Historical Moments:
1988: After owner Bill Bidwell's demands for a new stadium preferably domed were ignored,
and years of dwindling attendance in the city of St. Louis, the Cards were on
the move again. After considering Baltimore, and Jacksonville Bill Bidwell, decided
the Cardinals future was best served in the Arizona desert, as he elected
to move the team to Phoenix. On March 15th NFL owners reluctantly, but overwhelmingly
approved the move. Bidwell, who had lost 100 lbs and plenty of money since
announcing his plans to relocate a year earlier, tearfully described his feelings
as "mixed up," as the Cardinals landed in their new nest Phoenix, Arizona.
After a 21-14 loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati on September 4th the Cardinals
prepared for the first home game in the desert. On September 12th a franchise
record crowd of 67,139 showed up to watch a Monday Night match up with the Dallas
Cowboys. The new fans would wind up going home disappointed as Dallas beat
Phoenix 17-14. The Cardinals first win in Phoenix would come 13 days later against
the Washington Redskins, as the Cardinals won 7 of 9 after a 0-2 start to
stand at 7-4 and in a first place tie. However, the Cards would go on one of their
traditional nosedives, and would lose heir final five games to finish at 7-9.
1989: After a 5-6 start the Cardinals are stunned as coach Gene Stallings departs to take
over at the head-coaching job at Alabama. The Cardinals would lose their final
five games under interim coach Hank Kuhlmann to finish at 5-11. The news for
the Cards would get worse when Quarterback Neil Lomax is forced to retire due
to degenerative hip condition.
1990: During an unspectacular 5-11 season with new Head Coach Joe Bugel the Cardinals play
the eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants tough in both games. In the
first meeting on October 21st the Cards hold a lead most the game until the Giants
hit a Field Goal with no time left to pull out a 20-19 victory in the Meadowlands.
In the December 23rd rematch at Sun Devil Stadium the Cards would only
lose by three points.
1991: After starting the season 3-2 to give faint hope to long suffering Cardinals fans,
the Cards land in their familiar last place territory by losing 10 of their final
11 games.
1992: Another awful 4-12 season is highlighted by a 24-14 upset of the San Francisco 49ers,
one of the elite teams in the NFL.
1993: After a 3-8 start the Cardinals win four of their final five games to wind up with
a respectable 7-9 record. However, it does not save Coach Joe Bugle's job as
he fired after the season.
1994: The Cardinals undergo another name change becoming the Arizona Cardinals to sell
themselves to the entire state instead of just the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Changes
were also made at the top as defensive mastermind Buddy Ryan assumed the
coaching reigns. Combined with a strong finish the previous year, and a big named
coach excitement filled the Valley of the sun as Cardinal fans anticipated
a bright future under "Buddy Ball". However in typical Cardinals fashion
the team gets off to a slow 3-6 start, but the Cards would then catch fire winning
five of their next six games to stand at 8-7 with an outside chance of the
playoffs heading into the final week of the season. However before even taking
the field for their last game the Cards were eliminated, and played a lackluster
game losing 10-6 to the Atlanta Flacons to finish up with an 8-8 record.
1995: The excitement is all but gone by the start of year two of "Buddy Ball", and fans
even began to call it "Cruddy Ball", as the Cards continued to flounder in the
NFC East cellar finishing with a woeful 4-12 record that would lead to the departure
of Buddy Ryan.
1996: Under new head coach Vince Tobin the Cardinals get off to their traditional bad start
and stand at 3-6 after nine games. The Cardinals would then go on a three
game winning streak thanks to three outstanding performances by Quarterback Boomer
Esaison, but the Cards would come crashing down to earth losing three of their
final games to finish at 7-9.
