Arizona Cardinals' 2022 schedule among hardest in NFL in strength of schedule rankings

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
·4 min read

If the Arizona Cardinals return to the NFL playoffs in 2022, they are going to have to earn their berth.

While we don't know the dates of Arizona's 2022 games, we do know the team's opponents for the schedule, and that schedule could be a daunting one for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals' 2022 opponents went 157-132 in 2021, putting Arizona's strength of schedule as the second most difficult one in the NFL based on last year's win percentage for opponents (.543).

Only the Los Angeles Rams, whose opponents went 164-125 (.567) last season, have a more difficult schedule according to that metric.

More: Arizona Cardinals schedule: Chiefs, Buccaneers, Patriots among 2022 NFL season opponents

The NFL is set to announce the complete 2022 NFL schedule on Thursday.

Arizona will have home and away games against its three NFC West rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, although the Cardinals' home game against the 49ers will be played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Monday, Nov. 21 (Week 11).

The Cardinals will also play the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots at home in 2022.

The team is scheduled to face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings on the road in addition to its three NFC West rivals.

More: Arizona Cardinals to play San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City in 2022 NFL season

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury talks with quarterback Kyler Murray (1) have their work cut out for them in the 2022 NFL season.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury talks with quarterback Kyler Murray (1) have their work cut out for them in the 2022 NFL season.

Seven of the Cardinals' 14 opponents in the upcoming season made the playoffs last year, including the rival Rams, who won the Super Bowl, and the 49ers.

The Chiefs, Buccaneers, Eagles, Patriots and Raiders also all made the postseason.

It could be worse, however.

The Rams have 10 playoff teams from 2021 on their schedule for the 2022 season.

The Cincinnati Bengals (0.536), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0.535) and San Francisco 49ers (0.533) round out the Top 5 hardest schedules in the NFL for 2022 based on last season's winning percentage, giving NFC West teams three of the five hardest schedules in the NFL for the upcoming season.

The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys have the easiest schedules in the NFL for next season based on that same metric. Their opponents went 133-155-1 last season for a winning percentage of 0.462.

The NFC East has the four teams with the easiest schedules for the upcoming season, with the Eagles and New York Giants right above the Cowboys and Cmmanders.

More: 2023 NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals get help at cornerback in 2023 NFL draft

2022 NFL strength of schedule rankings based on 2021 opponent records

  • 1. Los Angeles Rams: 164–125 (0.567)

  • 2. Arizona Cardinals: 157–132 (0.543)

  • 3. Cincinnati Bengals: 154–133–2 (0.536)

  • 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 154–134–1 (0.535)

  • 5. San Francisco 49ers: 154–135 (0.533)

  • 5. Kansas City Chiefs: 154–135 (0.533)

  • 7. Las Vegas Raiders: 152–136–1 (0.528)

  • 7. New Orleans Saints: 152–136–1 (0.528)

  • 9. Atlanta Falcons: 151–137–1 (0.524)

  • 10. Los Angeles Chargers: 150–139 (0.519)

  • 11. Seattle Seahawks: 149–139–1 (0.517)

  • 12. Carolina Panthers: 147–140–2 (0.512)

  • 12. Pittsburgh Steelers: 148–141 (0.512)

  • 12. Buffalo Bills: 147–140–2 (0.512)

  • 15. Denver Broncos: 147–142 (0.509)

  • 16. New England Patriots: 143–144–2 (0.498)

  • 17. New York Jets: 142–145–2 (0.495)

  • 17. Cleveland Browns: 142–145–2 (0.495)

  • 19. Houston Texans: 141–148 (0.488)

  • 20. Minnesota Vikings: 139–148–2 (0.484)

  • 21. Miami Dolphins: 138–149–2 (0.481)

  • 22. Green Bay Packers: 137–150–2 (0.478)

  • 23. Baltimore Ravens: 136–151–2 (0.474)

  • 24. Chicago Bears: 135–152–2 (0.471)

  • 24. Tennessee Titans: 136–153 (0.471)

  • 26. Jacksonville Jaguars: 135–153–1 (0.469)

  • 26. Indianapolis Colts: 135–153–1 (0.469)

  • 28. Detroit Lions: 135–154 (0.467)

  • 29. New York Giants: 134–154–1 (0.465)

  • 30. Philadelphia Eagles: 133–154–2 (0.464)

  • 31. Dallas Cowboys: 133–155–1 (0.462)

  • 31. Washington Commanders: 133–155–1 (0.462)

Click here to see a list of the Arizona Cardinals' opponents for the 2022 season.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL strength of schedule 2022 rankings: Arizona Cardinals' tough slate