If you’re waking up this Saturday morning, January 17, 2026, and looking for your red jersey, I’ve got some bad news. No, the Arizona Cardinals are not playing football today. While the NFL Divisional Round is officially kicking off with a double-header, the Cardinals are watching from the couch like the rest of us.
Honestly, it’s been a rough ride for the Bird Gang lately. After finishing the 2025 regular season with a dismal 3-14 record, the team has been in full-blown offseason mode for nearly two weeks. Their season ended back on January 4 with a 37-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Since then, the only "games" being played in Glendale involve front-office spreadsheets and coaching interviews.
Who Is Playing Today Instead of the Cardinals?
Even though our local team is out, today is actually one of the best days of the year for football fans. We have two massive Divisional Round matchups. If you’re a fan of the NFC West, you might want to keep an eye on the nightcap, even if it’s just to scout the competition for next year.
- Game 1: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos. This one starts at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
- Game 2: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks. This kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Seeing both the 49ers and the Seahawks in the Divisional Round while the Cardinals sit at home is a bit of a gut punch. It highlights just how far the franchise has to climb to get back to the top of the division.
Are the Arizona Cardinals Playing Football Today? Why the Season Ended Early
The reason the question "are the Arizona Cardinals playing football today" results in a "no" comes down to a historically difficult 2025 season. It wasn't just the losses; it was the way they happened.
💡 You might also like: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
The team suffered a nine-game losing streak to end the year. Think about that for a second. They haven't won a game since early November when they beat the Dallas Cowboys. Between a struggling defense and an offense that never quite found its rhythm, the Cardinals finished at the bottom of the NFC West.
The Coaching Carousel
The biggest news in Arizona right now isn't a game; it's the vacancy on the sidelines. Jonathan Gannon was fired on January 5, 2026, just one day after the season finale. Owner Michael Bidwill made it clear that the lack of wins was the primary driver.
Right now, the team is in the middle of a massive search. They’ve been linked to over a dozen candidates, but there’s a lot of talk about whether the team is willing to spend the money necessary to land a top-tier name. Names like Matt Nagy and Lou Anarumo are floating around the league for other jobs, while the Cardinals are essentially a "wildcard" in this cycle.
The Kyler Murray Dilemma
You can't talk about the Cardinals without talking about Kyler. He’s got a massive $52.6 million cap hit coming up for the 2026 season. There is serious debate among analysts like those at The Athletic and SI.com about whether he's still the "franchise" guy.
📖 Related: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
The Cardinals currently hold the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Everyone thought they might grab a quarterback, but Oregon's Dante Moore recently announced he’s staying in school. That threw a huge wrench into the plans. Now, the front office has to decide: do they stick with Kyler, try to trade him, or take a gamble on someone like Ty Simpson from Alabama?
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
While there is no football today for the Cardinals, the 2026 schedule is already starting to take shape. We don't have the exact dates yet—those usually come out in May—but we know exactly who they are playing.
If you're planning your 2026 weekends, here’s a peek at the home slate for State Farm Stadium:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Detroit Lions
- New York Jets
- The usual NFC West rivals (Rams, 49ers, Seahawks)
It’s a tough schedule. Playing the Eagles and the Lions at home will be huge tests for whoever ends up being the new head coach.
👉 See also: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
What Should Cardinals Fans Do Today?
Since the Cardinals aren't playing, today is a good day to settle in and watch the NFC West battle between San Francisco and Seattle. It’s a bit like watching your neighbors have a party you weren't invited to, but it's important context. The 49ers and Seahawks are the standard right now.
If you're looking for actionable next steps to stay connected with the team during this long offseason, here is what you should focus on:
Track the Coaching Search: Keep a close eye on the interviews happening this week. The team needs a leader who can fix the culture and, more importantly, figure out the quarterback situation.
Monitor the NFL Draft Big Boards: Since the Cardinals pick at No. 3, every move in college football matters. With some top QBs returning to school, the value of that third pick might actually go up if another team gets desperate to trade up.
Check the Salary Cap Situation: Between now and March 12 (the start of the league year), the Cardinals have to make a definitive decision on Kyler Murray's future to manage their cap space effectively.
It's going to be a long spring in Glendale. But hey, at least the weather is nice in Arizona this time of year while the rest of the league is playing in the snow.