1997: While the Cards were on their way to another mediocre season in 1996, the Arizona
State Sun Devils were making a run for the National Championship. Led by Quarterback
Jake "The Snake" Plummer the Sun Devils easily ran through the PAC- 10 and
entered the Rose Bowl with a shot at the National Title. However, and last minute
drive by Ohio State ended ASU's Championship dreams. When the NFL draft rolled
around, it was only natural that the Cardinals select Plummer to be the QB
of the future. However, the Cardinals would struggle again with a woeful 4-12
season, while Plummer experienced growing pains in his first preseason at Sun
Devil Stadium. The lone highlight of the season comes during the home opener when
the Cardinals end a 13 game losing streak to the Dallas Cowboys with a 25-22
win OT.
1998: The Cardinals stumble out of the gate losing their first two games on the road. However,
they would bounce back to win their next two games, including a win in
their return trip to St. Louis to take on the Rams. Over the next two months the
Cards would alternate wins and losses along the way the pulling out games in
the 4th Quarter that they normally lost. With three weeks left the Cardinals stood
at 6-7, and were looking in the face at mediocrity once again. However,
this year would be different. Down 17-10 in the final minutes of a game at Philadelphia
against the Eagles the Cards score in the finals minutes to force OT,
where the Cardinals pull out the game on a last minute Field Goal to keep their
playoff hopes alive. One week later the Cardinals were trailing again in the
4th Quarter before Jake Plummer drove the Cardinals down the field for a game
winning FG beat the New Orleans Saints to improve the Cardinals to 8-7.
While the Cards were beating the Saints other teams in contention for a playoff
spot were falling opening the door for the Cards to make the playoffs with a win
in their final game. 71,670 Cardinals fans would show up for their December
27th game against the San Diego Chargers hungry for a playoff spot. The Cardinals
would make their fans sweat but Kicker Chris Jacke would knock home a 52-yard
Field Goal with no time remaining to clinch their first playoff spot in 16 years.
Going into their Wild Card Playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys nobody
gave them a shot, as the Cardinals were listed as a double-digit underdog. Considering
recent history it was hard to argue since the Cards had lost 16 of their
last 17 in against their division rivals. Meanwhile The Cards were fighting history,
the franchise had not won a single playoff game since the 1947 NFL Championship
cumulating in the longest drought in pro-sports history. However magic
was in the air that Saturday afternoon in Dallas, and the Cards jumped out to
a 10-0 halftime lead. The Cards would then pad the lead to 20-0 in the finals minutes
of the 4th quarter. The Cowboys would manage to score a Thouchdown late
in the 4th quarter, but the Cardinals held on for the stunning upset. The Cardinals
who had suffered for 51 years as the NFL's doormat finally had a playoff win.
However, the dream would only last one more week as the Cardinals fell to the
high-powered Vikings 41-21 in Minnesota. However the game was close than the
score shows, as the Cardinals were with in ten points midway through the 3rd Quarter.
1999: Coming of their great playoff run in 1998, the Cardinals were expected to do bigger
and better things in 1999, but instead returned to their losing ways getting
off to a 2-6 start. However the Cards would make another run winning four straight
games to get back into the playoff chase, but this year it was not meant
to be as Arizona lost their last four games to finish with a disappointing
6-10 record.
2000: The Cardinals return to dreadful ways of old going trough a horrific 3-13 season,
their worst since moving to Arizona. However, the Cardinals would emerge victorious
in their most important contest of the season winning a bond for the building
of a new stadium in Maricopa County. Had the voters rejected the bond issue
the Cardinals could have been forced to relocate again. The new stadium, which
will feature a retraceable roof as well as a retractable field, is scheduled
for competition in 2005.
2001: The Cardinals get off to a miserable 2-6 start, as their offense only manages to
score 20 points twice; in fact it was the two games they won. The highlight of
the season's first half was their stunning come behind win in Philadelphia against
the Eagles, which was capped by a Hail Mary pass from Jake Plummer to MarTay
Jenkins. However the second half would be a different story as the Cards played
well and their offense began to click. The Cards ran out three straight wins
highlighted by a stunning OT win in Oakland vs. the Raiders. The Cards would win
five of seven games and would enter their final game with a crack at the .500
mark, but a loss in Washington to the Redskins would end the Cards season at
7-9. Feeling patriotic Safety Pat Tillman would leave behind the Cardinals to sign
up with the US Army Special Forces, to help fight the war on terror, sadly
on April 22, 2004; Tillman would be killed in a fire fight near the Afghan-Pakistan
border.
