The year-round NFL calendar offseason is now fully in its next phase with the NFL schedule release finally here.

Following a rough 2023 season, the Arizona Cardinals have their eyes of getting back to prominence in the NFC West. 

So, let's not waste any more time and go over what the Cardinals' 2024 regular season schedule looks like.

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Cardinals' 2024 Schedule

• Week 1: @ Buffalo Bills (Sunday, Sep. 8, 10:00pm MT)
• Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, Sep. 15, 1:05pm MT)
• Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions (Sunday, Sep. 22, 1:25pm MT)
• Week 4: vs. Washington Commanders (Sunday, Sep. 29, 1:05pm MT)
• Week 5: @ San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:05pm MT)
• Week 6: @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Oct. 13, 1:05pm MT)
• Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Monday, Oct. 21, 6:00pm MT)
• Week 8: @ Miami Dolphins (Sunday, Oct. 27, 10:00am MT)
• Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, Nov. 3, 2:05pm MT)
• Week 10: vs. New York Jets (Sunday, Nov. 10, 2:25pm MT)
• Week 11: BYE WEEK
• Week 12: @ Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, Nov. 24, 2:25pm MT)
• Week 13: @ Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, Dec. 1, 11:00am MT)
• Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, Dec. 8, 2:05pm MT)
• Week 15: vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, Dec. 15, 2:25pm MT)
• Week 16: @ Carolina Panthers (Sunday, Dec. 22, 11:00am MT)
• Week 17: @ Los Angeles Rams (TBD)
• Week 18: vs. San Francisco 49ers (TBD) 

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Biggest Games on the Cardinals' 2024 Schedule

Every divisional game: The NFC West has rounded into a fiercely competitive division. All three of Arizona's divisional rivals were either in the playoffs or deep in the playoff race last season, including the NFC champion 49ers. Winning divisional games is priority No. 1.

Cardinals vs. Lions: It wasn't long ago the Lions were in the Cardinals' shoes looking to rise from the bottom of the NFC. Detroit is now a top contender in the NFL with a well-rounded roster. How Arizona fares against them at home will be a good litmus test. 

Cardinals at Bills: There aren't many matchups featuring greater distances between two teams than this one. The last time they faced each other saw Deandre Hopkins make one of the greatest game-winning catches of all-time, but the Cards haven't beaten the Bills in Buffalo since 1971 when they were still the St. Louis Cardinals! This is a chance to make history and beat a perennial contender. 

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Primetime Games and Streaming Service Broadcasts

Which games will be primetime viewing?

After playing four primetime games in 2022, the Cardinals were given none for their 2023 slate. Kyler Murray being scheduled to play a full season has changed that this year. 

The Cards will host the Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 7, a battle between Murray and Justin Herbert.

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Which games will you need streaming services to watch?

Fortunately, the only streaming service Cardinals fans need is ESPN Plus as the Monday Night Football game against the Chargers will be streamed on there. 

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Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not 2023 record)

Instead of ranking strength of schedule by last year's records, Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis bases his rankings on Vegas' projected win totals for the upcoming season. This methodology allows for a more accurate projection of how good teams are expected to be for the season.

Sharp has the Cardinals' SOS right in the middle as the sixteenth-easiest. The entire NFC West is near the middle of the pack, as pictured below:

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Revenge Games on the Cardinals' 2024 schedule

• Cardinals face their former head coach: While he's not the head coach of the Commanders, Kliff Kingsbury will be calling plays for their offense when Arizona hosts Washington this year. Kingsbury spent the 2023 season coaching at USC before returning to the NFL.
• Justin Jones plays his former team: Jones was one of the Cardinals' biggest free agent signings this year. He played the previous two years with the Bears, who are coming to Glendale this season. 

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5 Must-watch Matchups

• Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Sauce Gardner: The first wide receiver taken in a historic draft class vs. one of the game's best shutdown cornerbacks. Need I say more? MHJ vs. Sauce is a clash of young titans.
• Trey McBride vs. Fred Warner: McBride progressed beautifully last year as a receiver, and had one of his best games against San Francisco late in the season. Warner is one of the best to cover the middle of the field. This should be a prime matchup for years to come. 
• Cards' fortified O-line vs. Rams' new-look D-line: The addition of free agent Jonah Williams should stabilize Arizona's protection, and without Aaron Donald wrecking havoc anymore, L.A.'s pass rush will be an unknown until the games begin. Rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske will look to pick up the slack.
• Max Melton vs. Brandon Aiyuk: There weren't many more efficient receiver performances last year than when Aiyuk dropped 148 yards on the Cards on just six targets and receptions alike. Melton's arrival at cornerback is not a moment too soon to give Arizona a solid starting corner on the boundary.
• Jonathan Gannon's defense vs. Mike McDaniel's offense: Playing against the Dolphins in Miami is usually a nightmare for teams who can't take the heat, but Arizona knows a thing or too about hot weather. Gannon's defensive play-calling against one of the best offensive minds in the game should be fun.

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