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Each and every season team beat writers are tasked with an early look at the team that they cover and what they expect to see from them for the 2019 season.
I went through all of the Arizona Cardinals opponents blogs for the season to see what they expect from the Cardinals in 2019.
And just like last year, the ESPN experts don’t see their teams losing to Arizona, as every beat writer picked their team they cover to beat the Arizona Cardinals.
Week 1 vs Detroit Lions - Cardinals loss
The opener at Arizona, if the Cardinals draft Kyler Murray and play him, could be interesting considering what rookie quarterback Sam Darnold did to Matt Patricia’s defense in last year’s opener, annihilating the Lions 48-17 on Monday Night Football. Michael Rothstein
Week 2 at Baltimore Ravens - Cardinals loss
The Ravens will also have reunions with three starters from last year’s top-ranked defense, facing Terrell Suggs and the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2... Jamison Hensley
Week 3 vs Carolina Panthers - Cardinals loss
Week 4 vs Seattle Seahawks - Cardinals loss
Week 5 at Cincinnati Bengals - Cardinals loss
Week 6 vs Atlanta Falcons - Cardinals loss
As if the Falcons didn’t have enough of a challenge dealing with Drew Brees, Cam Newton, and, to some degree, Jameis Winston in the division, there is an early stretch of games that will test their ability to slow down mobile quarterbacks. Between Sept. 29 and Oct. 27, they take on Marcus Mariota, Deshaun Watson, possibly Kyler Murray -- if the Cardinals draft the Heisman Trophy winner first overall -- and Russell Wilson... Vaughn McClure
Week 7 at New York Giants - Cardinals loss
Last fall, the first half of the Giants’ season was billed as a gauntlet, and they opened 1-7. This year the early part of their schedule is much more favorable. Only one of their first five opponents (Dallas) made the playoffs last season. Only three teams on their entire schedule (New England, Dallas and Philadelphia) won a playoff game last season. The Giants have an opportunity to hang around this season if they can muster a faster start. It’s possible with this early schedule... Jordan Raanan
Week 8 at New Orleans Saints - Cardinals loss
Week 9 vs San Francisco 49ers (TNF) - Cardinals loss
This year, the NFL took a more cautious approach to putting the Niners in prime time with a trio of games. The 49ers will host the Browns and Seahawks in Monday night matchups and travel to Arizona for a Thursday night contest. Those games are locked in so San Francisco can’t be flexed out but there’s potential for some fun battles against NFC West foes Arizona and Seattle and this year’s hype-laden team coming off a losing record, the Browns... Nick Wagoner
Week 10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cardinals loss
In his first year as head coach of the Buccaneers, Bruce Arians will get to revisit his old NFC West and AFC South divisions. From 2013-17, his Arizona Cardinals finished 16-13 (.550) in the division, and his Indianapolis Colts went 3-1 in their division in 2012 when he served as interim head coach. Many would point to Seattle’s CenturyLink Field as one of the most challenging stadiums to play in on the road (the Bucs have only played twice there), but Arians’ Cardinals actually went 4-1 in Seattle -- remarkable considering the Seahawks went 30-10 at home during that span, the second-best home record in the NFL. The Bucs will need all the help they can get there, having only won twice there in six outings... Jenna Laine
Week 11 at 49ers - Cardinals loss
Week 12 bye
Not shocking, but every beat writer for every other team has the Arizona Cardinals at 0-12 entering the bye week
Week 13 vs Los Angeles Rams - Cardinals loss
Week 14 vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Cardinals loss
Week 15 vs Cleveland Browns - Cardinals loss
But the most eye-opening reality of the 2019 schedule is that the NFL gave the Browns a December made for a playoff run. The Browns close against Cincinnati, at Arizona, Baltimore and at Cincinnati. Those three teams combined for 19 wins in 2018, and the Browns handled the Bengals in both games last season, winning both by a combined score of 61-38... Pat McManamon
Week 16 at Seahawks - Cardinals loss
Week 17 at Rams - Cardinals loss
Two years in a row, the Cardinals a predicted to go winless. Of course, as much hand wringing as there was last year, they were close, as the Cardinals went 3-13.