GLENDALE, Ariz. -- What a difference four months make. What initially looked like a brutal stretch of road games and tough opponents to start the Arizona Cardinals' 2017 season has turned into a couple of should-win games with the lingering shoulder injury to Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (Week 2) and the suspension of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (Week 3).
The Cardinals will benefit in some ways from their 7-8-1 record last season, especially since their strength of schedule is ranked 29th this year.
What I had initially predicted as a 10-6 season in April has evolved into Arizona's second 11-5 campaign in four years.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 10, at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET
It'll help the Cardinals that the Lions lost two potential starters on defense to preseason injuries. But, still, the Cardinals will unveil one of the best defenses in the NFL on this day, which will be too much for the Lions, although they're quite a different team than the one Arizona blew out two years ago. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17, at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Not much has changed for this game since my initial schedule prediction came out in April except, oh, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will either be just returning from an injury or will miss this game. Either way, the emotions will be flowing heavily in Bruce Arians' return to Indianapolis for the first time since he was the Colts' interim coach in 2012. The Cardinals will feed off that. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Monday, Sept. 25, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:30 p.m. ET
The recent suspension of Ezekiel Elliott completely changed the complexion of this game. Even if he wins his appeal and, let's say, his suspension is reduced to three games, he still won't play in this one, giving the Cardinals an obvious upper hand regardless of playing two road games to start the season. Record: 3-0
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET
After a grueling three-game stretch to start the season, the Cardinals catch a break in Week 4 by hosting the 49ers. They'll get some rest and a win as safety Antoine Bethea and kicker Phil Dawson face their old team for the first time. Record: 4-0
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 8, at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
On paper and in theory, the Cardinals should run out to a 5-0 start with a win against the Eagles, but their early-season travel schedule will catch up to them here. This game in Philadelphia will also be their first outdoor game of the season and the early start Arizona time will test the Cards. Are their East Coast troubles from last season a thing of the past? Record: 4-1
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 15, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:05 p.m. ET
This game can easily be a three-way Catch 22. Arizona will either be hungry to get a win after losing to the Eagles, get outplayed by the talented-and-getting-better Jameis Winston or get caught looking ahead to a week-long trip to London. The odds are against the Cardinals that two of the three could happen. Record: 4-2
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 22, vs. Los Angeles Rams (in London), 1 p.m. ET
This trip and game will be a pure example of how veteran leadership can influence a team. Even though long trips have had their impact on the Cardinals, their vets will get the rest they need despite an eight-hour time difference, and Arizona will overpower the still unimpressive Rams. Record: 5-2
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 5, at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET
By this point in the season, there'll be a national buzz again about the Cardinals. They’ll be 5-2 coming back from a win in London. They’ll be leading the NFC West and will use this game at San Francisco as a way to stretch their lead in the division. Record: 6-2
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 9 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 8:25 p.m. ET
There's only so much a player’s body can take, however, and this is the game where the first half of the season -- three East Coast trips and a flight to London -- will catch up to the Cardinals. It’s a short week against a division foe and Arizona hasn't had much -- well, any -- luck against the Seahawks at home, going 0-3-1 under Arians compared to 3-1 in Seattle. Arizona will undoubtedly be up for it, but they'll just run out of gas. Record: 6-3
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 19, at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET
With the additions of veterans such as Antoine Bethea and Karlos Dansby, this version of the Cardinals is able to work through a loss and not drop two in a row. This game also happens to start one of the easier stretches of their schedule. Record: 7-3
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 26, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:25 p.m. ET
The return of Calais Campbell will make University of Phoenix Stadium (if it’s still called that by now) an emotionally charged scene. But it won’t be enough for the Jags to upset the Cardinals, despite being improved -- on paper, at least. Record: 8-3
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 3, vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET
There’s usually one division game every season that the Cardinals shouldn’t lose but do, and this will be it. They’ll get too comfortable with their standing atop the NFC and the Rams, who by this point, will have found some semblance of an offensive identity will steal the win. Record: 8-4
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 10, vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:05 p.m. ET
By this point of the season, the Cardinals will start feeling the strains of the first half of the year, which took them across the Eastern Time zone and into Europe. Coming off a game they should’ve won, they’ll face a young up-and-coming Titans team that’ll take advantage of Arizona’s tired legs. Record: 8-5
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17, at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
This should be a trap game for the Cardinals: They go back on the road, they’ll have to fly cross-country to our nation’s capital and play outdoors in wintry conditions. It’ll take Arizona a bit to wake up but they’ll either come close to securing a playoff bid or wrap up the division by this point. Record: 9-5
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 24, vs. New York Giants, 4:25 p.m. ET
This will be one of those games where the stadium will be packed with fans of the opposing team. After facing one NFC East team, the Cardinals will get déjà vu from their days of their previous division and host a Giants team that will be needing this win more than Arizona. After four straight wins by the road team in this series, that streak ends. Record: 10-5
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 31, at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
This may end up being the most important game of the season for the Cardinals -- and likely for the Seahawks, as well -- as it could be for all the marbles in the NFC West. Or it could be a victory lap for Arizona’s second division title in three years. The Cardinals will continue their winning ways and wrap up a season similar to 2015. Record: 11-5