279 2017 ARIZONA CARDINALS MEDIA GUIDE RECORDS 25 POINTS 11/8/87 vs� Tampa Bay Final Score 31-28 Down 28-3 entering the 4th Quarter; cut lead to 28-10 early in the 4th Quarter QTR TEAM BOX SCORE TAM STL 1st ���������TAM ����������� Mark Carrier 5-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick) ���������������7 �������������� 0 2nd ��������TAM �����������Gerald Carter 3-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick) �������������14 �������������� 0 STL ������������Jim Gallery 31-yard field goal �������������������������������������������������������������������14 �������������� 3 3rd ���������TAM �����������Jeff Smith 34-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick) ���������������21 �������������� 3 TAM �����������Jeff Smith 3-yard rush (Donald Igwebuike kick) �������������������������������������������28 �������������� 3 4th ���������STL ������������Robert Awalt 4-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick) �������������������������28 �������������10 STL ������������Niko Noga 24-yard fumble return (Jim Gallery kick) ��������������������������������������28 �������������17 STL ������������J�T� Smith 11-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick) ���������������������������28 �������������24 STL ������������J�T� Smith 17-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick) ���������������������������28 �������������31 23 POINTS 11/6/88 vs� San Francisco Final Score 24-23 Down 23-0 in the 3rd Quarter; cut lead to 23-7 by the end of the 3rd Quarter and 23-10 early in the 4th Quarter QTR TEAM BOX SCORE SF PHO 1st ���������SF��������������Mike Cofer 42-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 �������������� 0 2nd ��������SF��������������Roger Craig 3-yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) ����������������������������������������������������10 �������������� 0 SF��������������Mike Cofer 27-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������������13 �������������� 0 SF��������������Mike Cofer 30-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������������16 �������������� 0 3rd ���������SF��������������Brent Jones 3-yard pass from Steve Young (Mike Cofer kick) ��������������������������23 �������������� 0 PHO �����������Roy Green 35-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick) ��������������������������23 �������������� 7 4th ���������PHO �����������Al Del Greco 24-yard field goal ������������������������������������������������������������������23 �������������10 PHO �����������Ernie Jones 5-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick)��������������������������23 �������������17 PHO �����������Roy Green 9-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick)����������������������������23 �������������24 21 POINTS 9/12/99 at Philadelphia Final Score 25-24 Down 21-0 after 1st Quarter; Philly took 24-6 lead into 3rd Quarter; cut lead to 24-12 in 3rd Quarter QTR TEAM BOX SCORE ARI PHI 1st ���������PHI������������Duce Staley 24-yard rush (Norm Johnson kick) ��������������������������������������������� 0 �������������� 7 PHI������������Duce Staley 3-yard pass from Doug Pederson (Norm Johnson kick) ������������������ 0 �������������14 PHI������������Luther Broughton 15-yard pass from Doug Pederson (Norm Johnson kick)��������� 0 �������������21 2nd ��������ARI������������Chris Jacke 31-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 �������������21 ARI������������Chris Jacke 25-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 �������������21 PHI������������Norm Johnson 25-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������� 6 �������������24 3rd ���������ARI������������Mario Bates 1-yard rush (pass failed) ���������������������������������������������������������12 �������������24 4th ���������ARI������������Chris Jacke 32-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������15 �������������24 ARI������������Rob Moore 20-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Chris Jacke kick) �����������������������22 �������������24 ARI������������Chris Jacke 31-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������25 �������������24 21 POINTS 12/4/49 at L�A� Rams Final Score 31-27 Down 24-3 in the 3rd Quarter; cut lead to 24-10 in 3rd Quarter and 24-17 early in the 4th Quarter QTR TEAM BOX SCORE CRD RAM 1st ���������RAM�����������Bob Shaw 71-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) ������������������� 0 �������������� 7 RAM����������� Bob Waterfield 43-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������� 0 �������������10 CRD �����������Pat Harder 13-yard field goal ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 �������������10 2nd ��������RAM�����������Bob Waterfield 1-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) ������������������������������������������ 3 �������������17 3rd ���������RAM�����������Vitamin Smith 51-yard punt return (Bob Waterfield kick) ������������������������������� 3 �������������24 CRD �����������Charlie Trippi 6-yard rush (Pat Harder kick) �������������������������������������������������10 �������������24 4th ���������CRD �����������Bill Blackburn 12-yard interception return (Pat Harder kick) ��������������������������17 �������������24 RAM�����������Bob Waterfield 16-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������17 �������������27 CRD �����������Babe Dimancheff 50-yard pass from Paul Christman (Pat Harder kick) ��������������24 �������������27 CRD �����������Billy Dewell 24-yard pass from Paul Christman (Pat Harder kick) ���������������������31 �������������27 BIGGEST COMEBACKS — FRANCHISE HISTORY
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2792 0 1 7 A R I Z O N A C A R D I N A L S M E D I A G U I D E
R E C O R D S
25 POINTS11/8/87 vs� Tampa BayFinal Score 31-28Down 28-3 entering the 4th Quarter; cut lead to 28-10 early in the 4th Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE TAM STL1st ���������TAM ����������� Mark Carrier 5-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick) ��������������� 7 �������������� 02nd ��������TAM �����������Gerald Carter 3-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick) �������������14 �������������� 0 STL ������������Jim Gallery 31-yard field goal �������������������������������������������������������������������14 �������������� 33rd ���������TAM �����������Jeff Smith 34-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick) ���������������21 �������������� 3 TAM �����������Jeff Smith 3-yard rush (Donald Igwebuike kick) �������������������������������������������28 �������������� 34th ���������STL ������������Robert Awalt 4-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick) �������������������������28 �������������10 STL ������������Niko Noga 24-yard fumble return (Jim Gallery kick) ��������������������������������������28 �������������17 STL ������������J�T� Smith 11-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick) ���������������������������28 �������������24 STL ������������J�T� Smith 17-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick) ���������������������������28 �������������31
