The Arizona Cardinals currently reside in arguably the toughest division in all of football as the NFC West will be even more dangerous than usual in 2020. With the Cardinals — and just about everyone else in the division — drastically improving this offseason, the upcoming campaign could ultimately prove to be a memorable one for the up-and-coming NFC West franchise.
However, a memorable run in 2020 wouldn't be the Cardinals' first as Arizona has encountered success in the past as well. Although the Cardinals have only reached one Super Bowl while coming up just shy as a result of one of the best games in NFL history, Arizona has always served as a tough out whether it be during the regular season or postseason.
With the Cardinals typically playing hard-nosed and well-rounded football regardless of who is along the sideline or on the field, it is no surprise that Arizona has accumulated a few rivals both inside and outside of the division over the years.
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals have both found themselves atop the NFC West division on multiple occasions over the last two decades with this tandem battling it out not once but twice every season. Because of the frequency in which the Rams and Cardinals square off, these two absolutely go at it every single time they take the same field. Not only that, but the connection of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner between these two franchises have them linked together forever.
After a successful stint as a member of the then St. Louis Rams that resulted in multiple league MVP awards, several NFC Championships, and a Super Bowl title, Warner infamously led the Cardinals to the team's lone Super Bowl appearance back in 2008.
Seattle Seahawks
With the Seattle Seahawks serving as the top dog of the NFC West more often than not over the last 10 or so years, it has been more of a one-sided rivalry with the Arizona Cardinals — unfortunately for the latter. However, it always seems as though the Seahawks and Cardinals take things down to the wire no matter where these franchises are in the standings. Because these two teams play on multiple occasions each season, things typically heat up in a hurry when the Seahawks and Cardinals are involved.
Although the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers currently represent the last two NFC Champions, both the Seahawks and Cardinals have legitimate shots at reaching the postseason in 2020 as the NFC West will be forced to battle it out from top to bottom. With that in mind, each matchup between Seattle and Arizona will mean that much more moving forward.
San Francisco 49ers
Currently serving as the team to beat in the NFC West, everyone in the division — the Arizona Cardinals — included will begin the upcoming 2020 campaign looking to take down the San Francisco 49ers. However, this rivalry has never really slowed down as the 49ers and Cardinals have encountered more than a few slugfests in recent memory.
With both of these teams possessing potent offensive attacks and formidable defenses, the 49ers and Cardinals should be able to light it up in 2020, which will make for a pair of incredibly intriguing matchups during the looming regular season. Due to the fact that these two teams have not often been legitimate contenders at the same time, San Francisco versus Arizona could be even more interesting than in the past in 2020.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers rained on the entire parade in the desert back in 2008 as the heralded AFC North franchise infamously defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLIII. With the Steelers defeating the Cardinals to end Arizona's lone Super Bowl appearance on quite the low note, there will always been a link between these two organizations. Even though Arizona lost as a result of the team's last Super Bowl appearance, the Cardinals did help produce one of the most memorable title games in the history of the NFL — if that is any consequence.
Remembered by seemingly every NFL fan that was alive for Super Bowl XLIII, Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes led the way in terms of crushing the Cardinals' dream of a title as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found him in the back of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. Such a play was as close as it gets in terms of getting two feet down in bounds — unfortunately for the Cardinals, of course, as Arizona was mere inches from becoming champions of the NFL in 2008. It is also worth noting that Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu appeared on the cover of EA Sports' Madden 10, furthering connecting these two foes.
Carolina Panthers
Although the Carolina Panthers play in the NFC South and the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West, these teams often meet on some of the bigger stages possible for NFL opponents. The “Arizona” Cardinals have reached the postseason five times as an NFL franchise while meeting up with the Panthers on three of those occasions, including as a result of three of the team's last four appearances. Initially, the Panthers and Cardinals squared off in the divisional round of the 2008 postseason as Arizona marched right through the NFC South franchise en route to a Super Bowl appearance.
However, the tide has since turned in a big way as the Panthers have gotten the better of the Cardinals upon matching up in the postseason in both 2014 and 2015. In 2014, the Panthers defeated the Cardinals before meeting up again the following postseason, which saw Carolina absolutely throttle Arizona by the score of 49-15 in 2015. The Panthers would go on to become NFC Champions in 2015 while returning the favor that the Cardinals originally dealt out back in 2008. Like Arizona, though, the Panthers would go on to lose upon reaching the Super Bowl in addition to preventing the Cardinals from reaching the team's second Super Bowl ever as this defeat came in the 2015 NFC Championship Game.
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