What is an acceptable 2026 season?

[Totally_Red]

With the roster essentially complete, what would be an acceptable year one record for MLF and his staff?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

8-9 wins would show we are moving in the right direction

ML and staff will have to really instill a new culture and get the players to step up

This team was very unprepared in all games under JG

Add to that very little adjustments during games if any

 

[football karma]

8-9 wins would show we are moving in the right direction

with a backup QB in the NFC west -- that would be an accomplishment

on one hand, it probably shows the MLF is a good coach

on the other, they would be drafting well outside franchise QB range and doomed to a Steelers like purgatory

 

[InspectorClouseau]

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.

 

[mel typer]

This is a great topic but let's get real.

It's not even training camp yet and to guess what we look like and every other teams look like ? Injuries to other teams create the strength of schedule is predicting the impossible.

 

[Totally_Red]

with a backup QB in the NFC west -- that would be an accomplishment

on one hand, it probably shows the MLF is a good coach

on the other, they would be drafting well outside franchise QB range and doomed to a Steelers like purgatory

With $150 million in cap space and MLF running the offense I would make a serious run at Mac Jones as plan B. (It worked for Seattle, albeit with a better defense.)

 

[Dr. Jones]

2 wins or less. 1st pick next year.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

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.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I think wins are maybe not the best metric.

I disagree, wins are the best metric, just not the only metric. We had several games that were winnable in the fourth quarter last year, if we won two of them, we likely would have JG.

If you win games, that means the coaches are doing things that have a positive outcome - you can choose to measure those separately, but that isn't the measured result we use for success, wins are.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

i think all wins are acceptable - idk how many we should get until we know which rallis will be dialing it up on defense - 2 condom or 2 blitzers

idk who's starting at qb - brissett could break more records with a rushing game and legit play action - beck could take like a duck to water or get murdered

did we end up keeping the o-line coach that sucked balls?

 

[Garthshort]

2 wins or less. 1st pick next year.

A big question mark, to identify the best QB in the class. This year it was easy, but probably not next year.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Anything better than last year...and a team that doesn't mail it in or give up. Seeing a coach be able to make adjustments in game or at least at halftime.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

A big question mark, to identify the best QB in the class. This year it was easy, but probably not next year.

I have zero interest or faith in next year's class.

 

[Cardinal88]

I didn’t vote because my crystal ball died years ago. I will say our schedule is extremely tough next year. Not sure how one of the worst teams gets stuck with one of the top three toughest schedules. Divisional competition? Hmmm sucks to be in this division against competent owners and coaches.

 

[kerouac9]

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.

None of those are metrics. Just vibes. It’s a results based business.

 

[Dr. Jones]

A big question mark, to identify the best QB in the class. This year it was easy, but probably not next year.

I'll let the cream rise to the top in the next college season.

Go get it boys.

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[Carolinacacti]

Can it get worse? I think they rebound put Murphy in the box and attack. Low cost QB is a advantage. Wait there paying for Murray

 

[Proximo]

I know most won't agree with me on this, but my standard is simple, progress from multiple of our young players to indicate they will become good to very good players.

I really don't care about the record. Honestly, the worse the better probably, because I am 98% our QB of the future is not on the team, and you have to have one to actually compete.

 

[Proximo]

The Cards will not be the worst team in the league though, our offensive talent is just to good for that.

I will go so far as to say our skill position players are elite. Best TE in the league, Wilson was like 2nd or 3rd best WR in the second half of last season, RB who should be top 10, Harrison already decent with tons of upside, Borne is a very solid #3, Higgens a good #2 TE, and Algier a good #2 RB.

 

[WhackobyBrisket]

The Cards will not be the worst team in the league though, our offensive talent is just to good for that.

I will go so far as to say our skill position players are elite. Best TE in the league, Wilson was like 2nd or 3rd best WR in the second half of last season, RB who should be top 10, Harrison already decent with tons of upside, Borne is a very solid #3, Higgens a good #2 TE, and Algier a good #2 RB.

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

 

[oaken1]

Playoffs...is the only acceptable season.

anything less is a failure...yeah, coach flower didnt build this team... but before they fell to crap last year they were looking pretty good.
I see no reason why we cant pick up where we left off at the end of 2024, sans kyler.
we never did get to see all of our talent perform together. on offense nor defense...I expect we should look to see that this season...and then go to the playoffs

 

[Goldfield]

This is difficult question. I feel the two years before last we looked like we were up a comers. We had a good run game and the D played hard. The injuries and Kyler not being good and Gannon being very conservative lost us many close games. On top of that we’re are in the hardest division. So we’re screwed. We may be pretty good next year and still have not a great record.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I will go so far as to say our skill position players are elite. Best TE in the league, Wilson was like 2nd or 3rd best WR in the second half of last season, RB who should be top 10, Harrison already decent with tons of upside, Borne is a very solid #3, Higgens a good #2 TE, and Algier a good #2 RB.

Just completely absurd. We have 1 elite skill position player. (McBride). WR - is this a joke? Elite is top 5 player - do you seriously think any observer has Mike Wilson as a top 5 WR? Love may be a top 10 RB at some point, but he's played zero NFL snaps.

There will be plenty of articles before the season about best trios/skill groups - I can assure you nobody will have the Cards in the top 5.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Acceptable season for me is Monti getting canned. He's built an awful roster. There's no identity to this team, just a bunch of JAGs. He's gotta go...that's the only acceptable result.

 

[football karma]

2 wins or less. 1st pick next year.

thats hard to do

the NFL is designed to get to 7-8 wins

also, 2025 was a bit of a rarity. Not often you get three 12 win teams in a division. Cards injury situation was far, far outside normal.

hopefully MLF doesnt turtle when he has the ball up 3 with 3 mins left in a game.

Im not saying they will be good, Im saying 5 wins is my over/under