23 POINTS11/6/88 vs� San FranciscoFinal Score 24-23Down 23-0 in the 3rd Quarter; cut lead to 23-7 by the end of the 3rd Quarter and 23-10 early in the 4th Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE SF PHO1st ���������SF��������������Mike Cofer 42-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 �������������� 02nd ��������SF��������������Roger Craig 3-yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) ����������������������������������������������������10 �������������� 0 SF��������������Mike Cofer 27-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������������13 �������������� 0 SF��������������Mike Cofer 30-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������������16 �������������� 03rd ���������SF��������������Brent Jones 3-yard pass from Steve Young (Mike Cofer kick) ��������������������������23 �������������� 0 PHO �����������Roy Green 35-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick) ��������������������������23 �������������� 74th ���������PHO �����������Al Del Greco 24-yard field goal ������������������������������������������������������������������23 �������������10 PHO �����������Ernie Jones 5-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick) ��������������������������23 �������������17 PHO �����������Roy Green 9-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick)����������������������������23 �������������24
21 POINTS9/12/99 at PhiladelphiaFinal Score 25-24Down 21-0 after 1st Quarter; Philly took 24-6 lead into 3rd Quarter; cut lead to 24-12 in 3rd Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE ARI PHI1st ���������PHI������������Duce Staley 24-yard rush (Norm Johnson kick) ��������������������������������������������� 0 �������������� 7 PHI������������Duce Staley 3-yard pass from Doug Pederson (Norm Johnson kick) ������������������ 0 �������������14 PHI������������Luther Broughton 15-yard pass from Doug Pederson (Norm Johnson kick) ��������� 0 �������������212nd ��������ARI ������������Chris Jacke 31-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 �������������21 ARI ������������Chris Jacke 25-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 �������������21 PHI������������Norm Johnson 25-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������� 6 �������������243rd ���������ARI ������������Mario Bates 1-yard rush (pass failed) ���������������������������������������������������������12 �������������244th ���������ARI ������������Chris Jacke 32-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������15 �������������24 ARI ������������Rob Moore 20-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Chris Jacke kick) �����������������������22 �������������24 ARI ������������Chris Jacke 31-yard field goal��������������������������������������������������������������������25 �������������24
21 POINTS12/4/49 at L�A� RamsFinal Score 31-27Down 24-3 in the 3rd Quarter; cut lead to 24-10 in 3rd Quarter and 24-17 early in the 4th Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE CRD RAM1st ���������RAM �����������Bob Shaw 71-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) ������������������� 0 �������������� 7 RAM �����������Bob Waterfield 43-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������� 0 �������������10 CRD �����������Pat Harder 13-yard field goal ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 �������������102nd ��������RAM �����������Bob Waterfield 1-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) ������������������������������������������ 3 �������������173rd ���������RAM �����������Vitamin Smith 51-yard punt return (Bob Waterfield kick) ������������������������������� 3 �������������24 CRD �����������Charlie Trippi 6-yard rush (Pat Harder kick) �������������������������������������������������10 �������������244th ���������CRD �����������Bill Blackburn 12-yard interception return (Pat Harder kick) ��������������������������17 �������������24 RAM �����������Bob Waterfield 16-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������17 �������������27 CRD �����������Babe Dimancheff 50-yard pass from Paul Christman (Pat Harder kick) ��������������24 �������������27 CRD �����������Billy Dewell 24-yard pass from Paul Christman (Pat Harder kick) ���������������������31 �������������27
BIGGEST COMEBACKS — FRANCHISE HISTORY
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18 POINTS10/4/92 vs� WashingtonFinal Score 27-24Down 24-6 in the 4th Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE WAS PHO1st ���������WAS �����������Ricky Sanders 19-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick) ����������������� 7 �������������� 0 WAS �����������Earnest Byner 9-yard rush (Chip Lohmiller kick) �������������������������������������������14 �������������� 02nd ��������WAS �����������Chip Lohmiller 33-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������17 �������������� 03rd ���������PHO ����������� Ivory Lee Brown 1-yard rush (kick failed) ����������������������������������������������������17 �������������� 6 WAS �����������Earnest Byner 3-yard rush (Chip Lohmiller kick) �������������������������������������������24 �������������� 64th ���������PHO �����������Robert Massey 31-yard interception return (Greg Davis kick) ��������������������������24 �������������13 PHO �����������Robert Massey 41-yard interception return (Greg Davis kick) ��������������������������24 �������������20 PHO �����������Larry Centers 9-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Greg Davis kick) ���������������������24 �������������27
17 POINTS12/11/83 at L�A� RaidersFinal Score 34-24Down 17-0 in the 2nd Quarter; Raiders had 24-7 lead in 2nd Quarter but Cardinals cut lead to 24-20 at halftime
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE STL RAI1st ���������RAI ������������Kenny King 34-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Chris Bahr kick) �������������������������� 0 �������������� 7 RAI ������������Chris Bahr 22-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 0 �������������10 RAI ������������Cliff Branch 5-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Chris Bahr kick) ��������������������������� 0 �������������172nd ��������STL ������������Ottis Anderson 1-yard rush (Neil O’Donoghue kick) ���������������������������������������� 7 �������������17 RAI ������������Marcus Allen 20-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Chris Bahr kick) ������������������������ 7 �������������24 STL ������������Doug Marsh 1-yard pass from Neil Lomax (kick failed) ����������������������������������13 �������������24 STL ������������Elois Grooms 40-yard fumble return (Neil O’Donoghue kick) ���������������������������20 �������������243rd ���������STL ������������Wayne Morris 3-yard rush (Neil O’Donoghue kick) �����������������������������������������27 �������������244th ���������STL ������������Pat Tilley 15-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Neil O’Donoghue kick) ���������������������34 �������������24
17 POINTS9/29/68 at New OrleansFinal Score 21-20Down 17-0 heading into the 4th Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE STL NOR1st ���������NOR �����������Charlie Durkee 21-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������� 0 �������������� 32nd ��������NOR �����������Danny Abramowicz 29-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)������������ 0 �������������103rd ���������NOR �����������Danny Abramowicz 10-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)������������ 0 �������������174th ���������STL ������������Chuck Latourette 86-yard punt return (Jim Bakken kick) �������������������������������� 7 �������������17 STL ������������Dave L� Williams 9-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Bakken kick) �������������14 �������������17 NOR �����������Charlie Durkee 36-yard field goal ���������������������������������������������������������������14 �������������20 STL ������������Willis Crenshaw 1-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) ���������������������������������������������21 �������������20
17 POINTS10/13/63 vs� PittsburghFinal Score 24-23Down 20-3 in the 3rd Quarter; cut lead to 23-10 by end of the 3rd Quarter and 23-17 early in the 4th quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE PIT STL1st ���������STL ������������Jim Bakken 44-yard field goal �������������������������������������������������������������������� 0 �������������� 3 PIT ������������Lou Michaels 45-yard field goal ������������������������������������������������������������������ 3 �������������� 32nd ��������PIT ������������Red Mack 83-yard pass from Ed Brown (Lou Michaels kick) ����������������������������10 �������������� 3 PIT ������������Lou Michaels 47-yard field goal �����������������������������������������������������������������13 �������������� 3 PIT ������������Ed Brown 1-yard rush (Lou Michaels kick) ���������������������������������������������������20 �������������� 33rd ���������STL ������������Jackie Smith 10-yard pass from John David Crow (Jim Bakken kick) ����������������20 �������������10 PIT ������������Lou Michaels 46-yard field goal �����������������������������������������������������������������23 �������������104th ���������STL ������������Jackie Smith 55-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Bakken kick) ����������������23 �������������17 STL ������������Bobby Joe Conrad 28-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Bakken kick) ���������23 �������������24
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17 POINTS10/1/61 at PhiladelphiaFinal Score 30-27Down 17-0 in the 2nd Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE STL PHI1st ���������PHI������������Billy Ray Barnes 3-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Bobby Walston kick) ��������� 0 �������������� 7 PHI������������Dick Lucas 3-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Bobby Walston kick) ����������������� 0 �������������142nd ��������PHI������������Bobby Walston 19-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������� 0 �������������17 STL ������������Prentice Gautt 12-yard pass from Sam Etcheverry (Gerry Perry kick) ����������������� 7 �������������17 STL ������������Sonny Randle 35-yard pass from Sam Etcheverry (Gerry Perry kick) �����������������14 �������������17 PHI������������Bobby Walston 16-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������������14 �������������203rd ���������PHI������������Billy Ray Barnes 2-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Bobby Walston kick) ��������14 �������������27 STL ������������Taz Anderson 1-yard rush (kick failed) ��������������������������������������������������������20 �������������274th ���������STL ������������Prentice Gautt 54-yard rush (Gerry Perry kick) ���������������������������������������������27 �������������27 STL ������������Gerry Perry 27-yard field goal ��������������������������������������������������������������������30 �������������27
16 POINTS11/20/77 vs� PhiladelphiaFinal Score 21-16Down 16-0 in the 3rd Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE PHI STL2nd ��������PHI������������Harold Carmichael 13-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (kick failed) ���������������������� 6 �������������� 0
PHI������������Ove Johansson 32-yard field goal ��������������������������������������������������������������� 9 �������������� 03rd ���������PHI������������Charlie A� Smith 15-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Ove Johansson kick) �����������16 �������������� 0
16 POINTS11/9/75 at PhiladelphiaFinals Score 24-23Down 23-7 in the 3rd Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE STL PHI1st ���������PHI������������Charle Young 13-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Horst Muhlmann kick) ������������� 0 �������������� 7
PHI������������Horst Muhlmann 37-yard field goal ������������������������������������������������������������� 0 �������������10STL ������������Jim Otis 3-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick) ����������������������������������� 7 �������������10
2nd ��������PHI������������Po James 47-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Horst Muhlmann kick) ������������������ 7 �������������17PHI������������Horst Muhlmann 27-yard field goal ������������������������������������������������������������� 7 �������������20
15 POINTS9/7/97 vs� DallasFinal Score 25-22 (OT)Down 22-7 in the 3rd Quarter
QTR TEAM BOX SCORE DAL ARI1st ���������DAL �����������Richie Cunningham 24-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������� 3 �������������� 0
DAL �����������Richie Cunningham 37-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������� 9 �������������� 7DAL �����������Chad Hennings 4-yard fumble return (Richie Cunningham kick) ����������������������16 �������������� 7DAL �����������Richie Cunningham 34-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������19 �������������� 7
3rd ���������DAL �����������Richie Cunningham 28-yard field goal���������������������������������������������������������22 �������������� 7ARI ������������ Frank Sanders 7-yard pass from Kent Graham (Kevin Butler kick) ��������������������22 �������������14
4th ���������ARI ������������Pat Carter 1-yard pass from Kent Graham (Rob Moore pass from Kent Graham)��22 �������������22OT ����������ARI ������������Kevin Butler 20-yard field goal ������������������������������������������������������������������22 �������������25
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Dec� 18, 2016 Cardinals 5 at N�Y� Jets 7, Sept� 28, 2008 Cardinals 9 at N�Y� Bulldogs 3,
Nov� 13, 1949
MOST TDS RUSHINGSeason 25 �����������������������������������������������1948 24 �����������������������������������������������1979 22 �����������������������������������������������1968 21 ��������������������������������������1984, 1949Game 6 ������ Vs� Chicago Bears, Nov� 28, 1929
MOST TDS PASSINGSeason 35 ���������������������������������������������� 201532 ���������������������������������������������� 2007 31 ���������������������������������������������� 2008 30 ���������������������������������������������� 1963 29 ���������������������������������������������� 1983 28 ������������������������������������� 2016, 198427 ���������������������������������������������� 2009 26 ���������������������������������������������� 1988 25 ���������������������������������������������� 1987Game 6 �����At N�Y� Bulldogs, Nov� 13, 1949 Vs� Baltimore, Oct� 2, 1950 At Cleveland, Sept� 26, 1965 Vs� New Orleans, Nov� 2, 1969 5 ����� Four times, most recently at
Chicago, Nov� 8, 2009
Both Teams/Game *12 ���� Cardinals 6 vs� New Orleans 6,
Nov� 2, 1969 10 ����� Cardinals 4 at Chicago Bears 6,
Dec� 5, 1937 9 ����� Three times, most recently
Cardinals 4 at Washington 5, Nov� 9, 1958
*NFL record
MOST TDS BY INTERCEPTIONSeason 6 ������������������������������������������������� 2007 5 �����������������������������������������1961, 1964 4 ��������������������������������2015, 2013, 1995Game 2 �� Many times, most recently vs� San
Francisco, Sept� 27, 2015
MOST TDS BY KO RETURNSeason 3 ������������������������������������������������� 1954 2 �����������������������2010, 1958, 1952, 1934Game 1 ����� Many times, most recently at
Chicago, Sept� 20, 2015
