What is an acceptable 2026 season?

[some dumb guy]

I like the way you talk. Mmmm, Hmm.

I like them French fried potaters...Mmm hmm

 

[vince56]

This thread is paradoxical. We are not going to have an acceptable 2026 season.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

What you meant to say was: Oh, that's too bad. Unfortunately, you'll be working those weekends...

Nah he is a Cards sympathizer. Hates the Cali teams

 

[GimmedaBall]

I like the way you talk. Mmmm, Hmm.

I like the way you talk. Mmmm, Hmm.

 

[some dumb guy]

This thread is paradoxical. We are not going to have an acceptable 2026 season.

Paradoxical...I learned something today, thank you. But reading the definition, isn't your second sentence hypocritical?

 

[some dumb guy]

I like the way you talk. Mmmm, Hmm.

you guys might need a room...Mmmmm Hmmmm LOL

 

[602 Native]

Someone should find the source of this information……………..
How could they possibly know this.

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[WhackobyBrisket]

The comedy continues.

Did people watch us play last year?

Most games were over by the start of the 2nd half. Teams were literally in prevent for most of the 2nd half when all our "elite" stats were compiled.

Whatever mate.

No one is saying we weren't crap last year and yeah a significant about of the team gave up in the 2nd half of the season.

I don't think Brissett is the future, I don't rate him that much. I think his stats last year are inflated. It's a joke that the organisation has this QB room and Brissett is holding out. I'd rather Beck play and see what we've got. But if MLF makes him the starter then I'm going to support Brissett 100% and wish him the best and hope he succeeds rather than trying to win Forum points by saying something along the lines of 'I told you Brissett Sucks'

I still think the roster is better and has more depth than people credit for, I'm not expecting miracles, but hopefully new coaching, a solid draft, less injuries, younger players maturing, plus a bit of luck will mean we are more competitive.

I'm happy to try and stay positive and hope we improve. If we're crap as the season progresses, then I'll readjust my expectations. But I don't see the point in trashing the team so long before the season starts when we haven't even given them a chance.

 

[BritCard]

This starting at 6-7 seems optimistic.

 

[kerouac9]

Someone should find the source of this information……………..
How could they possibly know this.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Because it’s getting repeated endlessly on Twitter?

 

[GimmedaBall]

you guys might need a room...Mmmmm Hmmmm LOL

15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. You went outside the actual movie dialogue---and went with a grade-school playground insult instead.

Put away that old wire-ring notebook with all those insults that you collected in 3rd-grade. You will be HAPPY.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Here's an explanation of how Sports Betting houses establish future lines. It is to get the gamblers out there coughing up their money to bet on the games. These odds come about BEFORE we have any actual performance data about each team. Nothing magical or devious about it. It gets the betting rolling and will be adjusted as soon as the book appreciates where the bets are going down.

How NFL Futures Odds Are Calculated Before the Season Starts

NFL futures betting allows you to place wagers on outcomes that won’t be decided until later in the season. These bets include predicting who will win the

detroitsportsnation.com

You can get a detailed AI explanation by doing a search on:
How do sports book establish future betting odds for the NFL

 

[Harry]

I hate to write this but I think 3-4 wins is realistic. I wanted to add I actually think this team is improved. I just don’t think even a good team wins much with this schedule.

 

[kerouac9]

I hate to write this but I think 3-4 wins is realistic. I wanted to add I actually think this team is improved. I just don’t think even a good team wins much with this schedule.

Unserious franchise

 

[moosehead]

I think wins are maybe not the best metric.

I would just like to see a team that appears to be well-coached and is giving maximum effort.

I’d love to see young players getting better as the season progresses.

I’d love to see clear team leaders setting up a positive culture on and off the field.

I’d love for MLF to show he can coach around our talent deficiencies. That he can make the whole be greater than the sum of its parts.

Agreed. It sounds lame but I want us to be competitive. I don't want to be frustrated and exasperated at stupid stuff after every game. Maybe this is what I've been reduced to as a Cardinals fan *shrug* I'm just tired of being mad

 

[kerouac9]

Agreed. It sounds lame but I want us to be competitive. I don't want to be frustrated and exasperated at stupid stuff after every game. Maybe this is what I've been reduced to as a Cardinals fan *shrug* I'm just tired of being mad

It’s extremely lame and untrackable. It’s a loser mentality.

You don’t have to set the win bar high, but this isn’t rec league soccer—there are no participation trophies.

Doubling last year’s win total should be non-negotiable. But if you want to say “the schedule is harder; we can’t just get back to very bad,” there are other metrics you can use to actually measure improvement.

We were 2-8 in one-score games last season. What if we improved to a 40% win rate in one score games? (Honestly I can’t believe we had that many competitive games last year)

We were blown out by 20 point or more four times last season. What if we improved to only two blowout losses?

We only beat one team by 10 points or more last season. What if we doubled that total?

These would all represent improvement without necessarily resulting in worse draft position or going off vibes.

 

[some dumb guy]

It’s extremely lame and untrackable. It’s a loser mentality.

You don’t have to set the win bar high, but this isn’t rec league soccer—there are no participation trophies.

Doubling last year’s win total should be non-negotiable. But if you want to say “the schedule is harder; we can’t just get back to very bad,” there are other metrics you can use to actually measure improvement.

We were 2-8 in one-score games last season. What if we improved to a 40% win rate in one score games? (Honestly I can’t believe we had that many competitive games last year)

We were blown out by 20 point or more four times last season. What if we improved to only two blowout losses?

We only beat one team by 10 points or more last season. What if we doubled that total?

These would all represent improvement without necessarily resulting in worse draft position or going off vibes.