2002: Under NFL realignment the Cardinals are finally moved to the NFC West, 15 years after
they moved to Arizona. At first the Cardinals took a liking to their new surroundings
as they stood in first place after a 4-2 start. However, reality would
slap the Cardinals again as they lost their next 6 games while winning just
one game the rest of the season to finish in last place again with a terrible
record of 5-11. Following the season the Cardinals would be hit hard by free agency
as several top players bolted the team including Quarterback Jake Plummer
and Wide Receiver David Boston.
2003: Though the team was not very good the Cardinals had some reason for excitement with
the signing of All-Time leading rusher Emmitt Smith. However, truthfully Smith
was well past his prime and he struggled all year rushing for just 256 yards
in an injury plagued year. The Cardinals again were bottom feeders losing five
of their first six games. After two straight wins improved them to 3-5 the Cardinals
struggled again losing their next 7 games as they entered the final game
of the season against the Minnesota Vikings with a 3-12 record. Trailing late
in the 4th Quarter 17-6 late in the 4th Quarter the Cards looked like they were
heading for another loss. However, Quarterback Josh McCown who established himself
as the QB of the future at the end of the season led an amazing comeback hitting
Nathan Poole on a 28-yard game winning Touchdown pass on the final play
of the game to give the Cards a 18-17 win on the final play of the game to knock
the Vikings out of the playoffs. Despite the win it was not enough to save Coach
Dave McGinnis's job as he was fired after a 4-12 season. However, one bright
spot would be Rookie Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin who captured the offensive rookie
of the year award with 1,377 receiving yards.
2004: Under mew Coach Dennis Green the Cardinals would stumble out of the gate losing their
first three games, including a Week 2 game against the New England Patriots
where the honored their fallen hero Pat Tillman who was killed while fighting
near the Afghan-Pakistan border with his Army Ranger unit. The Cards would finally
get their first win for Coach Green in Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints.
With a chance for two wins in a row the Cardinals saw a 16-point 4th Quarter
lead vanish in 31-28 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals
would bounce back and would show some promise winning three of their next four
games, but it would be short-lived, as Quarterback Josh McCown was benched as the
Cardinals went on a four game losing streak which included a second overtime
loss to the 49ers, becoming the only team the 2-14 team would beat during the
season. The Cardinals would go on to finish the season strong winning two of their
last three games to finish with a 6-10 record, as their were slight signs of
improvement all around, as Rookie Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald had eight touchdowns
with 780 yards receiving to give them a sold duo at wideout. Meanwhile
the Cardinals saw the end of a legend as Emmitt Smith rushed 937 yards with a
team high nine touchdowns before retiring.
2005: The Cardinals began the season hoping to take a step forward as they played their
final season in Sun Devil Stadium with former two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl
XXXIV MVP Kurt Warner as their new Quarterback. However, as their 42-19 opening
week loss to the New York Giants showed the Cardinals where still miles away
from having a contender. The Cardinals would lose their first three games as Warner
suffered a groin injury. In Week 4 the Cardinals made history as they played
a home game against the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City. With Josh McCown
playing for Warner the Cardinals overcame an early 14-0 deficit to win the game
31-14 as Neil Rackers made six Field Goals four of which were longer than 40
yards, as McCown passed for 385 yards. the following week McCown looked strong
again passing for 398 yards. However, three costly Interceptions would allow the
Carolina Panthers to have a come from behind 24-20 win. Following a bye week
the Cardinals would beat the Tennessee Titans. Following a loss to the Dallas Cowboys,
Kurt Warner would return and would play well passing over 300 yards four
of the next five games. However, the Cardinals would win just twice as their
running game was stuck in the mud all season, with no individual performance better
than 59 yards over the entire season as the Cardinals as a team rushed for
just a NFL worse 1138 yards, as the Cardinals suffered another awful 5-11 season.
