The Arizona Cardinals travel to the Big Easy to play the New Orleans Saints to open the year. Here are the storylines, picks, and best bets for the NFL Week 1 game between the Cardinals and Saints.
Cardinals vs. Saints: Game Information
WE PLAY FOOTBALL THIS WEEK!! pic.twitter.com/UmV5oo1eFz
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 1, 2025
- 🏈 Game: Cardinals vs. Saints
- 📅 Date: Sunday – Sept. 7, 2025
- 🕗 Time: 1 p.m. ET
- 🏟 Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, Louisiana
- 📺 TV Channel: CBS
- 💻 Live Stream: Paramount+
Top Storyline: Kellen Moore Era Begins In New Orleans
Kicking off Cardinals week by watching Reggie Bush's 46-yard TD run over and over and over again
📺 #AZvsNO Sunday at Noon on CBS pic.twitter.com/EGey1elPG7
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 2, 2025
After guiding the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense to a Super Bowl victory in February, Kellen Moore gets his first crack at being an NFL head coach with the Saints.
Moore helped engineer one of the best offenses in football a season ago, thanks to an elite offensive line and a 2000-yard rusher in Saquon Barkley.
Things are going to look a lot different (and be much tougher) in New Orleans.
Moore named second-year pro Spencer Rattler as the starting quarterback. Rattler went 0-6 as the Saints’ starter a season ago.
Rookie Tyler Shough is expected to see action at some point this year. If Shough starts within the first month, it means either Rattler got hurt or the Saints’ offense is terrible.
Cardinals vs. Saints: Picks and Best Bets
Cardinals -6.5 (-105)
The Cardinals could be the most bet-on team by the time the line closes on Sunday. Between the spread and moneyline parlays to teasers and survivor leagues, many people will be hoping that RedZone checks in frequently with the Cardinals’ offense.
Speaking of that offense, the Cardinals enter Year 7 with Kyler Murray at quarterback. Murray might be the most polarizing quarterback in the NFL. When it’s good, Murray can combine for over 4,000 all-purpose yards and 25 total touchdowns.
When it’s bad, and it usually happens in the second half of the season, Murray looks like a candidate to be traded.
Despite finishing the 2024 season with an 8-9 record, Arizona accumulated one of the better ATS records (11-6) in the league.
The Cardinals have extremely talented players at skill positions, including tight end Trey McBride, running back James Conner, and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Inconsistent play has been their downfall.
The Cardinals might be unreliable, but they have more answers than New Orleans.
The Saints are projected to win 5.1 games, the lowest total in the NFL. Moore is also a first-time head coach. Since 1990, first-time coaches are under .500 ATS (38-40-2) in their first home game.
If this number moves to 7, then it might be a stay-away game. However, the Cardinals are a decent play at -6.5.
Kyler Murray Over 25.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
If the Cardinals want to reach their full potential, Murray has to run more.
His best season as a pro (2020) marked his best season as a runner — 133 carries for 819 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Murray was dealing with a knee injury last season, which affected his ability to take off.
The former No. 1 pick said this offseason that he has to run more in 2025. We’ll believe him for now.
