Cardinals look to take advantage of schedule in 2010

By Bud L. Ellis

Based on opponent’s winning percentage, the Arizona Cardinals have the easiest schedule in the National Football League in 2010.

But a closer look at the slate, now that the NFL has announced game dates and times, reveals it won’t be as easy as it may seem for the defending NFC West champions this season.

Arizona plays three of its first five games on the road. The season opens with Arizona playing at St. Louis on Sept. 12. The road trip continues in week two, Arizona traveling to Atlanta. Oakland comes to town for the home opener in week three. That’s followed by a trip to AFC West champion San Diego, and a home game with Super Bowl champion New Orleans on Oct. 10.

The Cardinals then get their bye on Oct. 17. Following the break, Arizona plays at Seattle, then comes home to meet Tampa Bay. A big road game awaits on Nov. 7, as Arizona travels to NFC runner-up Minnesota. Seattle comes to Arizona the next week, before the Cardinals head to Kansas City to meet the Chiefs.

The first prime-time game of the slate is next, a Monday Night Football matchup at home with San Francisco. Arizona then gets a two-game homestand, against St. Louis and Denver, before heading to Carolina on Dec. 19.

The Cardinals return to prime time on Christmas Night, playing host to Dallas. The regular season ends with a trip to San Francisco on Jan. 2.

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Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 7:26 pm by Bud · No Comments

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cards face familiar foes, easiest slate in NFL in 2010

By Bud L. Ellis

The Arizona Cardinals’ 2010 schedule is littered with familiar names, and not just from its neighbors in the NFC West.

It just doesn’t figure to be that tough, based on opponents’ win percentage from last season.

Dates of the games have not yet been determined by the National Football League. But the Cardinals know who they will face at home and on the road in defense of their division title. The opponents on the 16-game slate went a combined 114-142 last season, a win percentage of .445 that is the easiest in the NFL.

Another big theme is running into opponents Arizona has seen recently.

Arizona will play host to Super Bowl champion New Orleans, one of only two playoff teams to come to University of Phoenix Stadium. The other one is Dallas, another team with which the Cards are familiar.

The rest of the home schedule features NFC West matchups with St. Louis, San Francisco and Seattle, and games against Denver, Oakland and Tampa Bay.

On the road, the Saints travel to face the Vikings and the Falcons, two more teams with which the Cards have crossed paths in recent years. A trip to AFC West champion San Diego is also a highlight. The other road games include trips to St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Carolina and Kansas City

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Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 8:45 am by Bud · No Comments

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers