Arizona Cardinals Playoffs: Which Team Will The Cards Play Next? Breaking Down Possible Opponents

The Arizona Cardinals (13-3) won the NFC West for the first time since 2009, earning them the No. 2 spot in the NFC and a first-round bye. On Wild Card Weekend, Bruce Arians’ squad is sitting at home waiting to see which NFC foe will be visiting them at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale next weekend in the divisional playoffs.

The matchup on Sunday between Minnesota and Seattle will determine who goes to Carolina to play the No. 1 seed Carolina Panthers and who will play the Cardinals. Three of the four teams playing on Sunday can end up in Arizona next week, with the only one that can’t being the NFC rival Seahawks. If Seattle beats Minnesota, they will visit the Panthers and the Packers/Redskins winner will play at the Cardinals.

Below, we take a look at the scenarios facing the Arizona Cardinals and all three opponents they could face:

Minnesota Vikings

If Minnesota beats the Seahawks on Sunday, they will visit Arizona next week. The Vikings went 11-5 and won the NFC North on the final week of the season at Lambeau Field. When these two teams played in Week 14, with the Cardinals winning 23-20 in Arizona. The Vikings won their final three games of the season to put themselves in position to host a wild-card game.

Green Bay Packers

If the Seahawks beat the Vikings and Green Bay wins in Washington, the Packers will be in Arizona last week. Green Bay has sputtered this season, finishing 4-6 after a 6-0 start and losing the division in the final week of the season at home. However, the Packers may have gotten a more favorable matchup, even if it is on the road. Arizona hosted Green Bay in Week 16 and the Cardinals dominated, winning 38-8 and holding the Packers to 178 total yards of offense.

Washington Redskins

If Seattle emerges victorious in Minnesota, then a Washington win would mean the Redskins are the ones visiting Glendale in the divisional round. The NFC East champions won four straight to end the regular season and would be on a five-game winning streak by the time they made it Arizona next week. Washington played one NFC West opponent this season, a win over St. Louis in Week 2. After losing to the Rams on Oct. 4, the Cardinals beat them on Dec. 6, splitting the season series.