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Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The NFL had its annual schedule release, and it went off without a hitch. There were a lot of leaks and spoilers, but overall, it was a great watch across social media.
After that, it was onto the sports betting sites and their projections of favorites and underdogs, and there was a surprise about one NFL team. The Arizona Cardinals, who were once one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, are projected to be underdogs in every single game next season.
Not just their home games, or their away games, or even the ones in primetime. All 17 games on the schedule have the Cardinals as the underdog.
Not a great way to instill some confidence in your team or your beloved fanbase.
That is with their new third-overall pick in running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame. As one of the highest-paid running backs in all of football, without touching the field once yet, there is a lot riding on him to be great.
One reason this team is in doubt is their quarterback situation. Long-time and heavily-relied-on QB Kyler Murray is out and off to Minnesota. It is Jacoby Brissett's team now, and even with a 1-11 record last season, he threw for 23 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. But who knows if he can do that again?
The Cardinals had the worst defense in the NFL last season, allowing the fourth-most points (488) and the most first downs (380). Their only true addition to that abysmal defense is defensive lineman Roy Lopez, who was solid with the Detroit Lions in 2025 in the middle of that line.
Can the Cardinals shake off all of this doubt and push themselves into the favorites category at any point next season? Or, are they on a one-way ticket to the first overall pick of the 2027 NFL Draft?
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