It could be a very long year for the Arizona Cardinals and Mike LaFleur.
Arizona are underdogs in every single game this season, and in a division with three Super Bowl contenders.
Super Bowl favorites Los Angeles Rams, defending champions Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers make up the loaded NFC West, which has been branded the toughest division in football.
A compilation of clips from the Cardinals training camp hasn’t quite done enough to raise expectations.
With beat writers, and reporters in attendance sharing some of the moments through practice on social media, they have been pulled together by some mischievous accounts.
Choosing to focus on the fails, the drops and the overthrows, the video went viral on X (formerly Twitter) and football fans were predictably ruthless in the comments.
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“Is there a possibility to bet on under 0 wins for the Cardinals in 2026? They look awful,” one fan wrote.
“They are quite literally going to lose every game. How ownership can watch this and be content is crazy,” a second concerned fan added.
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“This is a very harsh truth for Arizonans to accept,” a third added.
“Wow, add in [Jacoby] Brissett at QB and they really are going to suck, I feel bad for Cardinals fans,” a fourth commented.
“Damn, I thought being a [Las Vegas] Raiders fan was rough. Going to be a long year,” a fifth concluded.
Arch Manning might refuse to go to Arizona
Not having a proven franchise QB and coming off a lowly 2025, the Cardinals are not projected to compete at all in 2026.
Some have even gone as far as to suggest they are tanking for the No.1 pick in the loaded 2027 quarterback class.
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Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning is the current favorite to go No.1 overall in 2027, with Oregon Ducks hurler Dante Moore close behind him.
Manning, the nephew of NFL greats Eli and Payton, starred with the Texas Longhorns in 2025 and opted to return for one more season as a starter.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio believes that even if the Cardinals did land the No. 1 overall pick, Manning could refuse to play for Arizona, just like his uncle Eli once did to spurn the then San Diego Chargers.
“Stuck in a division with a trio of Super Bowl contenders, the Cardinals face a steep uphill climb to a playoff berth,” Florio said.
“It will be far easier to accept their fate for 2026 and sink in the standings — while rising in the draft order for 2027.
“Which sets the Cardinals up for the ability to draft one of the best quarterbacks in next year’s crop. (Unless and until Arch Manning makes it clear he’s not interested in playing there.)”
There has been no indication on what Manning’s preference would be, but an 0-17 year in the hardest division in football could be the reason Manning needs to shun the red and white.
Manning begins what is expected to be his final season in college when the Longhorns take on Texas State on September 5, while the Cardinals begin their season in the Hall of Fame game against Carolina.
That kicks off their preseason schedule, before the Week 1 opener against the LA Chargers.