MOST TDS BY PUNT RETURNSeason 5 ������������������������������������������������� 1959 4 �����������������������������������������2011, 1948Game 2 ���� Vs� N�Y� Giants, Nov� 22, 1959 Vs� Pittsburgh, Nov� 1, 1959 Vs� Tampa Bay, Dec� 21, 1986
HOME ATTENDANCESeason 518,652 ����������������������������������������2016 516,646 ����������������������������������������2007513,487 ����������������������������������������2015 512,775 ����������������������������������������2008 508,829 �������������������������������������� +2006 505,143 ����������������������������������������2009 500,097 ����������������������������������������2010 497,330 ����������������������������������������1994 495,835 ����������������������������������������2014 489,455 ����������������������������������������2011488,271 ����������������������������������������2013 487,125 ����������������������������������������2012 472,937 �������������������������������������� #1988#Inaugural season in Arizona+ First season at University of Phoenix Stadium
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Date Game Opponent ResultDec� 28, 1947 NFL Championship vs� Philadelphia W, 28-21Dec� 19, 1948 NFL Championship at Philadelphia L, 0-7Dec� 21, 1974 NFL Divisional Game at Minnesota L, 14-30Dec� 27, 1975 NFL Divisional Game at L�A� Rams L, 23-35Jan� 8, 1983 1st Round Super Bowl Tournament* at Green Bay L, 16-41Jan� 2, 1999 NFC Wild Card at Dallas W, 20-7Jan� 10, 1999 NFC Divisional Game at Minnesota L, 21-41Jan� 3, 2009 NFC Wild Card vs� Atlanta W, 30-24Jan� 10, 2009 NFC Divisional Game at Carolina W, 33-13Jan� 18, 2009 NFC Championship vs� Philadelphia W, 32-25Feb� 1, 2009 Super Bowl XLIII vs� Pittsburgh L, 23-27Jan� 10, 2010 NFC Wild Card vs� Green Bay W, 51-45 (OT)Jan� 16, 2010 NFC Divisional Game at New Orleans L, 14-45Jan� 3, 2015 NFC Wild Card at Carolina L, 16-27Jan� 16, 2016 NFC Divisional Game vs� Green Bay W, 26-20 (OT)Jan� 24, 2016 NFC Championship at Carolina L, 15-49* As a result of the 1982 Players Strike that reduced the regular season to nine games, the NFL conducted a 16-team Super Bowl
Tournament with the top eight teams from each conference
SCORINGTotal Points 18 ���� Larry Fitzgerald vs� Philadelphia,
Jan� 18, 2009 Mario Bates at Minnesota,
Jan� 10, 1999 15 ���� Neil Rackers at Carolina,
Jan� 10, 2009 Touchdowns 3 ���� Larry Fitzgerald vs� Philadelphia,
Jan� 18, 2009 Mario Bates at Minnesota,
Jan� 10, 1999 2 ���� Michael Floyd vs� Green Bay, ���� Jan� 16, 2016 ���� Early Doucet vs� Green Bay, ���� Jan� 10, 2010 Larry Fitzgerald vs� Green Bay,
Dec� 28, 1947Field Goals Made 4 ���� Neil Rackers at Carolina, Jan� 10, 2009 Longest Field Goal 49 ���� Neil Rackers vs� Philadelphia,
Jan� 18, 2009 Neil Rackers at Carolina, Jan� 10, 2009 46 ���� Chris Jacke at Dallas, Jan� 2, 1999 33 ���� Neil Rackers at Carolina, Jan� 10, 2009Field Goals Attempted 5 ���� Neil Rackers at Carolina, Jan� 10, 2009 4 ���� Neil O’Donoghue at Green Bay,
Jan� 8, 1983Extra Points Att./Made 6/6 ��� Neil Rackers vs� Green Bay,
PASSINGPassing Yards 385 �� Neil Lomax at Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983
(32 comp�, 51 att�)379 �� Kurt Warner vs� Green Bay, Jan� 10, 2010
(29 comp�, 33 att�) 377 �� Kurt Warner vs� Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009
(SB XLIII) (31 comp�, 43 att�) 349 � Carson Palmer vs� Green Bay, Jan� 16, 2016 �� (25 comp, 41 att) 291 � Jim Hart at L�A� Rams, Dec� 27, 1975
(22 comp�, 41 att�)Pass Attempts 51 �� Neil Lomax at Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983
(32 comp�, 385 yards) 43 �� Kurt Warner vs� Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009
(SB XLIII) (31 comp�, 377 yards) 41 �� Carson Palmer vs� Green Bay, Jan� 16, 2016 ����(25 comp, 349 yards) �� Jake Plummer at Minnesota, �� Jan� 10, 1999 (23 comp�, 242 yards) Jim Hart at L�A� Rams, Dec� 27, 1975
(22 comp�, 291 yards)
Pass Completions 32 �� Neil Lomax at Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983
(51 att�, 385 yards) 31 �� Kurt Warner vs� Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009
(SB XLIII) (43 att�, 377 yards) 29 �� Kurt Warner vs� Green Bay, Jan� 10, 2010 (33 att�, 379 yards) 25 �� Carson Palmer vs� Green Bay, Jan 16, 2016 �� (41 att�, 349 yards)Touchdown Passes 5 �� Kurt Warner vs� Green Bay, Jan� 10, 2010 4 �� Kurt Warner vs� Philadelphia, Jan� 18, 2009 3 �� Carson Palmer vs� Green Bay, Jan 16, 2016 �� Kurt Warner vs� Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009 (SB XLIII)Passes Had Intercepted 4 �� Carson Palmer at Carolina, Jan� 24, 2016 3 �� Jim Hart at L�A� Rams, Dec� 27, 1975Completion Percentage 87�9 Kurt Warner vs� Green Bay, Jan� 10, 2010 (29 comp�, 33 att�, 379 yards)75�0 Kurt Warner vs� Philadelphia, Jan� 18, 2009 (21 comp�, 28 att�, 279 yards)72�1 Kurt Warner vs� Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009 (31 comp�, 43 att�, 377 yards) (SB XLIII)Longest Completion 75 �� Carson Palmer to Larry Fitzgerald vs� �� Green Bay, Jan�16, 2016 71t �� Kurt Warner to Anquan Boldin vs�
Atlanta, Jan� 3, 2009 64t �� Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald vs�
Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009 (SB XLIII) 62t �� Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald vs�
Philadelphia, Jan� 18, 2009 59 �� Jake Plummer to Frank Sanders at
Dallas, Jan� 2, 1999 Most Times Sacked 5 �� Neil Lomax for 38 yards at Green Bay,
Jan� 8, 1983
RECEIVINGReceptions 9 �� David Johnson at Carolina, �� Jan� 24, 2016 (68 yards) �� Larry Fitzgerald vs� Philadelphia,
Jan� 18, 2009 (152 yards) 8 �� Larry Fitzgerald vs� Green Bay, �� Jan 16, 2016 (176 yards) �� Early Doucet at New Orleans, �� Jan� 16, 2010 (68 yards) Anquan Boldin vs� Pittsburgh,
Feb� 1, 2009 (84 yards) (SB XLIII) Larry Fitzergerald at Carolina,
Jan� 10, 2009 (166 yards)
INDIVIDUAL POSTSEASON RECORDS
CARDINALS IN THE PLAYOFFS
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R E C O R D S 7 �� Steve Breaton vs� Green Bay,
Jan� 10, 2010 (125 yards) Larry Fitzgerald vs� Pittsburgh,
Feb� 1, 2009 (127 yards) (SB XLIII) Roy Green at Green Bay,
Jan� 8, 1983 (113 yards)Receiving Yards176 � Larry Fitzgerald vs� Green Bay, �� Jan� 16, 2016 (8 rec�)166 � Larry Fitzgerald at Carolina,
PASSING Most Net Yards Passing375 ����Vs� Green Bay, Jan� 10, 2010 (OT)374 ����Vs� Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009 (SB XLIII)347 ����At Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983328 ����At Green Bay, Jan� 16, 2016271 ����Vs� Atlanta, Jan� 3, 2009268 ����At L�A� Rams, Dec� 27, 1975Both Teams/Game779 ����Vs� Green Bay 404, Cardinals 375,
Jan� 10, 2010 (OT)624 ����Vs� Philadelphia 357, Cardinals 267,
Jan� 18, 2009Opponent/ Fewest Yards Passing 7�����At Philadelphia, Dec� 19, 1948 Most Gross Yards Passing385 ����At Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983379 ����Vs� Green Bay, Jan� 10, 2010 (OT)377 ����Vs� Pittsburgh, Feb� 1, 2009 (SB XLIII)335 ����Vs� Green Bay, Jan� 16, 2016 291 ����At L�A� Rams, Dec� 27, 1975Both Teams/Game802 ���� Vs� Green Bay 423, Cardinals 379,
(SB XLIII) At Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983 (51 att�) 29 ���� Vs� Green Bay, Jan� 10, 2010 (33 att�), OT 25 ���� Vs� Green Bay, Jan� 16, 2016 (41 att�) 24 ���� At New Orleans, Jan� 16, 2010 (38 att�)
Both Teams/Game 57����� Vs� Green Bay 28, Cardinals 29,
Jan� 10, 2010 (OT) 51����� At Green Bay 19, Cardinals 32,
KICKOFF RETURNSMost Kickoff Returns 7 ���� At L�A� Rams, Dec� 27, 1975 At Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983Most Kickoff Return Yards191 ��� At L�A� Rams, Dec� 27, 1975 (7 ret�)178 ��� At Green Bay, Jan� 8, 1983 (7 ret�)139 ��� At New Orleans, Jan� 16, 2010 (5 ret�)
