Arizona Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury on schedule: ‘There’s big-time games’

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury acquired a textual content message from the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes — Kingsbury’s quarterback at Texas Tech — simply earlier than the NFL schedule launched on Thursday.

Mahomes despatched Kingsbury the eyes emoji, as he discovered the Chiefs and Cardinals had a date in Week 1.

“I used to be actually grateful to the schedule makers for giving us a younger quarterback that hadn’t fairly discovered his manner within the league simply but,” Kingsbury joked. “It’ll be enjoyable. … He’ll be revved up. We’ll undoubtedly have some Texas Tech followers tuning into that one.”

Kingsbury spoke to reporters on Friday at Arizona’s rookie mini-camp, and the schedule was one of many primary matters of dialogue.

The Cardinals have 4 primetime video games and begin the 12 months with 4 playoff groups within the opening 5 weeks.

Arizona might be with out star receiver DeAndre Hopkins for that stretch on account of a six-game suspension for violating the league’s coverage on performance-enhancing medicine, however Kingsbury mentioned getting him again in Week 7 will present a lift for the remainder of the season.

The Cardinals struggled in primetime final season, however their head coach is wanting ahead to extra alternatives.

“You’ll be able to’t ask for, to me, a greater setup whenever you take a look at a few of these video games,” Kingsbury mentioned.

“Get a crew just like the Chiefs to see the place you’re at, play Invoice Belichick on Monday night time, play Tom Brady on Christmas. I imply, there’s some large time-games. Go to Mexico Metropolis to play a rival, I imply, it’s gonna be numerous enjoyable.”

Kingsbury additionally singled out his pleasure to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2. Josh McDaniels was employed as head coach this offseason, and Kingsbury was on the New England Patriots in 2003 when McDaniels was an assistant coach.

Plus, longtime Cardinals edge rusher Chandler Jones is now with Las Vegas.

The Cardinals have the second-hardest schedule within the league based mostly on 2021 successful percentages. Kingsbury underplayed that with a degree that each schedule has its challenges.

“AFC West, lining up with them this 12 months with getting Russell (Wilson) is a problem,” Kingsbury mentioned. “Anytime you take a look at an NFL schedule, it’s not like you possibly can go down and choose a bunch of wins. They’re all robust and everyone’s going through form of the identical deal.”