The Arizona Cardinals are staring down a season that could redefine futility. After the NFL released the 2026 schedule, Vegas oddsmakers dropped the hammer: the Cardinals are not favored to win a single game this year. That's right—zero, zilch, nada. For a franchise already reeling from a 3-14 campaign, this is a brutal reality check.
According to the latest point spreads, the Cardinals will be underdogs in all 17 contests. The first 11 opponents are favored by at least a touchdown, with some spreads reaching double digits. The Los Angeles Chargers, for instance, are 11.5-point favorites in Week 1. The Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs are also expected to beat Arizona by more than 10 points.
Fans are already bracing for the worst. Social media is buzzing with predictions of an 0-17 record. One fan joked, “They’re coming for Arch Manning,” referencing the top quarterback prospect in the 2027 draft. Another wrote, “They will legit start the season 0-11.” Even Cardinals faithful are resigned: “1-7 after week 8 I hate it here.” The consensus? Arizona is the clear frontrunner for the No. 1 overall pick.
But is there any reason for optimism? Enter rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, who the Cardinals snagged with the No. 3 pick. Love was a force at Notre Dame, racking up 2,882 yards and 36 touchdowns on 433 carries. His explosive style could give the offense a spark. Meanwhile, the team used the 65th pick on quarterback Carson Beck from Miami. Beck will compete for the starting job this summer, and if he clicks with Love, the duo might just keep the Cardinals from total embarrassment.
Still, the road ahead is daunting. The Cardinals face a gauntlet of elite defenses and high-powered offenses. Even the most optimistic projections see only a handful of winnable games. The Vegas odds paint a grim picture, but the NFL has a way of surprising us. Could Love and Beck be the foundation for a turnaround? Or will this be a season to forget?
History isn't kind to teams that enter a season without a single favored game. The Cardinals are in uncharted territory, and the pressure is mounting. Head coach Jonathan Gannon will need to work miracles to keep the locker room from fracturing. The schedule doesn't let up either: after the brutal first 11 games, the final stretch includes matchups against playoff contenders.
For now, Cardinals fans are left hoping that Love's college heroics translate to the pros. The toughest road in the NFL awaits, and every game will feel like an uphill battle. But as any sports fan knows, Vegas doesn't always get it right. Maybe, just maybe, the Cardinals can prove the doubters wrong.