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R E C O R D S
Arizona’s finest defensive performance of the season rewarded the Cardinals with their first postseason victory in 51 years (28-21 vs� Philadelphia in 1947 NFL Championship game) in their first postseason appearance in 23 years (1975) that came in a non-strike season� The Cardinals defeat the Dallas Cowboys 20-7 at Dallas Stadium, ending not only their playoff drought but their nine-game losing streak on the Cowboys home turf� It was just the second victory over Dallas in the last 17 meetings between the two teams� It was the first home-field loss for the Cowboys since 1983�
The Cardinals defense produced three interceptions, 15 passes defensed (six by rookie cornerback Corey Chavous), four sacks, four tackles for a loss, and allowed QB Troy Aikman to complete just 22-of-49 passes for 191 yards� Arizona’s defense held the Cowboys offense to just 260 total yards on the day� Outside linebacker Jamir Miller led the defense with 15 total tackles and two sacks while defensive end Andre Wadsworth also collected a pair of sacks� Pro Bowl cornerback Aeneas Williams grabbed two INTs and safety Tommy Bennett recorded one�
It was the defense that turned the tide of the game early� After Arizona jumped up to a 7-0 lead, the Cowboys were poised to tie the game, facing a fourth-and-one situation at Arizona’s seven-yard line midway through the second quarter� Cardinals LB Mark Maddox dropped Dallas RB Emmitt Smith for a one-yard loss on the play and Arizona added a 37-yard Chris Jacke FG later in the quarter to give the Cards a 10-0 lead heading into halftime�
RB Adrian Murrell raced 74 yards to the Cowboys three-yard line on the sec-ond play of the third quarter, followed by a 3-yard TD pass from Jake Plummer to Larry Centers that gave the Cardinals a 17-0 lead that was never threatened� Another Jacke field goal from 46 yards out capped the scoring for the Cardinals in the fourth quarter� The Arizona defense’s shutout bid ended with 3:33 remaining on a six-yard TD pass from Aikman to WR Billy Davis�
Arizona’s playoff run ended in Minnesota with a 41-21 loss to the high-scoring Vikings who turned three Cardinals turnovers into 17 points�
After the Vikings drove 80 yards in 13 plays in their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead on RB LeRoy Hoard’s first rushing TD, interceptions of QB Jake Plummer on the first two possessions of the second quarter quickly turned into 10 points for a 17-0 Vikings advantage by the time the Cardinals had run five offensive plays� Minnesota, fielding the highest scoring offense in NFL history up to that point, registered 416 total net yards (228 passing, 188 rushing), cracking the 400-yard plateau for the ninth time and the 40-point mark for the fifth time� The Vikings also converted eight-of-11 third-down plays�
RBs Hoard and Robert Smith caused the most damage, with the former tally-ing three TD while the latter accounted for 124 rushing yards� Record setting rookie WR Randy Moss posted the other Minnesota TD� Vikings safety Robert Griffith recorded both INTs for the Vikings� Cardinals Pro Bowl cornerback Aeneas Williams gave the Cardinals, trailing 7-0, early life with an end zone INT and 47-yard return on the first play of the second quarter to thwart a Minnesota drive that reached Arizona’s seven-yard line�
Short yardage back Mario Bates scored all three Arizona TDs on one-yard runs to set the team postseason single-game rushing TDs record� Arizona held Minnesota sackless for the second consecutive postseason game and for the third time in four weeks� The Cards were flagged for a season-high 13 penal-ties� RB Adrian Murrell contributed 15 rushes for 62 yards and three receptions for 52 yards� The Cardinals finished the season with 10 wins for the first time since 1976 (10-4)�
Vikings 4 4:33 Hoard 6-yard run (Anderson kick) 21-41
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Playing their first postseason contest in a decade and first home playoff game since 1947, the Cardinals took on 11-5 Atlanta� The high-powered Falcons entered the game with the league’s #2 rusher (RB Michael Turner) and the Offensive Rookie of the Year (QB Matt Ryan)� But the Cards defense was sensational, bottling up Turner (42 rushing yards and 2�3 yards/carry were both season lows), harassing Ryan (2 INTs, 1 fumble and 3 sacks), and scoring points on its own with a TD and safety� The offense was also strong as Edgerrin James led a revitalized ground game while Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald made big plays in the passing game� It all added up to a 6-point Arizona win before a raucous sellout crowd�
On the Cards first scoring drive, it was 3 James runs that perfectly set-up a flea-flicker� James took the hand-off, then flipped it back to Warner who fired 42 yards downfield to Fitzgerald who leapt between two defenders to come down with the ball in the end zone� Early in the 2nd, Atlanta got on the board with a 30-yard Jason Elam FG but the Cards answered quickly� On 3rd-n-9, Warner tossed a short pass to Anquan Boldin who turned upfield and raced 71 yards down the left sideline for the TD� The Falcons would come back� Turner’s 7-yard TD run with 2:55 left in the 1st half capped a 14-play, 77-yard drive� On the 3rd play of the next drive, Warner’s pass went off the hands of Jerheme Urban and was INT’d by Chevis Jackson at the AZ23, setting up a Ryan TD pass to TE Justin Peelle that made it 17-14 Atlanta at the half�
On the 2nd snap after intermission, DT Darnell Dockett made the game’s pivotal play when he blew up a hand-off between Ryan and Turner� FS Antrel Rolle picked the ball out of the air and returned it 27 yards for the go-ahead TD� After the next two Atlanta drives went 3-n-out, the Cards took over at their own 24 with 10:31 to go in the 3rd� Through a mix of run & pass, including a 6-yard Warner scramble on 3rd-n-5, the Cards chewed 7:43 off the clock on a long drive that ended with Tim Hightower’s 4-yard TD run� Rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie ended the next series with a pick off Ryan� That drive ended with a Ben Graham punt that was downed at the ATL3 and on the next play, Antonio Smith sacked Ryan in the end zone for a safety� The Falcons scored on a 5-yard Roddy White TD pass from Ryan with 4:19 to go to trim it to 6 and AZ then took over at its own 20 with 4:19 to go� Two first downs forced Atlanta to burn all 3 timeouts� Then facing a 3rd-n-16 at the ATL46 with 2:17 left, Warner hit TE Stephen Spach with a 23-yard pass that effectively ended the game�
In a Divisional Playoff match-up at Carolina, all the numbers were stacked against the Cards� They were 0-5 on the east coast in ’08 and were facing the only NFL team that went 8-0 at home� Even before it was known that Pro Bowl WR Anquan Boldin would miss the game with a hamstring injury, few if any gave the Cards a chance against #2 seed Carolina� But when Saturday evening came and the game was played, it was all Arizona� The Panthers produced TDs on their first drive of the game and their last but in between the Cards scored 33 unanswered points� The defense forced 6 Jake Delhomme turnovers (5 INTs and a fumble) and the Cards got 23 of their 33 points off them� WR Larry Fitzgerald was again spectacular, finishing with a team playoff record 166 yards on 8 catches with a TD while the Cards held his Panther all-pro counterpart Steve Smith without a catch until the final minute of the third�
