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Arizona Cardinals vs. Kansas City Chiefs: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Kansas City Chiefs higher than the Arizona Cardinals overall, with a major advantage. The main reasons are the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.

Current PFM Team Scores

ARI

Arizona Cardinals

73.3PFM Team Score#28 NFL
Major edgeKC

Kansas City Chiefs

90.5PFM Team Score#1 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Arizona Cardinals vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Previous Meetings

Kansas City Chiefs lead the recorded series 10–3 over 14 meetings. 1 game ended in a tie.

Arizona Cardinals3 wins
Kansas City Chiefs10 wins
Ties1
Recorded meetings14

Recent Meetings

DateMatchupFinalWinner
Sep 11, 2022Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals44–21Kansas City Chiefs
  1. Sep 11, 20222022 season
    Kansas City ChiefsAway44 – 21Arizona CardinalsHome
    Kansas City Chiefs won
Earlier meetings (9)
DateMatchupFinalWinner
Nov 11, 2018Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs14–26Kansas City Chiefs
Dec 7, 2014Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals14–17Arizona Cardinals
Nov 21, 2010Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs13–31Kansas City Chiefs
Oct 8, 2006Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals23–20Kansas City Chiefs
Dec 1, 2002Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs0–49Kansas City Chiefs
Oct 21, 2001Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals16–24Arizona Cardinals
Nov 29, 1998Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs24–34Kansas City Chiefs
Oct 1, 1995Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals24–3Kansas City Chiefs
Nov 23, 1986Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals14–23Arizona Cardinals
  1. Nov 11, 20182018 season
    Arizona CardinalsAway14 – 26Kansas City ChiefsHome
    Kansas City Chiefs won
  2. Dec 7, 20142014 season
    Kansas City ChiefsAway14 – 17Arizona CardinalsHome
    Arizona Cardinals won
  3. Nov 21, 20102010 season
    Arizona CardinalsAway13 – 31Kansas City ChiefsHome
    Kansas City Chiefs won
  4. Oct 8, 20062006 season
    Kansas City ChiefsAway23 – 20Arizona CardinalsHome
    Kansas City Chiefs won
  5. Dec 1, 20022002 season
    Arizona CardinalsAway0 – 49Kansas City ChiefsHome
    Kansas City Chiefs won
  6. Oct 21, 20012001 season
    Kansas City ChiefsAway16 – 24Arizona CardinalsHome
    Arizona Cardinals won
  7. Nov 29, 19981998 season
    Arizona CardinalsAway24 – 34Kansas City ChiefsHome
    Kansas City Chiefs won
  8. Oct 1, 19951995 season
    Kansas City ChiefsAway24 – 3Arizona CardinalsHome
    Kansas City Chiefs won
  9. Nov 23, 19861986 season
    Kansas City ChiefsAway14 – 23Arizona CardinalsHome
    Arizona Cardinals won
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Kansas City Chiefs Higher

The Kansas City Chiefs have the stronger coaching operation under Andy Reid. The advantage shows up in preparation, adjustments and pressure situations. The Arizona Cardinals are closest in franchise direction, where the teams remain essentially even.

Kansas City also brings the stronger defense. Kansas City adds the more dependable offense. PFM still has the Kansas City Chiefs in front.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Arizona vs. Kansas City 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
KCKansas City Chiefs
Arizona Cardinals vs. Kansas City Chiefs Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Arizona Cardinals 78.2, Kansas City Chiefs 86.7, edge KC +8.5; Offense: Arizona Cardinals 74.2, Kansas City Chiefs 88.1, edge KC +13.9; Defense: Arizona Cardinals 72.1, Kansas City Chiefs 85.6, edge KC +13.5; Coaching Direction: Arizona Cardinals 71.4, Kansas City Chiefs 92.8, edge KC +21.4; Roster Depth: Arizona Cardinals 72.7, Kansas City Chiefs 83.7, edge KC +11.0. 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.
ARIZONA’S BEST PUSHBACK

Franchise Direction Is Arizona’s Only Close Fight

Arizona's long-term direction gives the team one place to push back. Arizona sits only 7.3 points behind Kansas City in Franchise Direction, but close is not the same as an edge. Kansas City still has Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and the deeper roster, two advantages the Cardinals cannot match in this comparison.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

ARI73.3
Arizona Cardinals 73.3
KC90.5
Kansas City Chiefs 90.5
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Overall NFL Rank

ARI#28
Arizona Cardinals #28
KC#1
Kansas City Chiefs #1
Kansas City Chiefs ranks higher

QB Stability

ARI78.2
Arizona Cardinals 78.2
KC86.7
Kansas City Chiefs 86.7
Clear Kansas City Chiefs edge

Roster Strength

ARI72.7
Arizona Cardinals 72.7
KC83.7
Kansas City Chiefs 83.7
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Coaching Direction

ARI71.4
Arizona Cardinals 71.4
KC92.8
Kansas City Chiefs 92.8
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Recent Performance

ARI71.0
Arizona Cardinals 71.0
KC84.8
Kansas City Chiefs 84.8
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Offense

ARI74.2
Arizona Cardinals 74.2
KC88.1
Kansas City Chiefs 88.1
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Defense

ARI72.1
Arizona Cardinals 72.1
KC85.6
Kansas City Chiefs 85.6
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Franchise Direction

ARI72.9
Arizona Cardinals 72.9
KC80.2
Kansas City Chiefs 80.2
Clear Kansas City Chiefs edge

Explosiveness

ARI64.4
Arizona Cardinals 64.4
KC83.9
Kansas City Chiefs 83.9
Major Kansas City Chiefs edge

Conference Rank

ARI#15
Arizona Cardinals #15
KC#1
Kansas City Chiefs #1
Kansas City Chiefs ranks higher

Division Rank

ARI#4
Arizona Cardinals #4
KC#1
Kansas City Chiefs #1
Kansas City Chiefs ranks higher

Outlook

ARIPlayoff Long ShotKCSuper Bowl Favorite
Stronger outlook: Kansas City Chiefs
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Arizona Cardinals

Remaining schedule rank: #11

Toughest stretch: Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders

Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams

Next five difficulty: 80.7

View Arizona Cardinals Road Ahead

Kansas City Chiefs

Remaining schedule rank: #7

Toughest stretch: Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals

Strongest opponents: San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams

Next five difficulty: 80.9

View Kansas City Chiefs Road Ahead

Kansas City has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 7. The strongest opponents include San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams. Arizona gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Kansas City still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated November 10, 2026. Schedule data updated November 12, 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.

Historical results: sources and coverage

Results shown: 1970–2022.

Historical scores: FiveThirtyEight (CC BY 4.0). Scores since 1999: nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Earlier meetings that have not been verified are excluded.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams