ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Breakdown: The Cardinals' schedule should allow them to start fast and finish strong. The team plays three of its first four games at home. Three of its final five -- including the final two -- are also at University of Phoenix Stadium.

More importantly for Kurt Warner, the schedule lacks obvious cold-weather games. Arizona does play at the Giants on Oct. 25, but that's much better than playing there in December. Four of the final five games are in domed stadiums. The fifth comes at San Francisco, where the Cardinals have fared well recently.

Overall, this is a schedule the Cardinals can embrace.

Complaint department: The Cardinals play road games on opposite coasts in back-to-back weeks. They visit Seattle on Oct. 18 before heading to the Giants for a prime-time game Oct. 25. Arizona faces a similar predicament late in the season, visiting the 49ers on Dec. 14 and the Lions on Dec. 20.

Prime-time players: Arizona has also established itself as the premiere draw in the division. The team commanded three prime-time games, two on Sundays and one on Monday. Former division champ Seattle was left off the prime-time invite list this season.

Cardinals Regular Season Schedule (all times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, SAN FRANCISCO 49ers, 4:15 p.m.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Week 4: BYE
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11, HOUSTON TEXANS, 4:15 p.m.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25, at NY Giants, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1, CAROLINA PANTHERS, 4:15 p.m.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8, at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 4:15 p.m.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, at St. Louis Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29, at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 4:15 p.m.
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 14, at San Francisco 49ers, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20, at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27, ST. LOUIS RAMS, 4:05 p.m.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, GREEN BAY PACKERS, 4:15 p.m.