The Panthers took the opening kickoff to midfield and a 31-yard DeAngelo Williams run took it to the 9 before Jonathan Stewart punched it in� Later in the quarter, Fitzgerald’s catch-n-run gained 41 on 3rd-n-2 and that led to a 3-yard Tim Hightower TD catch from Kurt Warner that tied it at 7� On the next play from scrimmage, DE Antonio Smith stripped Delhomme on a sack and recovered the fumble himself at the CAR13� That led to a 4-yard Edgerrin James run and a 14-7 score� The Panthers moved to the AZ15 on the next drive thanks to a 45-yard pass interference call but CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie picked off Delhomme at the goal line� Neil Rackers then extended the lead to 20-7 with FGs on the next two AZ drives� A Gerald Hayes INT halted Carolina’s following drive on the first play� It was followed by Fitzgerald’s 29-yard catch and pylon dive that made it 27-7 at intermission�
The only points of the 3rd quarter came when Antrel Rolle gathered in a Delhomme pass tipped by Rodgers-Cromartie and WR Steve Smith and returned the INT to the CAR26�That set up Rackers’ 33-yard FG that made it 30-7� Arizona then ended the first two Panther drives of the 4th quarter with INT’s by Ralph Brown and Rod Hood, respectively� Rackers fourth FG of the game made it 33-7 with 3:10 to go and only an 8-yard TD catch by Smith in the final minute made it 33-13�
CARDS 4 12:37 Ryan sacked in EZ by A. Smith -- 17-30
Falcons 4 4:15 White 5-yard pass from Ryan (Elam kick) 9-58, 3:36 24-30
Team Qtr. Time Scoring Play Drive Score
Panthers 1 11:56 Stewart 9-yard run (Kasay kick) 5-50, 3:04 0-7
CARDS 1 2:43 Hightower 3-yard pass from Warner (Rackers kick) 6-60, 3:39 7-7
CARDS 1 1:47 James 4-yard run (Rackers kick) 2-13, 0:50 14-7
CARDS 2 10:16 Rackers 49-yard FG 9-49, 4:32 17-7
CARDS 2 5:28 Rackers 30-yard FG 8-49, 3:39 20-7
CARDS 2 3:32 Fitzgerald 29-yard pass from Warner (Rackers kick) 3-44, 1:39 27-7
CARDS 3 4:40 Rackers 32-yard FG 6-11, 3:12 30-7
CARDS 4 3:10 Rackers 20-yard FG 13-48, 7:37 33-7
Panthers 4 0:50 Smith 8-yard pass from Delhomme (pass failed) 10-79, 2:20 33-13
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R E C O R D S
In a match-up no one foresaw, the Cardinals hosted the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game with the chance to advance to Super Bowl XLIII� Before an electric sell-out crowd, the Cards jumped out to a 24-6 halftime lead thanks to three Kurt Warner TD passes to Larry Fitzgerald against an Eagles defense that had not allowed a passing TD in 5 games� Philly then scored 19 unanswered points in the late 3rd and early 4th to take a 25-24 lead� The Cards, however, responded with a drive no one will soon forget� It was a 14-play, 72-yard masterpiece that chewed 7:52 off the clock and ended with Warner’s game-winning TD pass to RB Tim Hightower� The TD stamped the Cardinals ticket to the Super Bowl that was made possible by another stellar outing from Fitzgerald� The all-pro WR topped 100 yards for the 5th straight game and tied the NFL record with 3 straight in the postseason with a 9-catch, 152-yard, 3-TD performance�
On the game’s opening drive, the Cards moved 80 yards in 9 plays and opened the scoring with a 9-yard Warner-Fitzgerald TD connection� Philly came right back with a 45-yard David Akers FG but he missed a 47-yarder on the following drive� That gave Arizona the ball at its own 38 and on the first play the lead grew to 14-3� Warner handed off to J�J� Arrington who ran right, threw it back to Warner who then tossed it deep to Fitzgerald who hauled it in for a 62-yard TD� After another Akers FG, Warner then capped a 73-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to Fitzgerald that made it 21-6 with 3:06 in the 2nd� AZ successful executed a surprise pooch kick and recovery but the officials inadvertently misruled the ball dead� After a Philly punt, the Cards got the ball back at their own 16 with 1:31 to go and moved into position for a 49-yard Neil Rackers FG�
The Eagles cut the lead to 24-19 in the 3rd when consecutive drives ended with Donovan McNabb TD passes to TE Brent Celek (6 and 31 yards)� With 10:45 to go, McNabb’s deep pass deflected off the hands of CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and into the hands of WR DeSean Jackson for a 62-yard TD that put Philly up 1 when the 2-point try failed� After the score, the Cards took over at their own 28 with 10:39 to go� Six plays into the drive they faced a pivotal 4th-n-inches decision near midfield� Hightower ran right for 6 yards to pick it up and later put it across the goal-line 8 plays later on a TD catch-n-run on 3rd-n-goal from the 8� Warner on the drive was 5-5 for 56 yards including the game-winning TD pass� He then tossed a 2-point conversion to Ben Patrick to make it 32-25� Philly’s ensuing drive reached the AZ47 but on 4th-n-10 from there McNabb’s pass fell incomplete and the game was over� 1 2 3 4 OT FEAGLES 3 3 13 6 — 25CARDINALS 7 17 0 8 — 32
Making their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, the Cardinals battled back from a 20-7 4th quarter deficit against the Steelers and took a 23-20 lead with 2:37 remaining� However, Pittsburgh responded with a game-winning drive and earned their 6th title thanks to a TD with 0:35 on the clock� After catching just one pass thru 3 quarters, WR Larry Fitzgerald finished with 7 grabs for 127 yards and 2 TDs� It allowed him to shatter the NFL postseason records and establish new marks with 30 catches, 456 yards, and 7 receiving TDs�
After Arizona won the opening toss and chose to defer, Pittsburgh marched downfield and Ben Roethlisberger appeared to score a 1-yard TD on a 3rd down scramble� However, when the Cards successfully challenged the spot, the Steelers came away with just a FG� After a holding penalty killed the ensuing AZ drive, the Steelers went 79 yards in 11 plays and took a 10-0 lead on a 1-yard Gary Russell run� On the next series a 45-yard catch-and-run by WR Anquan Boldin took it to the 1 and Warner hit TE Ben Patrick with a TD pass from there� The teams then traded punts but just before the 2:00 warning, Roethlisberger’s pass was tipped at the line by DT Bryan Robinson and INT’d at the Steeler 34 by LB Karlos Dansby� With 0:18 left the Cards had advanced to the 1 and used their final timeout� What followed was the game’s pivotal play� Warner’s quick slant to Boldin was picked at the goal-line by LB James Harrison, who rumbled 100 yards down the right sideline as the half expired� After replay confirmation, the dramatic turn of events had put Pittsburgh up 17-7�
Arizona’s opening drive of the 2nd half appeared to end on a Warner fumble but another AZ challenge again reversed the initial call and the drive instead ended on a punt� Pittsburgh then consumed most of the 3rd quarter with a long drive that was aided by several flags from referee Terry McAulay’s crew� The 16-play drive ultimately ended in a FG that made it 20-7� With 11:30 to go, the Cards took over at their own 13 and went to the no huddle� The drive consisted entirely of 8 Warner completions for 87 yards and ended on a 1-yard Fitzgerald TD grab� After again trading punts, the Steelers took over at their own 1 and on the 2nd play, a holding call in the end zone resulted in a safety that trimmed the Pittsburgh lead to 20-16� Following the free kick, the Cards took over at their own 36 with 2:53 to go� After an incompletion, Warner hit Fitzgerald at midfield and the WR raced down the middle of the field with the go-ahead TD that covered 64 yards in all� The lead would be short-lived� Pittsburgh took over at its own 22 with 2:30 left and a holding penalty on 1st down backed them up to the 12� Two first downs moved them near midfield and a 40-yard completion to game MVP Santonio Holmes took it to the 6� Two plays later, Holmes came down among 3 defenders and tip-toed the sideline with the winning TD on a play that was upheld by replay� A last-chance Cardinal drive reached the Steeler 44 with 0:15 left but then Warner was ruled to have fumbled before passing and the Steelers recovered� The game ended without McAulay looking at the play� 1 2 3 4 OT FSTEELERS 3 14 3 7 — 27CARDINALS 0 7 0 16 — 23
