2018 Arizona Cardinals Schedule: Full Listing of Dates, Times and TV Info

The Arizona Cardinals are embarking on something of a new era in 2018 as they move on from head coach Bruce Arians and starting quarterback Carson Palmer, both of whom retired in the offseason. 

The Cardinals made two straight playoff appearances in 2014 and 2015. They were a game away from the Super Bowl in 2015, and had Palmer not gotten injured in 2014, Arizona could've achieved more than a Wild Card Weekend loss to the Carolina Panthers.

But the Cardinals finished under .500 in 2016 and 8-8 in 2017. Even before Arians and Palmer's retirements, an adjustment period was in store for Arizona. It may be a few years before the Cardinals are seriously contending for the playoffs again.

The 2018 season will be an indicator as to whether the Cardinals have a full-scale rebuild on their hands.

Here's a look at Arizona's schedule and a breakdown of the team's regular-season slate, per NFL.com.

Cardinals' 2018 Schedule

Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins on Sept. 9 at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 2: at Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 16 at 4:05 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears on Sept. 23 at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 30 at 4:05 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 7 at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos on Oct. 18 at 8:20 p.m. ET on Fox/NFL Network

Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 28 at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: at Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders on Nov. 18 at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS

Week 12: at Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 25 at 4:05 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 13: at Green Bay Packers on Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions on Dec. 9 at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 16: vs. Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 23 at 4:05 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 17: at Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 30 at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox

Analysis

According to ESPN.com, the Cardinals are tied for the eighth-toughest schedule based on 2017 winning percentages. That number is somewhat deceiving, though, as the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers should be much improved in 2018.

The Packers and 49ers had seven and six wins apiece in 2017. Green Bay should have a healthy Aaron Rodgers for a full season, while San Francisco is counting on Jimmy Garoppolo to take a big leap after he threw for 1,560 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions in six games.

The Cardinals meet three playoff teams from 2017 outside of their division this season: the Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons.

The good news is Arizona avoids the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, who are shaping up to be three of the NFL's best teams. The bad news is the Cardinals play the Vikings, Chiefs and Falcons all on the road.

Throw in what could be tricky matchups with the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders, and it's hard to see a way to the postseason for Arizona in 2018. The Cardinals were third in defensive efficiency in 2017, per Football Outsiders, but they're still counting on one of Sam Bradford or Mike Glennon to lead the team to the playoffs.

Pivotal Matchups

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The importance of Arizona's division games goes without saying. The Los Angeles Rams are poised for double-digit wins again in 2018. Beyond that, the NFC West is pretty much up for grabs between second and fourth place.

Like the Cardinals, the Seattle Seahawks are in a period of transition, and a second straight year without playoff football in the Pacific Northwest isn't out of the question. And despite Garoppolo's early success in San Francisco, he's still largely unproven (seven starts in four years).

If Arizona can take two or three games against the Seahawks and Cardinals, then qualifying for the wild card may not be out of reach.

Outside of the NFC West, Arizona's games against the Redskins, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears could prove important by year's end. Washington, Detroit and Chicago are all like Arizona in that they probably aren't good enough to win their respective divisions but could collect enough wins for a wild-card berth.

With what is likely to be a small margin of error for the postseason, the Cardinals can ill afford too many slip-ups against opponents who share playoff aspirations.