Arizona Cardinals Game Today: Why the 2026 Offseason Just Got Real

The desert is quiet today. If you're looking for an Arizona Cardinals game today football update, the hard truth is that the pads are officially off. After a grueling 3-14 season that mercifully ended on January 4th with a 37-20 loss to the Rams, the Cardinals find themselves watching the Divisional Round from the couch.

Today, January 17, 2026, the rest of the NFL is busy. While the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos trade blows in the AFC, and the Seahawks host the Niners, folks in Arizona are left looking at a draft board that suddenly feels like the most important thing in the world.

It's a weird spot to be in. You want to be mad at the nine-game losing streak that closed out the year, but honestly, the roster was held together by tape and prayers by December.

The Reality of the Cardinals Game Today

There is no kickoff at State Farm Stadium today. Instead, the "game" has moved to the front office. Jonathan Gannon and the staff are basically in a war room trying to figure out how a season that started 2-0 turned into a 14-loss disaster.

The biggest storyline? Injuries. You can't talk about where this team is today without mentioning the brutal non-contact injuries to rookie Walter Nolen III and cornerback Garrett Williams. Both went down late in December, and there's a real fear they might not even be ready for the start of the 2026 season. That’s a massive blow to a defense that already felt like it was playing on 10% battery.

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Key Stats from the Season Finale

• Final Score: Rams 37, Cardinals 20
• Passing: Jacoby Brissett (243 yards, 2 TDs)
• Standout: Michael Wilson (5 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD)
• The Record-Setter: Trey McBride finished the year as a focal point, essentially carrying the pass-catching load for most of the winter.

The vibe in the locker room after that Rams game was... heavy. Calais Campbell, the veteran who returned for a homecoming season, talked about the "human side" of seeing teammates go down. It sucks. There's no other way to put it.

What the 2026 Schedule Already Tells Us

Even though we don't have an Arizona Cardinals game today football on the TV, the 2026 opponents are already locked in. The NFL doesn't wait for you to feel better.

Next year, the Cardinals are going to host the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and the Detroit Lions. Think about that for a second. The Lions just won 15 games in 2024 and are a powerhouse. The Eagles are always a problem. State Farm Stadium is going to see some high-level football, but the Cardinals have to actually be competitive for that to matter to the fans.

On the road, it’s even tougher. They’ve got trips to Kansas City and Dallas on the calendar. Playing the Chiefs at Arrowhead is basically the final boss of professional football.

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The Roster Gut-Check

If you're wondering why the team struggled so much, look at the offensive line. Hjalte Froholdt was the only starter who actually made it through the whole season. That’s insane. You can't protect a quarterback—whether it's Kyler Murray or Jacoby Brissett—if the guys in front are a rotating door of practice squad call-ups.

Then you have the bright spots. Trey McBride is, quite simply, a beast. He’s locked in through 2029 and is arguably the best tight end in the league right now. Michael Wilson also showed he can be a legitimate WR1 when he’s healthy.

But the defense? Man, it's a mess. Budda Baker still plays like his hair is on fire, earning another Pro Bowl nod, but he can't be everywhere. With Jalen Thompson heading into unrestricted free agency, the secondary could look completely different by the time training camp rolls around in July.

Who is Safe and Who is Not?

1. Trey McBride: Untouchable. The offense runs through him.
2. Paris Johnson Jr.: Played well but missed the end of the season again. He needs a healthy 2026 to prove he's the franchise tackle.
3. James Conner: The "emotional anchor" of the team, but he’s coming off a brutal injury. With a new coaching philosophy likely coming, his future is a bit of a question mark.
4. Denzel Burke: The rookie corner emerged as a starter late. He’s a silver lining.

Why This Offseason is Different

Most years, a 3-14 record means you just blow everything up. But the Cardinals have these weird pockets of elite talent mixed with massive holes. It's not a "total" rebuild, but it's definitely a "structural" one.

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The fan base is restless. You can feel it on social media and on the local sports talk shows. People are tired of the "next man up" mantra when the "next man" is a guy who was selling insurance three weeks ago.

The draft is where the Arizona Cardinals game today football is actually won. They need a pass rush. Badly. They need interior defensive linemen who can actually stay on the field for more than four games.

Actionable Steps for Cardinals Fans

Since there’s no game to watch this afternoon, here is how you should be spending your time if you want to stay ahead of the curve:

• Watch the Divisional Round closely: Specifically, watch the Seattle vs. San Francisco game tonight. That is the standard of the NFC West. The Cardinals are currently 0-6 in the division. You need to see the gap between Arizona and the top dogs to understand how far there is to go.
• Track the Injury Reports: Keep an eye on Walter Nolen III’s recovery. If his knee rehab stalls, the Cardinals almost have to use their first-round pick on a defensive tackle.
• Follow the Free Agency Rumors: Jalen Thompson is the big one. If the Cardinals let him walk, the secondary is in full-blown crisis mode.
• Check the Draft Big Boards: Start looking at edge rushers. Arizona needs someone who can make a quarterback uncomfortable without needing a five-man blitz.

The season is over, but the work is just starting. It's going to be a long spring in Tempe.