By Bud L. Ellis
The Arizona Cardinals won the NFC West championship one season ago. So, figuring that based on opponent’s winning percentage, Arizona facing the easiest schedule in the National Football League in 2010 might not seem fair.
But a closer look at the schedule, now that the NFL has determined game times and dates, shows it won’t be as easy of a road as it may appear for the Cardinals.
Three of the first five games are on the road, and there are plenty of challenges awaiting Arizona. It starts with a road game on opening day, Sept. 12 at St. Louis, and continues with a visit to Atlanta the next week. The home opener is Sept. 26 against Oakland. A visit to AFC West champion San Diego follows, and then a home game with Super Bowl champion New Orleans on Oct. 10.
The Cardinals get the bye week on Oct. 17. Arizona next plays at Seattle, then returns home to face Tampa Bay. A big road game awaits at NFC runner-up Minnesota on Nov. 7. Seattle visits Arizona the next week, before the Cardinals play at Kansas City.
Arizona’s first prime-time game of the season follows, a Monday Night Football contest with San Francisco at home. The Cards then enjoy a two-game homestand against St. Louis and Denver before playing at Carolina on Dec. 19.
The Cardinals return to prime time on Christmas Night, facing Dallas at home. The regular season wraps up with a trip to San Francisco on Jan. 2.
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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
By Bud L. Ellis
The Arizona Cardinals’ 2010 schedule doesn’t look like it’s going to be a very tough road, based on opponents’ win percentage from last season.
The Cardinals know who they will face at home and on the road this season, as they defend the NFC West championship won a year ago. Dates of the games have not yet been determined by the National Football League.
The opponents on the 16-game slate went a combined 114-142 last season, a win percentage of .445 that is the easiest slate in the NFL.
Arizona will play host to Super Bowl champion New Orleans, one of only two playoff teams to come to University of Phoenix Stadium in 2010. The other one is Dallas, which won the NFC East championship.
The rest of the home schedule features NFC West contests against St. Louis, San Francisco and Seattle, as well as games against Denver, Oakland and Tampa Bay.
On the road, the Saints travel to face Minnesota and Atlanta. A trip to AFC West champion San Diego is also a highlight. The other road games include visits to St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Carolina and Kansas City
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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