You responded to moosehead who said he just wants us to be competitive. Then stated it was a loser mentality and then proceeded to give examples of what would make us appear to be more competitive. It looks like you actually agree with him but used metrics to show possible improvement as opposed to him just wishing it.
I may be misunderstanding, it wouldn't be the first time...LOL

 

[kerouac9]

You responded to moosehead who said he just wants us to be competitive. Then stated it was a loser mentality and then proceeded to give examples of what would make us appear to be more competitive. It looks like you actually agree with him but used metrics to show possible improvement as opposed to him just wishing it.
I may be misunderstanding, it wouldn't be the first time...LOL

I actually demand and expect wins. But I don’t like when people make squishy vibes-based expectations because they’ll squirm out of it later.

People can think a little harder and come up with some ways to redefine “competitive” to put some metrics behind it.

For me, anything less than seven or eight wins is unacceptable. Especially for Monti.

 

[some dumb guy]

I actually demand and expect wins. But I don’t like when people make squishy vibes-based expectations because they’ll squirm out of it later.

People can think a little harder and come up with some ways to redefine “competitive” to put some metrics behind it.

For me, anything less than seven or eight wins is unacceptable. Especially for Monti.

Ok, I understand you're standards. To tell the truth, less than 10 wins is unacceptable for me.
And FYI...I got a haircut yesterday

 

[TruColor]

Only scenario that is acceptable at this point - after the season, Monti is fired and Bidwill sells the team. Not sure what other outcome is going to make me happy; they sure as heck aren't winning more than 6 or 7 games tops.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I actually demand and expect wins. But I don’t like when people make squishy vibes-based expectations because they’ll squirm out of it later.

People can think a little harder and come up with some ways to redefine “competitive” to put some metrics behind it.

For me, anything less than seven or eight wins is unacceptable. Especially for Monti.

kerouc9 I don’t understand why you are so vehemently opposed to the idea that if the 2026 Arizona Fighting Football Cardinals lose games only and solely because they are out-talented, we are making progress.

There’s a difference between giving up a 50-yard TD pass because of a busted coverage versus your UDFA CB having good coverage but Matt Stafford making a better throw to puka nacua.

 

[kerouac9]

kerouc9 I don’t understand why you are so vehemently opposed to the idea that if the 2026 Arizona Fighting Football Cardinals lose games only and solely because they are out-talented, we are making progress.

There’s a difference between giving up a 50-yard TD pass because of a busted coverage versus your UDFA CB having good coverage but Matt Stafford making a better throw to puka nacua.

There’s not; they’re both worth six points.

The average defense faces more than 1000 snaps a season; I’m not getting turnt over one or two.

Positive or negative.

EDIT: many people here smugly talked about how HARD the 2022 Cardinals played and it amounted to a hill of beans and a fired staff two years later.

Effort, etc., either shows up in the stat sheet or it doesn’t matter. Of Jordan Burch plays SO HARD but gets blown off the ball over and over, I do not care.

Monti’s job is to ensure we’re not less-talented than the average NFL team.

 

[some dumb guy]

There’s not; they’re both worth six points.

The average defense faces more than 1000 snaps a season; I’m not getting turnt over one or two.

Positive or negative.

EDIT: many people here smugly talked about how HARD the 2022 Cardinals played and it amounted to a hill of beans and a fired staff two years later.

Effort, etc., either shows up in the stat sheet or it doesn’t matter. Of Jordan Burch plays SO HARD but gets blown off the ball over and over, I do not care.

Monti’s job is to ensure we’re not less-talented than the average NFL team.

I'll translate for K9
First, let me remove all the metrics and stat speak:
I want a better team, more wins and to make the playoffs
And I'm a little upset a lost my hair...

 

[moosehead]

It’s extremely lame and untrackable. It’s a loser mentality.

You don’t have to set the win bar high, but this isn’t rec league soccer—there are no participation trophies.

Doubling last year’s win total should be non-negotiable. But if you want to say “the schedule is harder; we can’t just get back to very bad,” there are other metrics you can use to actually measure improvement.

We were 2-8 in one-score games last season. What if we improved to a 40% win rate in one score games? (Honestly I can’t believe we had that many competitive games last year)

We were blown out by 20 point or more four times last season. What if we improved to only two blowout losses?

We only beat one team by 10 points or more last season. What if we doubled that total?

These would all represent improvement without necessarily resulting in worse draft position or going off vibes.

I know you get your kicks being contentious and acerbic, but here is the thing - you can declare something is a "loser mentality", but it is subjective. No matter how much you think of yourself - in discussions utilizing opinions , just because you declare something to be so, doesn't make it so. As a fan, I decide what makes me happy, and what makes me decide, in my view, what is acceptable regarding my personal expectations and wishes for the team. I stated my position in order to participate in a discussion. Nothing more or less. I see no need to require it to be defensible - especially to you.

Now, in my opinion, a loser is someone who tries sooo hard to cut, insult, belittle and quarrel with people. About sports. On the internet. With strangers. In the grand scheme of things, winning arguments on the internet just isn't that important. To me, at least. Statistics can be argued and disputed - if you want to correct someone who states something erroneous - have at er. To place so much effort on challenging other peoples' thoughts, ideas and opinions.. is just weird to me. And a bit sad, frankly.

As stated, I'm a casual fan. That's why I don't jump in often. Why I don't spout stats. Why I don't declare my opinions as facts. Until the message board has some classification system where casual fans are segregated from "serious" fans, I will post periodically, my opinion. It matters not a whit to me what K9 thinks of my opinion. Not even a little bit.

Moderators - my apologies for the tangent.

 

[gimpy]

Well said. My feelings exactly.