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It was the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history and certainly among the greatest ever� The Cards and Packers combined for 96 points, 13 touchdowns and over 1,000 total yards� While the offenses were explosive, it was the AZ defense that came up with the game-winning score on the first series of OT when CB Michael Adams sacked Aaron Rodgers; LB Karlos Dansby snatched the ball midair and returned it for a TD� It was one of three huge defensive plays by Dansby� Against the NFL’s #2 defense, The Cards jumped out to a 17-0 early lead and led 31-17 early in the 3rd quarter� Green Bay then stormed back behind an inspired effort from Rodgers, tying the game at 38 and again at 45� But while the Packer QB was incredibly good, Arizona’s Kurt Warner was even better and cemented his place among the league’s greatest postseason passers� He threw for 379 yards and amazingly had more TD passes (5) than incompletions (4)� Starting in place of Anquan Boldin (ankle), Steve Breaston had 7 catches for 125 yards and a TD while #3 WR Early Doucet was 6-77-2TDs�
Green Bay entered the game with an NFL-best +24 turnover ratio but the Cards converted two early Packer miscues� On the game’s first snap, Dansby deflected a Rodgers pass that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie INT’d� After Tim Hightower turned it into a TD, Dansby ended the next GB drive with a forced fumble of Donald Driver that Alan Branch recovered� Doucet cashed in on that takeaway with the first of his 2 TD passes that helped the Cards build a 24-10 lead� A Warner-to-Fitzgerald TD on the opening drive of the 2nd half made it 31-10 but the Pack scored quickly with two Rodgers TD passes and a successful on-side kick in between� A 42-yard Beanie Wells run led to another Fitzgerald TD catch but the Pack answered with a Rodgers scoring pass to James Jones that capped 5 straight TD drives to open the 2nd half� After Arizona’s only punt of the day, GB tied it at 38 on a 1-yard run by FB John Kuhn early in the 4th� Warner responded with an 80-yard drive and put the Cards back ahead with a TD pass to Breaston� With 1:52 left though the Pack tied it again on Rodgers’ 11-yard TD to Spencer Havner� At the end of regulation, Warner marched the Cards into position to win but Neil Rackers was wide left on a 34-yard FG attempt in the closing seconds� GB won the toss and got the ball first in OT� On the first snap, Rodgers had Greg Jennings open down the middle but overthrew him� Shortly thereafter, they had a 3rd-n-6 play at their own 24 when Adams and Dansby combined on the game-winning play� 1 2 3 4 OT FPACKERS 0 10 14 21 0 45CARDINALS 17 7 14 7 7 51
Six days after out-dueling the Packers in an explosive Wild Card game, the Cardinals saw their season end in New Orleans against the #1 seeded Saints� RB Tim Hightower raced 70 yards for a TD on the game’s first play from scrim-mage but after that the Cards faced an uphill battle most of the day� The Saints scored TDs on 5 of their first 6 offensive drives, twice capitalizing on AZ turnovers that gave them short fields� They also took advantage of a depleted Arizona defense that began the game without starting MLB Gerald Hayes (ankle) and in the first quarter lost two more starters – CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee) and FS Antrel Rolle (head)�
After Hightower’s TD run gave the Cards the early lead, the Saints responded with a 10-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Lydell Hamilton’s 1-yard run� On the next snap, Kurt Warner hit Jerheme Urban on a 28-yard pass down the mid-dle but Urban fumbled it over to the Saints at the AZ37� Drew Brees made the Cards pay 4 plays later when he connected with Jeremy Shockey on a 17-yard scoring pass� The next N�O� drive saw the Cards lose Rolle & Rogers-Cromartie and it ended when Reggie Bush reversed field on a 46-yard TD run that made it 21-7� Arizona then made it a one-score game when Warner led a 9-play, 80-yard drive and Beanie Wells scored from 4 yards out� However, the Saints kept their foot on the accelerator� One play after a 26-yard completion to Marques Colston, Brees connected on a 44-yard flea-flicker to Devery Henderson that made it 28-14� On the 2nd play of the ensuing AZ drive, Warner was INT’d by DE Will Smith at the line of scrimmage and then leveled on the return by a clean block from DE Bobby McCray� When Warner headed to the locker room to have his chest examined, Matt Leinart led the Cards into position for a FG but Neil Rackers missed from 51 yards out as the first half expired�
Warner returned to start the 2nd half but the Cards were never able to cut into the Saints lead� A 43-yard Garrett Hartley FG made it 38-14 and later in the 3rd, Bush’s 83-yard punt return TD provided the final dagger� 1 2 3 4 OT FCARDINALS 7 7 0 0 — 14SAINTS 21 14 10 0 — 45
Saints 3 6:42 Bush 83-yard punt return (Hartley kick) -- 14-45
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R E C O R D S
The Cardinals finished the regular season 11-5, earning a Wild Card spot and trip to Carolina to take on the Panthers who captured the NFC South title by win-ning their last 4 games and finishing 7-8-1� Arizona had dealt with tremendous adversity all season, losing more than 20 players for more than 100 combined games due to injury and coming from behind in 9 of its 11 victories� But while they clawed back from a 10-point deficit to lead at halftime, this time they could not hold on� Arizona started its 3rd straight game with #3 QB Ryan Lindley (after injuries to both Carson Palmer & Drew Stanton) but had its hands full in both the run and pass games where they finished with just 27 and 51 net yards, respectively�
The Panthers jumped out to a 10-0 lead after they took advantage of outstanding field position on their first two series that resulted from a pair of AZ three-n-outs and short punts� The first drive started at the Carolina 48 and led to a 47-yard Graham Gano FG� The Panthers started their second drive at their own 43 and 8 plays later Jonathan Stewart scored on a 13-yard spinning run off the right side� Trailing by 10, the Cards were forced to punt on the next series but caught a break when returner Brenton Bersin mishandled it and Justin Bethel recovered at the Carolina 30� A 14-yard Larry Fitzgerald completion on 3rd-n-10 moved it to the 1 and led to Lindley’s 1-yard TD pass to TE Darren Fells� It remained 10-7 after Gano missed a 43-yard FG try on the next series� Two drives later, the Panthers advanced to the AZ37 where they faced a 3rd-n-13� CB Antonio Cromartie picked off Cam Newton and returned the INT 50 yards to the AZ17 with 5 minutes left in the 1st half� Four plays later, RB Marion Grice scored from a yard out to put Arizona up 14-10 with 2:50 remaining in the 1st half� It was enough time for Carolina to move 59 yards in 9 plays and Gano’s 39-yard FG made it a 1-point game at intermission�
