2011 Schedule for Arizona Cardinals: Game-By-Game Look; They Still Lack a QB

In 2010, the Arizona Cardinals won three of their first five games and had high hopes going into the upcoming months, before losing seven straight due to a weakened offense from the year prior. The Redbirds finished the season 5-11. However, they enter 2011 with optimism, aware that their division is entirely up for grabs and that an NFC West crown is a very real possibility. Dictating this possibility will be, most importantly, how they fare against their divisional opponents, all of whom have equally realizable dreams of divisional dominance for the upcoming season.

Arizona against the NFC West:

Let's face it. Arizona has a lot of holes. Even when they went to the Super Bowl two years ago, they had holes. The only problem now is that they lack the leadership of Kurt Warner and the partnership between Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Well, they still employ the latter, but his excellence has slightly dwindled due to the fact that Derek Anderson (no offense, No. 3 fans) was his signal caller for the majority of 2010 season. Regardless of their weaknesses, I trust the Cardinals will put up a fight for the division, splitting series with the 49ers and the Seahawks. However, I believe the Rams will sweep Arizona, leaving them with a forgettable 2-4 record against the NFC West.

Arizona at nondivisional opponents:

The Cardinals get the opportunity to play Pittsburgh for the first time since their heartbreaking championship loss two years ago, and since I don't believe in karma, I'll take the Steelers again, this time probably with a bigger margin of victory. They also visit Dallas and New York (Giants), and I don't see them fairing well against the NFC East, so I'll knock them down to 0-3 on the road. I think they'll make a little of that up with road wins against Minnesota and Cleveland, so I'll take the Cardinals with a 2-3 record against non divisional opponents on the road for 2011.

Arizona vs. nondivisional opponents at home:

Arizona hosts Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina, Baltimore and Cincinnati. It might surprise you, but I think the Cardinals steal one from the Ravens, and I think they'll take the cake hosting the Redskins too, but I think the Eagles will take them out, the Bengals will outplay them and the Panthers will catch them off guard, so I'll take another 2-3 record for this section, as well.

So I have Arizona improving this year, and finishing better than their division rival Seattle, but I don't see a playoff berth in their future. This team must get a quarterback if it hopes to compete, and until then, I don't see the Birds doing much than 6-10.

Reference:

FB Schedules, "2011 Arizona Cardinals Football Schedule"