The loss the Arizona Cardinals suffered to the San Francisco 49ers not only established their draft position, giving them the fifth pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, it also locked in their 2011 schedule. They will as always face the rest of the NFC West twice each, but they will play the NFC East and AFC North as their other cross-conference games. Their loss to the 49ers also locked in a game against the Carolina Panthers and, combined with the Vikings loss to the Lions, matched them with the Vikings for nest season.
↵Their home and road games are as follows:
↵Home games: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
↵Road games: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
↵For attendance purposes, their home schedule is favorable. Aside from the divisional games they have every year, they will draw four teams with passionate fan bases. Only the game against the Panthers would be considered a home dud.
↵Their road games will prove to be challenging. Playing in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and Cincinnati will not be easy with their crowds.
↵Unfortunately for Arizona, the combination of some potentially quality opponents at home and difficult playing environments on the road, along with the apparent lack of talent or underachieving of talented players could lend itself to another year of disappointment.