Arizona Cardinals: Analyzing the 2012 Schedule

The 2012-13 schedule for the NFL has been released.

While the official week-by-week listing won't be available until the end of the month, home and away matchups are known and ready for analysis.

Here, you will find a complete breakdown and analysis of each team's matches, including their divisional games, their home and away games and the three most exciting matchups that the 2012 schedule has thrown up.

The Arizona Cardinals finished second in the NFC West, winning four of their last five to finish with an 8-8 record overall for the season, despite ranking in the bottom half of the league for both passing and rushing, offense and defense.

Will they improve on their record and challenge again in the NFC? Let's take a look.

Divisional games

The San Francisco 49ers were the threat in the NFC West in 2011, and they will be again in 2012. Under Jim Harbaugh, the Niners disciplined and effective football troubled many last year, and they pose again as the team to catch.

In six games against their fellow NFC West teams, the Arizona Cardinals still managed a 4-2 record last year. They will improve again with a stronger pass rush and have the potential to ruffle a few feathers in the division.

The Cardinals did struggle away from home last year, and will most likely drop one or two divisional matches on the road again. That should, however, still leave them with an impressive 4-2 record for their division and give them every shot at a Wild Card spot.

Home games

Along with their three divisional games, Arizona take on two teams from the NFC North, two from the AFC East and one from the NFC East at home in 2012. And after going 6-2 at home in 2011, with plenty of upset victories to match, the University of Phoenix Stadium could once again be a tricky place to travel to.

They host the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions—two teams that will want to improve on last year. The Bears will be stronger with a healthy Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, and with a strong run defense, will shut down the Cards at home.

The Lions' offense will continue it's dominance in 2012, with Matthew Stafford getting better and Calvin Johnson continuing to perform in a league of his own. Expect Arizona to pound the football on the ground against the 23rd-ranked run defense in 2011.

Keep in mind also that teams threw the ball far more than they ran against the Lions—who ranked top-five in the fewest rushing attempts against. Even with this, they still ranked in the league's bottom ten for yards allowed, and the Cardinals could pull off an impressive home victory here.

They face the Philadelphia Eagles from the NFC East—a match that Arizona won on the road last year. And while the "Dream Team" will be better this year than last, the tough, gritty defense of the Cardinals could keep them in this one also.

Rounding out their home games for the season are the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins—two teams dependent on the run and desperate for a better season. Both showed promise in taking wins over top sides, and with improvement throughout the draft and free agency, could topple the Cardinals, which I believe one of them will.

Which one? Flip a coin; mine came down Buffalo.

Arizona will still be a tough side to take on at the University of Phoenix Stadium in 2012, and have the luxury of an easier home schedule in 2012 than in 2011. Still, I predict a similar record to happen again, with maybe one more number in the wrong column though.

I'd say they come out around 5-3 in their home matches in 2012.

Away matches

The Cardinals went 2-6 on the road in 2011, which might seem bad, but when you take a look at the 2012 schedule, it looks far worse.

They will take on their divisional teams, and will go down to the Seahawks and the Niners on the road. I'd say they beat the Rams, but considering the plethora of draft picks St. Louis will have, they too could prove to be a tough side to overcome.

Then come the big guns—road trips to Lambeau Field and Minnesota.

To put it bluntly, Green Bay will not be beaten at home by the Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers is too good for their defense, and the Packers secondary will be stronger than last year.

The Minnesota Vikings could be a tough team to beat at home, especially considering Christian Ponder will have some time to throw the ball this year. Add in to that mix an impact player like Adrian Peterson, and the Vikings will pull of a huge home victory here.

And if you thought that one-two punch was bad, traveling to New England and New York also won't be an easy time for the Cards, who will struggle to take down the high-powered offense of the Patriots.

If the Jets can put their best foot forward and Mark Sanchez can throw the ball to his team this time, these two matches could provide some hurt for the Cardinals.

And their other NFC East side? The Atlanta Falcons, who went 6-2 at home in 2011 in a division with the best quarterback statistically in the league and the most exciting signal-caller in the league.

The Falcons will again have playoff aspirations in 2012, and their strong defense will shut down the run game of the Cards and force Kolb to make big-time throws, which he will struggle to do.

I've got the Cardinals down for four guaranteed losses to the NFC North and AFC East, as well as one to the Seahawks and 49ers. I'd say they will struggle to get past the Falcons, and the Rams at home could also give them a run for their money.

I don't like predicting 0-8, so I'll go 1-7 and give myself some error space.

Three games to watch

No. 1 — Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan can be temperamental and, if the Cardinals catch him on a bad day, they may be in with a shot of pulling off this road upset. They will need their offense to get past the strong Falcons' defense, which will be trouble enough. Having said that, if Arizona is going to challenge in 2012, these are the games they have to win. 

No. 2 — Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

Arizona stunned many by winning this match last year, and they may do so again this year. Michael Vick will need to bring his best passing and running games to this one and, if he does, the Eagles could exact some revenge and a little bit more on the Cards at home.

No. 3 — Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

This game last year was the final match of the season, and bragging rights within the division were on the line. Arizona took that game due to a spectacular Larry Fitzgerald grab late in the fourth quarter, and a superior record too. It isn't the fiercest of rivalries, but I think Seattle may remember that game and come back with some #BeastMode of their own.

Overall

Will the Cardinals be as good as they were in 2011? On the scoreboard, probably not. 

They made a late run to reach an 8-8 record, but have a much tougher road schedule this year, and an ever-improving division to go with it. I've got the Cardinals down for a fall this year—not a huge one, but just enough to make people question Kevin Kolb again.

Final record? 6-10 and third in the division.

For analysis on other NFC West teams:

Click here for San Francisco 49ers

Click here for St. Louis Rams

Click here for Seattle Seahawks

Read more team predictions by Dan here or follow him on Twitter: @dantalintyre