Hoping to final turn things around the Cardinals made a big splash on the Free
Agency market signing Indianapolis Colts All-Pro Running Back Edgerrin James,
while drafting USC Quarterback and 2004 Heisman Trophy Winner Matt Leinart tenth
overall.
2006: After 18 years in Sun Devil Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals finally had a stadium
to call their own, as the University of Phoenix Stadium opened in Glendale, with
much fanfare, as it was the first stadium built in North America with both a
retractable roof and a retractable field. Playing to a sold out stadium the Cardinals
got off to a strong start beating the San Francisco 49ers 34-27 with Kurt
Warner passing for 301 yards with three touchdown passes. However, the Cardinals
offense sputtered in the next three games as Free Agent acquisition Edgerrin
James had trouble finding running room and ended the season with a disappointing
1,159 rushing yards and a mere six touchdowns. In Week 5 the Cardinals made
a change at Quarterback starting rookie Matt Leinart against the Kansas City Chiefs,
who would play well with 253 yards and 2 TD passes, as the Cards held a
20-10 lead in the 4th Quarter. However, the Chiefs would score 13 unanswered points
for a 23-20 win. A week later Leinart was even better in a Monday Night Start,
passing for 232 yards and tow touchdowns as the Cardinals jumped out to a
23-3 lead against the unbeaten Chicago Bears. However, the Bears would make a stunning
comeback returning fumbles by Edgerrin James and Matt Leinart for touchdowns,
before taking the lead for good on an 83-yard punt return by Devin Hester.
Following the stunning 24-23 loss, Coach Dennis Green exploded in a post game
tirade that would become a popular video on YouTube. Still reeling following
their Monday Night Collapse the Cardinals were hammered by the winless Oakland
Raiders 22-9. The Cardinals struggled would continue the next two games as they
entered Week 10 with a 1-8 record, before Leinart finally earned his first win
beating the Detroit Lions 17-10. A week later Matt Leinart would pass for 405
yards in a 31-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The following week with Edgerrin
James finally topping 100 yards in rushing the Cardinals would earn their first
road win stunning the St. Louis Rams 34-20. James would equal his 115 yard output
the following week as the Cards stunned the first place Seattle Seahawks
27-21. Following a road loss to the Denver Broncos, James would rush for 105 yards
leading the way as the Cardinals ended the 49ers playoff hopes in a 26-20 win.
The Cardinals would close the season with a loss to the San Diego Chargers
as they finished in last place with a record of 5-11. Following the season the
Cardinals would fire Coach Dennis Green, as the Cardinals were quite who their
fans, and ownership thought they were when the season began. To replace Green,
the Cardinals would hire Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.
2007: A new era began for the Cardinals as new Coach Ken Whisenhunt tried to bring the
Steelers formula to the desert. In the opener the Cardinals gave the San Francisco
49ers all they could handle on Monday Night, but were stunned in the final
minute as an Arnaz Battle touchdown gave the 49ers a 20-17 win with 22 seconds
left. A week later in their home opener it was the Cardinals getting a dramatic
win as Neil Rackers hit a 42-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat the
Seattle Seahawks 23-20. Trailing the Baltimore Ravens on the road 23-6 entering
the fourth quarter, Kurt Warner came off the bench to tie the game with two touchdown
passes to Anquan Boldin, but in the end the Ravens would rebound and win
the game as time expired on a field goal by Matt Stover. Warner would come off
the bench again a week later as the Cardinals stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers
21-14, delivering new Coach Ken Whisenhunt a satisfying win against his former
team. With Matt Leinart out for the season with a broken collar bone the Cardinals
gladly handed the reigns over to Kurt Warner who helped lead the way to a
34-31 win over the St. Louis Rams on the road that helped the Cardinals sit in
first place at 3-2. However, the Cardinals hit a bump in the road as they lost
their next three games. Needing to get back on track the Cards relied on their
defense in Week 10 as LB Kurt Dansby intercepted two passes and forced a fumble
as the Cardinals crushed the Detroit Lions 31-21. A week later it would be Antrel
Rolle who would be the difference make as he intercepted three passes, returning
two for touchdowns as the Cardinals stunned the Cincinnati Bengals on the
road 35-27. However, with a chance to get back in the playoff picture the Cardinals
suffered a monumental setback losing to the 49ers in heartbreaking fashion
again as Kurt Warner fumbled in the endzone in overtime in a 37-31 loss at home.
After a rebound win over the Cleveland Browns, the Cardinals again lost with
a chance to get back in the playoff picture as they were doubled up by the Seahawks
on the road 42-21. The Cardinals would end the season strong losing a shootout
with the New Orleans Saints, before closing the season with two straight
wins to post an 8-8 record, their best record in nine years.
2008: After a strong finish, the Cardinals entered the new season optimistic they could
make a serious run at the playoffs. After splitting their first four games, the
Cardinals handed the Buffalo Bills their first loss, in impressive fashion dominating
the game behind the passing of Kurt Warner who passed for 250 yards despite
missing Anquan Boldin who suffered a facial injury a week earlier in a loss
to the New York Jets. A week later against the Dallas Cowboys, the Cardinals
showed the can in fact be taken seriously, as they battled the Cowboys in an exhilarating
back and forth battle, that saw the Cardinals finally take control
in the 4th Quarter, taking a 24-14 lead with 3:17 left on a field goal by Neil
Rackers. However, the Cowboys would rally and send the game to overtime. In overtime
the Cardinals showed their ability to bounce back as they shutdown the Cowboys
first possession and then won the game on a blocked punt by Sean Morey, as
Monty Beisel scooped the ball up and into the endzone for a dramatic 30-24 win.
Coming off the bye week the Cardinals faced a tough challenge on the road against
the Carolina Panthers, jumping out to a 17-3 lead early in the 3rd Quarter.
However, the Panthers rallied to win the game 27-23. The loss was just a slight
bump in the road, as the Cardinals took firm control of the NFC West, by winning
their next three games against the divisional rivals. At 7-3 the Cardinals
were all but locks to win their first divisional title since 1975, as they hosted
the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. However, the Cardinals
would prove no match for the Giants, as they were playing behind all day losing
37-29 as Kurt Warner kept it some what respectable with 351 passing yards. Four
days later in a primetime game on Thanksgiving, the Cardinals were upended again
losing 48-20 in a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles. After a 34-10
win against the St. Louis Rams secured the division title, the Cardinals continued
to appear to be a paper champion as they were beaten by the Minnesota Vikings
35-14 at home. A week later they were flat out embarrassed in the snow by the
New England Patriots, losing 47-7, in game in which their defense allowed 514
yards total offense, while collecting 186 yards themselves, with most of the yards
gained by the Cardinals coming after the game was out of reach with Matt Leinart
leading the second team on the field. The Cardinals would end the season
on a strong note, by completing a sweep of all their divisional opponents with
a 34-21 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
2008: At 9-7 the Cardinals were in the playoffs, but with six of their nine wins coming
against the weak NFC West, nobody took them seriously, as they were a home underdog
against the Atlanta Falcons in the Wild Card round. In their first ever home
playoff game in Arizona, the Cardinals gave the fans plenty to cheer early
as they jumped out to a 14-3 lead, behind a 42-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner
to Larry Fitzgerald, and a 71-yard TD pass from Warner to Anquan Boldin. However,
the Falcons would battle back and take a 17-14 lead into the half. The
Cardinals would quickly take back control after halftime as Darnell Dockett interrupted
Falcons QB Matt Ryan as he was handing the ball off to Michael Turner
creating a fumble, which was scooped up by Antrel Rolle and returned 27 yards for
a touchdown that gave the Cards a 21-17 lead. The Cardinals would build on the
lead, as Tim Hightower crossed the endzone on a four yard run late in the 3rd
Quarter, while Antonio Smith increased the lead to 30-17 by tackling Matt Ryan
in the endzone early in the 4th Quarter. The Falcons would score to make it 30-24,
but would get no closer as the Cardinals won their first home playoff game
in 62 years. A week later on the road the Cardinals were not given a chance against
the Carolina Panthers, despite playing well in Carolina earlier in the season.
