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Arizona Cardinals vs. Indianapolis Colts: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Indianapolis Colts higher than the Arizona Cardinals overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the less severe defensive concern and the less limited big-play ability.

Current PFM Team Scores

ARI

Arizona Cardinals

73.3PFM Team Score#27 NFL
Clear edgeIND

Indianapolis Colts

76.2PFM Team Score#23 NFL
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Indianapolis Colts Higher

The defensive concern is smaller for Indianapolis, but it has not disappeared. Arizona's strongest counterargument is QB Stability. The gap is narrow, but Quarterback is the clearest separator. Jacoby Brissett gives Arizona more certainty than the Indianapolis Colts have at the position.

Indianapolis also brings the less limited big-play ability. PFM still has the Indianapolis Colts in front.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Arizona vs. Indianapolis Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

ARIArizona Cardinals
INDIndianapolis Colts
Arizona Cardinals vs. Indianapolis Colts Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Arizona Cardinals 78.4, Indianapolis Colts 77.0, edge ARI +1.4; Offense: Arizona Cardinals 75.8, Indianapolis Colts 78.4, edge IND +2.6; Defense: Arizona Cardinals 72.3, Indianapolis Colts 75.9, edge IND +3.6; Coaching Direction: Arizona Cardinals 71.9, Indianapolis Colts 73.4, edge IND +1.5; Roster Depth: Arizona Cardinals 73.0, Indianapolis Colts 74.7, edge IND +1.7. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Arizona Cardinals’ Best Argument

The gap is narrow, but Jacoby Brissett gives the Arizona Cardinals the steadier quarterback room. That lets the offense stay on schedule without asking the rest of the team to cover constant uncertainty. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Indianapolis still answers with the less severe defensive concern and the less limited big-play ability, which keeps the overall judgment in place.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

ARI73.3
Arizona Cardinals 73.3
IND76.2
Indianapolis Colts 76.2
Clear Indianapolis Colts edge

Overall NFL Rank

ARI#27
Arizona Cardinals #27
IND#23
Indianapolis Colts #23
Indianapolis Colts ranks higher

QB Stability

ARI78.4
Arizona Cardinals 78.4
IND77.0
Indianapolis Colts 77.0
Slight Arizona Cardinals edge

Roster Strength

ARI73.0
Arizona Cardinals 73.0
IND74.7
Indianapolis Colts 74.7
Slight Indianapolis Colts edge

Coaching Direction

ARI71.9
Arizona Cardinals 71.9
IND73.4
Indianapolis Colts 73.4
Slight Indianapolis Colts edge

Recent Performance

ARI68.3
Arizona Cardinals 68.3
IND80.7
Indianapolis Colts 80.7
Major Indianapolis Colts edge

Offense

ARI75.8
Arizona Cardinals 75.8
IND78.4
Indianapolis Colts 78.4
Clear Indianapolis Colts edge

Defense

ARI72.3
Arizona Cardinals 72.3
IND75.9
Indianapolis Colts 75.9
Clear Indianapolis Colts edge

Franchise Direction

ARI73.1
Arizona Cardinals 73.1
IND72.8
Indianapolis Colts 72.8
Slight Arizona Cardinals edge

Explosiveness

ARI67.4
Arizona Cardinals 67.4
IND71.2
Indianapolis Colts 71.2
Clear Indianapolis Colts edge

Conference Rank

ARI#14
Arizona Cardinals #14
IND#11
Indianapolis Colts #11
Indianapolis Colts ranks higher

Division Rank

ARI#4
Arizona Cardinals #4
IND#3
Indianapolis Colts #3
Indianapolis Colts ranks higher

Outlook

ARINeeds More HelpINDIn the Playoff Mix
Stronger outlook: Indianapolis Colts
TEAM CONSTRUCTION

How These Teams Are Built Differently

Arizona Cardinals

Strongest Rating
QB Stability
Category Edge
QB Stability
Biggest Matchup Concern
Explosiveness

Arizona's clearest category edge is QB Stability. The gap is narrow, but Quarterback is where the Arizona Cardinals have their cleanest advantage against the Indianapolis Colts. With Jacoby Brissett, the offense has a better floor when the first answer stops working. The biggest problem in this matchup is Explosiveness, where Indianapolis owns the clearer advantage.

Indianapolis Colts

Strongest Rating
Offense
Category Edge
Explosiveness
Biggest Matchup Concern
QB Stability
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Arizona Cardinals

Remaining schedule rank: #1

Toughest stretch: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs

Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs

Next five difficulty: 84.3

View Arizona Cardinals Road Ahead

Indianapolis Colts

Remaining schedule rank: #22

Toughest stretch: Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans

Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans

Next five difficulty: 82.1

View Indianapolis Colts Road Ahead

Arizona has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 1. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and Kansas City Chiefs. Indianapolis also has the more favorable road, which adds to the less severe defensive concern and the less limited big-play ability.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated September 8, 2026. Schedule data updated September 9, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams