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Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals: PFM Team Comparison

The Indianapolis Colts hold a clear overall advantage over the Arizona Cardinals in the current PFM ratings. Indianapolis separates itself through the less severe defensive concern and the less limited big-play ability.

Current PFM Team Scores

Clear edgeIND

Indianapolis Colts

76.2PFM Team Score#23 NFL
ARI

Arizona Cardinals

73.3PFM Team Score#27 NFL
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Indianapolis Colts Higher

The Indianapolis Colts own the higher defensive grade, although the unit still falls short of the strength range. Arizona's strongest counterargument is QB Stability. 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.

Indianapolis also brings the less limited big-play ability. The Indianapolis Colts still deserves the higher PFM rating.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Indianapolis vs. Arizona 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.

INDIndianapolis Colts
ARIArizona Cardinals
Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Indianapolis Colts 77.0, Arizona Cardinals 78.4, edge ARI +1.4; Offense: Indianapolis Colts 78.4, Arizona Cardinals 75.8, edge IND +2.6; Defense: Indianapolis Colts 75.9, Arizona Cardinals 72.3, edge IND +3.6; Coaching Direction: Indianapolis Colts 73.4, Arizona Cardinals 71.9, edge IND +1.5; Roster Depth: Indianapolis Colts 74.7, Arizona Cardinals 73.0, 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 Quarterback is where the Arizona Cardinals have their cleanest advantage. With Jacoby Brissett, the offense has a better floor when the first answer stops working. The QB Stability advantage is a real point in Arizona's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Arizona is that Indianapolis counters with the less severe defensive concern and the less limited big-play ability.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

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

Overall NFL Rank

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

QB Stability

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

Roster Strength

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

Coaching Direction

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

Recent Performance

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

Offense

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

Defense

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

Franchise Direction

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

Explosiveness

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

Conference Rank

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

Division Rank

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

Outlook

INDIn the Playoff MixARINeeds More Help
Stronger outlook: Indianapolis Colts
TEAM CONSTRUCTION

How These Teams Are Built Differently

Indianapolis Colts

Strongest Rating
Offense
Category Edge
Explosiveness
Biggest Matchup Concern
QB Stability

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 the Arizona Cardinals ask fewer questions at quarterback because Jacoby Brissett sets the floor of the offense against the Indianapolis Colts. That stability matters when a game moves away from the opening script. The biggest problem in this matchup is Explosiveness, where Indianapolis owns the clearer advantage.

SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

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 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

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