The Panthers would draw first blood taking a 7-0 lead just four minutes
into the game, but it would be one of the only the punches the Panthers would land,
as the Cardinals scored the next 33 points, powered by their defense which
forced six turnovers, as the Panthers scored a cosmetic touchdown late in the
fourth quarter, with the Cardinals advancing to the NFC Championship Game with
shocking 33-13 victory in Carolina. After the Philadelphia Eagles upset the New
York Giants in the Divisional Playoffs, the Cardinals got another playoff home
game, this time with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Once again, nobody
gave the Cardinals a chance, as the franchise known for losing was just 60 minutes
away from playing in the big game. Early on it was all Cardinals, as they jumped
out to a 24-6 halftime lead, as Kurt Warner connected with Larry Fitzgerald
for touchdown including a 62-yard bomb. However, the Eagle would claw their
way back taking a 25-24 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals would not
be denied, as they rebounded with a long drive that ended with Kurt Waner hitting
Tim Hightower on an eight yard touchdown pass that gave the Cardinals back
the lead at 30-25. A lead they would expand to a full seven points, as Warner
and Ben Patrick connected on a successful two point conversion. The Cardinals
would go on to win the game 32-25 earning an improbable trip to Super Bowl XLIII
in Tampa.
Super Bowl XLIII: The Cardinals were just the second team in Super Bowl history to reach the big game
despite a mediocre 9-7 record, not surprisingly the Cardinals were an underdog
facing the five time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals
kept things close early as they held the Steelers to just a field goal in the 1st
Quarter. After the Steelers got into the endzone, the Cardinals quickly answered
back as Kurt Warner connected with Ben Patrick, still trailing 10-7 the Cardinals
had a chance to take a lead just before halftime as they drove deep into
Steelers territory. However, Kurt Warner had a pass intercepted by James Harrison
at the goaline. Harrison would return the interception 100 yards for a touchdown
as the first half expired. The Steelers would expand the lead to 20-7 with
a Jeff Reed field goal in the 3rd Quarter. With time running out on the Cardinals
Cinderella run, the Cardinals got back into the game by turning to Larry
Fitzgerald, who caught a one yard touchdown pass from Warner with 7:33 left in
the game to get the Cardinals back within six points. The Cardinals defense then
would turn the pressure on the Steelers, as Justin Hartwig was called for holding
in the endzone, getting the Cardinals two points closer with a Safety with
just under three minutes left in the game. Down 20-16 with the ball the Cardinals
would not take long find some magic in the air, as Warner connected with Fitzgerald
on a 64-yard touchdown pass that suddenly had the Cardinals in front 23-20
with 2:37 left in the game. However, it was too much time to give the Steelers,
as QB Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers down the field, and connected with
Santonio Holmes, who somehow was able to keep both toes in bounds while catching
a six yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds left to put the Steelers back in
front 27-23. For the Cardinals it took the air out, as time would simply run
out, as the Steelers won their record sixth Lombardi Trophy. Regardless of winning
or losing the Cardinals were still greeted with a heroes welcome when they
returned to Arizona, as they finally won over many fans who had wanted to root
for the Cardinals, but were reluctant to do so with the team's struggles.
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