Rumors are true: Arizona Cardinals schedule leaks confirmed

The NFL released its complete 2022 schedule Thursday, but some of the plans were leaked ahead of the official announcement.

Below is the information for the leaked portions of the schedule — which were verified when the Cardinals released their official schedule shortly after 5 p.m. Arizona time. 

© Michael Chow, Michael Chow-Arizona Republic Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals could have a very difficult schedule in 2022.

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2022 begins today.

📺 2022 Schedule Release | 5pm on NFLN pic.twitter.com/01l52udTfz

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) May 12, 2022

Week 1: Cardinals to open season hosting Kansas City Chiefs

Confirmed: The Cardinals announced Thursday that they will host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season.

The game will be held at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:25 p.m. Arizona time.

Week 2: Cardinals to face Las Vegas Raiders on the road

Confirmed: The Las Vegas Raiders announced that they would be hosting the Cardinals in Week 2 of the NFL season on Sept. 18 at 1

See you at Allegiant Stadium, @AZCardinals 🏟️

» https://t.co/SqI5osl8jx pic.twitter.com/InUKUug5og

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 12, 2022

Week 3: Cardinals could host Los Angeles Rams

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Johnny Venerable tweeted that Arizona could host the NFC West rival Rams in Week 3.

The Arizona Cardinals will host the LA Rams in Week 3.

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) May 12, 2022

Week 4: Cardinals could face Carolina Panthers

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Johnny Venerable tweeted that the Cardinals could be playing at the Carolina Panthers in Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season.

Looking like Cardinals at Panthers for Week 4.

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) May 12, 2022

Week 5: Cardinals could host Philadelphia Eagles

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Johnny Venerable tweeted that the Cardinals could host the Eagles in Week 5.

The Arizona Cardinals will host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) May 12, 2022

Week 7: Cardinals could host New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Alex Clancy reports that he is hearing Arizona could host New Orleans in Week 7 on Thursday Night Football.

I'm hearing the Arizona Cardinals will host the New Orleans Saints in Week 7 on Thursday Night Football.

— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) May 12, 2022

Week 8: Cardinals could play Minnesota Vikings on the road

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Johnny Venerable reports that the Cardinals will be at the Vikings this week. 

The Arizona Cardinals will travel to Minnesota in Week 8 to play the Vikings.

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) May 12, 2022

Week 11: Cardinals to play 49ers in Mexico City

Confirmed: This game is confirmed, as the NFL announced it earlier this month. Arizona will play San Francisco on Monday Night Football on Nov. 21.

You can read more about the game here.

Week 12: Cardinals could host Los Angeles Chargers

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Johnny Venerable tweeted that Arizona could host Los Angeles in Week 12.

The Arizona Cardinals will host the LA Chargers in Week 12.

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) May 12, 2022

Week 14: Cardinals could host New England Patriots

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Johnny Venerable tweeted that Arizona could host New England in Week 14.

The Arizona Cardinals will host the New England Patriots in Week 14.

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) May 12, 2022

Week 16: Cardinals could host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football

Confirmed: The Athletic's Greg Auman reported that the Cardinals could host the Buccaneers on Christmas night.

No idea what to believe on schedule leaks, but I’ve had two people separately DM me saying Bucs are playing on Christmas in Arizona. We’ll see.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) May 12, 2022

Seat Geek apparently posted tickets for AZ games on their site, realized their mistake, and deleted it. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/RgP8VdiKFw

— Jimmy (@JimmyBucsPhils) May 12, 2022

Week 17: Cardinals will be on the road in second to last week of season

Confirmed: Cards Wire's Jess Root writes: "We do not know the opponent yet, but the Cardinals always play on the road in Week 17. Why? Week 17 leads into the first week of January, which is when the Fiesta Bowl is played at State Farm Stadium. That means the Cardinals are always on the road that week."

It has since been confirmed that the Cardinals will travel to face the Falcons in Atlanta.

Week 18: Cardinals could be on the road vs. San Francisco 49ers

Confirmed: Cardinals insider Johnny Venerable reports that Arizona could be headed to San Francisco in Week 18, although he hasn't been able to confirm it.

Hearing Week 18 is trending toward Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers.

Working to confirm.

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) May 11, 2022

Arizona Cardinals' opponents for 2022 season

Arizona will have home and away games against its three NFC West rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, although the Cardinals' home game against the 49ers will be played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Monday, Nov. 21 (Week 11).

The Cardinals will also play the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots at home in 2022.

The team is scheduled to face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings on the road in addition to its three NFC West rivals.

You can read more about the Cardinals' opponents in 2022 here.

Arizona Cardinals' schedule among toughest in NFL in 2022

The Cardinals' 2022 opponents went 157-132 in 2021, putting Arizona's strength of schedule as the second most difficult one in the NFL based on last year's win percentage for opponents (.543).

Only the Rams, whose opponents went 164-125 (.567) last season, have a more difficult schedule according to that metric.

Seven of the Cardinals' 14 opponents in the upcoming season made the playoffs last year, including the rival Rams, who won the Super Bowl, and the 49ers.

The Chiefs, Buccaneers, Eagles, Patriots and Raiders also all made the postseason

You can read more about the Cardinals' difficult 2022 schedule here.

How to watch NFL schedule release

The 2022 NFL schedule will be released in a three-hour show on NFL Network on Thursday at 5 p.m. Arizona time. The program will re-air for the West Coast audience at 8 p.m. Arizona time. Additional coverage will be available on ESPN2 in a separate two-hour program that also starts at 5 p.m. Arizona time.

Before those programs start, however, at 3 p.m. Arizona time, each NFL team will announce its first opponent of the 2022 season on their social media channels and official websites.

The NFL schedule release program on NFL Network can be streamed on NFL.com/watch or the NFL Mobile app. The one on ESPN2 can be streamed through the ESPN app, or on ESPN.com/watch. Streaming also available on FuboTV.

 - USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rumors are true: Arizona Cardinals schedule leaks confirmed