THE GOOD: Arizona Cardinals Have Positives in 2026 NFL Schedule

On this episode of Locked On Cardinals, Alex Clancy breaks down the "good" aspects of the Arizona Cardinals’ grueling 2026 schedule. While acknowledging the immense challenges early on, Alex Clancy highlights the silver linings, including a heavy slate of home games late in the season—a factor that could be crucial for building offensive momentum and giving rookie quarterback Carson Beck a true developmental runway. Alex Clancy dives into why the back-end of the schedule, with only one true road game after Week 11, is a unique advantage for a franchise in transition, especially compared to previous seasons of instability and tough road stretches. He examines sneaky winnable games earlier in the year, challenging the national narrative that has widely dismissed the Cardinals as one of the league's worst rosters. With renewed depth—thanks to players like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jeremiyah Love, Michael Wilson, Trey McBride, and Tyler Allgeier on offense, plus key defenders such as Budda Baker, Walter Nolen, and Mack Wilson—the Cardinals might surprise doubters. Alex Clancy argues that this team is much better than perceived, especially if the roster stays healthy and Michael LaFleur’s new offense finds rhythm. Further, Alex Clancy explains why 2026 is a "no expectations" season for Arizona: there’s no pressure for playoff contention or elite quarterback play, and the primary goal is discovering whether the run and pass games can finally work in unison. He lays out why this year is about building, experimenting, and evaluating talent, especially at key positions like quarterback, setting the stage for future draft and roster decisions. Tune in for a thorough breakdown of the Cardinals schedule’s hidden advantages, realistic targets for success, and why the back half of the season could be pivotal in shaping the team's trajectory. Let's discuss.   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Square If you’re starting a business, or running one that deserves better tools, Square helps you sell, manage, and grow without slowing down. Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at https://square.com/go/LockedOnNFL. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)     Find and follow Locked On Cardinals on your favorite podcast platforms:     Apple https://apple.co/3gzT6Pg Spotify https://spoti.fi/3wsOL7a Audacy https://bit.ly/3xdaqjU Stitcher https://bit.ly/3cFWffn Google https://buff.ly/2yH7WOl Megaphone https://bit.ly/2RUBlC5x Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.