The Arizona Cardinals will see their full 2023 schedule released Thursday evening. We know all their opponents but do not know when they will face them.
Quarterback Kyler Murray, coming off a torn ACL, is expected to miss at least a portion of the start of the season.
If the Cardinals will be without their most important player to start the year, it would make sense for competitive purposes to have games early on they most likely would lose even if Murray played.
The Cardinals, after all, are not expected to be good. They have the lowest projected win total in the NFL.
So if the Cardinals likely lose those games anyway with Murray, why not lose them with Colt McCoy or David Blough playing?
Here are three games that would be nice to get out of the way early.
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Road game vs. 49ers
The Cardinals will face the 49ers twice in 2023 as they do every year. The 49ers are expected to be one of the best teams in the NFC in 2023.
Their road game against the Niners will likely be one of their highest games. Why not take the L with a backup quarterback?
Home game vs. Bengals
While this could be a game the league would prefer to save until after Murray’s return, setting up a Murray vs. Joe Burrow, Heisman vs. Heisman, No. 1 pick vs. No. 1 pick matchup.
However, Cincinnati is one of the top teams in the AFC. Better to save the slightly lesser teams against a healthy Murray.
Road game vs. Eagles
The Eagles are the defending conference champions and added talent. They are one of the favorites in the NFC.
While this is perhaps the Cardinals’ best shot at a prime-time game late in the season and it is an intriguing matchup with Kyler Murray vs. Jalen Hurts and the return of Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon to Philly where he was defensive coordinator, for wins and losses, it is probably better for the Cardinals to face them early.
We don’t want to see the Cardinals take an L against the Texans because David Blough is starting.
