll rest players. However, that would seem to be a long shot. If the Cards become the best they can be, the Cards would still be competitive with either one.
So there it is. 10 wins looks likely. 12 or more is actually plausible. This should be exciting.
