Arizona Cardinals release full 2025 schedule: Notable games and more

PHOENIX — Over the past few years, the NFL Schedule Release Day has become a creative way for teams to drum up hype for the upcoming season and even an opportunity to go viral.

In recent years, teams have utilized “man on the street” skits, anime and even cult-classic movies to help show off their new schedules. 

And this year is no different. 

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What was the reception of the video like? Well, NFL insider and host Kyle Brandt hyped up the video before it was even released.

“Watch out for the Cardinals,” he said. “They’re gonna hit us with a good video. Maybe the best video.” 

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also teased the video in an appearance on ESPN’s ‘Pat McAfee Show’ and said the Cardinals’ schedule released video was going to be “a banger.” 

And what a banger it turned out to be. The Cardinals released their schedule through a music video, titled “18 Bars,” where linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., going by the stage name Rocketship, raps about the opponents the Cardinals will be facing and when. The Cardinals have also released the song on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Take a look at the full video below. 

Wilson, who collaborated with Bighead Music Group to create the song for the schedule release video, is also part of the group “3rd&Go,” which features two of his former teammates with the Cardinals, Zach Pascal and Jesse Luketa. The group released and EP called “Its Us (Volume 1)” last year on Apple Music.  

Aside from the video, here are some of the notable games that stand out in the schedule:

The Cardinals will have a Thursday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4
Arizona returns to Monday Night Football with a road game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9

Arizona’s season kicks off on the road against the New Orleans Saints and the Cardinals will not play an international game this season. Here’s a look at the rest of the schedule, week by week. All times are Arizona time. 

Week 1: @ New Orleans Saints, Sept. 7, 10:00 a.m.
Week 2: vs. Carolina Panthers, Sept. 14, 1:05 p.m. 
Week 3: @ San Francisco 49ers, Sept. 21, 1:25 p.m. 
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Thu., Sept. 25, 5:15 p.m. (Thursday Night Football) 
Week 5: vs. Tennessee Titans, Oct. 5, 1:05 p.m.  
Week 6: @ Indianapolis Colts, Oct. 12, 10:00 a.m. 
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers, Oct. 19, 1:25 p.m.
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: @ Dallas Cowboys, Mon. Nov. 3, 6:15 p.m. (Monday Night Football) 
Week 10: @ Seattle Seahawks, Nov. 9, 2:05 p.m.  
Week 11: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Nov. 16, 2:05 p.m. 
Week 12: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Nov. 23, 2:05 p.m. 
Week 13: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nov. 30, 11:00 a.m. 
Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Dec. 7, 2:25 p.m. 
Week 15: @ Houston Texans, Dec. 14, 11:00 a.m. 
Week 16: vs. Atlanta Falcons, Dec. 21, 2:05 p.m. 
Week 17: @ Cincinnati Bengals, Dec. 27 or 28, time TBD
Week 18: @ Los Angeles Rams, Jan. 3 or 4, 2026, time TBD   

Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Aug. 7-10, exact date and time TBD 
Week 2: at Denver Broncos, Aug. 14-18, exact date and time TBD 
Week 3: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Aug. 21-24, exact date and time TBD

This will be third straight season that the Cardinals will open their season on the road and it will be the just fourth time that the Cardinals have played the Saints in a season opener, along with the 1982, 1983, and 2015 seasons.   

The Cardinals’ Week 17 matchup against the Bengals has been named as one of five designated games for that week. Two of the designated games will be played on Saturday and three on Sunday, unless they are flexed to play on Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football. 

The NFL will determine the dates and times for Week 18 games at the conclusion of Week 17. 

You can purchase tickets at azcardinals.com/tickets.

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The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.

The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.

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