TEMPE, Ariz. -- As if being a first-time head coach isn’t hard enough, new Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks will have to navigate through one of the harder schedules in the NFL in 2018.

The Cardinals’ upcoming slate is tied for eighth-hardest based on their opponents’ 2017 records, according to ESPN Stats & Information; Arizona's 2018 foes had a .520 winning percentage last season. If it makes the Cardinals feel any better, the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are tied for the fifth-hardest schedule next season. The Houston Texans have the easiest strength of schedule (.453 opponent winning percentage) and the Green Bay Packers have the hardest (.539).

The Cardinals host the Seahawks, Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins. They’ll visit the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons.

Last season, the Cardinals had the 10th-easiest schedule.