On Arizona’s first drive of the 2nd half, WR Michael Floyd appeared to have been interfered with on a 3rd down pass down the left sideline but it went unflagged and the Cards went 3-n-out� A short punt gave Carolina possession at the AZ39 to start their 2nd drive of the 3rd quarter� On the next snap, RB Fozzy Whittaker caught a short screen from Newton and took it 39 yards for a TD� It went from bad to worse on the ensuing kickoff when Ted Ginn fumbled inside the 10 and the Panthers recovered at the AZ3� The defense appeared to hold Carolina to a FG when Newton’s 3rd-n-goal pass to TE Greg Olsen fell incomplete but SJ Boris Cheek questionably flagged Tony Jefferson for pass interference� On the next play Newton hit RB Mike Tolbert in the flat for a score; the 2 TDs in a 92 second span made it 27-14 Panthers� With 12 minutes to play LB Sam Acho hit Newton as he was passing and Rashad Johnson returned the empty-hand fumble to the AZ8� On the next play Lindley’s pass intended for Fitzgerald was INT’d by LB Luke Kuechley at the 5� The game’s only other points came in the closing seconds when punter Brad Nortman took an intentional safety by running out of the end zone� 1 2 3 4 OT FCARDINALS 0 14 0 2 — 16Panthers 10 3 14 0 — 27
Panthers 3 5:36 Whittaker 39-yard pass from Newton (Gano kick) 1-39, 0:14 14-20
Panthers 3 4:04 Tolbert 3-yard pass from Newton (Gano kick) 3-3, 1:24 14-27
Panthers 4 0:03 Nortman tackled in end zone for a safety — 16-26
Meeting in the Divisional Playoff round, the Cards and Pack turned in one for the ages� The wild game featured 23 total points in the first 56:15 and then 23 more in the final 4:49� It saw the Cards come back from a 4th quarter deficit to lead late before the Packers completed a 41-yard Hail Mary as time expired to force overtime� But in the end, as it so often does, the game was decided by all-pro WR Larry Fitzgerald who cemented his place among the game’s greatest postseason players� He caught 8 passes for a club playoff record 176 yards and a TD� His biggest plays came when AZ needed it most, including a 75-yard catch-n-run on the 1st play of OT after Aaron Rodgers had delivered a gut punch at the end of regulation�
The Cardinals struck first when Michael Floyd’s toe-tapping catch of a Carson Palmer pass in the back of the end zone gave them a 7-0 lead� A 100-yard INT return TD by CB Patrick Peterson would have given the Cards a 14-0 lead but it was negated by penalty� Green Bay would then dominate possession thanks to back-to-back 17-play drives that consumed more than 15 minutes in total� However, each ended in FGs rather than TDs and AZ led 7-6 at intermission�
The teams then opened the 3rd quarter by trading interceptions� First S Rashad Johnson picked off Rodgers but 3 plays later Ha Ha Clinton-Dix returned the favor with one off Palmer� RB Eddie Lacy then reeled off consecutive runs of 14 & 61 yards that set-up an 8-yard TD pass to WR Jeff Janis� With the Pack leading 13-7, AZ marched to the GB10 but had to settle for a 28-yard Chandler Catanzaro FG that cut it to 3� The next Cards drive also reached the 10 but Palmer’s pass to John Brown in the end zone was picked by CB Damarious Randall� After another Pack punt, the Cards took over at their own 20 down 3 with 10:53 to go� In 13 plays they reached the GB9 when Palmer’s pass into the end zone was deflected by Randall but ricocheted to Floyd for a TD� After the Packers turned it over on downs on 4 passes, AZ took over at the GB24 with 2:38 to go� Catanzaro’s subsequent 36-yard FG made it 20-13 with 1:55 to play� Needing a TD to tie it, GB faced a 4th-n-20 from its own 4 when Rodgers completed a 60-yard deep ball to Janis that took it to the AZ36 with :21 left� Three plays later they faced a 2nd-n-15 from the AZ41 and time for one heave into the end zone� GB’s prayers were answered when Janis came down with Rodgers’ pass in the end zone with no time on the clock and the stadium stunned� The crazy ending got crazier when referee Clete Blakeman had to re-do the OT coin toss because it didn’t flip on his first try� AZ ultimately won it and started the extra period at its own 20� On the first snap, Palmer spun away from pressure before firing across the field to a wide open Fitzgerald� The veteran WR proceeded to weave his way all the way to the GB 5 on a 75-yard gain� Two plays later, a shovel pass to Fitz ended it� 1 2 3 4 OT FPackers 0 6 7 7 0 20CARDINALS 7 0 3 10 6 26
CARDS OT 13:55 Fitzgerald 5-yard pass from Palmer 3-80, 1:05 20-26
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The NFC Championship Game featured the conference’s top 2 seeds and league’s top 2 offenses as the Cards (13-3) & Panthers (15-1) met in Charlotte with the dream of playing in Super Bowl 50� The dream quickly turned into a nightmare for Arizona� The Panthers scored on their first 3 offensive drives of each half and led 17-0 after one quarter, 24-7 at the half and ultimately won 49-15� They forced 7 Cardinal turnovers (4 INTs/3 fumbles) including 3 very costly ones late in the 2nd quarter when the Cards had a chance to re-claim momentum� It marked the 2nd straight year the Cards’ season ended in Carolina and the loss denied Arizona the chance to advance to its 2nd Super Bowl in franchise history�
After a 45-yard Graham Gano FG put Carolina up 3-0, the next Panther drive started at the AZ49 thanks to a 32-yard Ted Ginn punt return� Five plays later, Ginn scored from 22 yards out on a reverse to make it 10-0� Arizona’s 3rd straight drive ended in a punt but the defense had a chance to send the Panthers 3-n-out with a stop on 3rd-n-8 from the CAR14 � However, Newton hit Corey Brown with a 26-yard pass to the 40 and the WR broke one tackle to take it the rest of the way for an 86-yard score� Down 17-0 the Cards advanced to the CAR37� On 3rd-n-10, Carson Palmer was sacked by DT Kawann Short forcing a fumble that the Panthers recovered� After the AZ defense forced a 3-n-out, the Cards took over at their own 21 with 11:47 to play in the half� They would move 79 yards in 10 plays and David Johnson’s 1-yard TD run made it 17-7� AZ then held Carolina without a 1st down and the ensuing punt was short� But as Patrick Peterson raced to catch the errant kick, he couldn’t hold onto it and the Panthers recovered at the AZ46� Consecutive runs of 17 and 23 by RB Jonathan Stewart took it to the one and on 3rd-n-goal from there Newton was able to break the plane for a TD� On the next snap, Palmer’s arm was hit by DE Charles Johnson forcing a fumble the Panthers recovered at the AZ31� Two plays later, though, Peterson INT’d Newton and returned it 72 yards to the 22 with :56 left� But on the very next play, Palmer’s pass into the end zone was picked off by S Kurt Coleman allowing the Panthers to take a 24-7 lead into halftime�
Things got no better in the 2nd half for the Cards as another Gano FG and an 11-yard Newton run upped the lead to 34-7� Early in the 4th, Palmer’s 21-yard TD pass to TE Darren Fells and a successful 2-point conversion made it 34-15 with 14:16 remaining� However, the next 3 AZ drives would end in INTs, one of which was returned 22 yards for a TD by LB Luke Kuechly that provided the game’s final points� 1 2 3 4 OT FCARDINALS 0 7 0 8 — 15Panthers 17 7 10 15 — 49