The 1991 Phoenix Cardinals season was the 72nd season the team was in the National Football League (NFL). The team failed to improve on their previous output of 5–11, winning only four games. After beginning the season 2–0, the Cardinals suffered a tough schedule and lost their last eight matches to finish 4–12.[1] This was the ninth consecutive season the Cardinals failed to qualify to the playoffs.
Quick Facts Phoenix Cardinals season, Owner ...
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The Cardinals’ 196 points scored is the lowest total in franchise history for a 16-game season.[2]
NFL Draft
More information Round, Pick ...
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[3]
Undrafted free agents
More information Player, Position ...
1991 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player |
Position |
College |
Donn Grimm |
Linebacker |
Notre Dame |
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Staff
1991 Phoenix Cardinals staff
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Front office
- President – Bill Bidwill
- Vice president and general manager – Larry Wilson
- Director of pro personnel – Erik Widmark
- Director of player personnel – George Boone
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki
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Roster
1991 Phoenix Cardinals final roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
47 active, 5 inactive, 4 practice squad
Rookies in italics
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More information Week, Date ...
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[4]
Schedule
The 1991 Cardinals suffered from a very tough schedule playing in a powerful NFC East that provided the first four Super Bowl winners of the 1990s, and seven of ten between 1986 and 1995. Football statistics site Football Outsiders calculated that the 1991 Cardinals played the second-toughest schedule[note 1] based on strength of opponent of any NFL team between 1989 and 2013,[5] although Pro Football Reference argues that the 1991 Cardinals suffered the ninth toughest non-strike schedule since 1971.[note 2] The Cardinals played just two games against opponents with losing records – both amongst their first five games and both won – whilst ten opponents including all their last five finished 10–6 or better.
More information Week, Date ...
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Venue |
Attendance |
Recap |
1 |
September 1 |
at Los Angeles Rams |
W 24–14 |
1–0 |
Anaheim Stadium |
47,069 |
Recap |
2 |
September 8 |
at Philadelphia Eagles |
W 26–10 |
2–0 |
Veterans Stadium |
63,818 |
Recap |
3 |
September 15 |
at Washington Redskins |
L 0–34 |
2–1 |
RFK Stadium |
54,662 |
Recap |
4 |
September 22 |
Dallas Cowboys |
L 9–17 |
2–2 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
68,814 |
Recap |
5 |
September 29 |
New England Patriots |
W 24–10 |
3–2 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
26,043 |
Recap |
6 |
October 6 |
at New York Giants |
L 9–20 |
3–3 |
Giants Stadium |
75,891 |
Recap |
7 |
October 13 |
at Minnesota Vikings |
L 7–34 |
3–4 |
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
51,209 |
Recap |
8 |
October 20 |
Atlanta Falcons |
W 16–10 |
4–4 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
29,804 |
Recap |
9 |
October 27 |
Minnesota Vikings |
L 0–28 |
4–5 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
45,447 |
Recap |
10 |
November 3 |
at Dallas Cowboys |
L 7–27 |
4–6 |
Texas Stadium |
61,190 |
Recap |
11 |
November 10 |
New York Giants |
L 14–21 |
4–7 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
50,048 |
Recap |
12 |
November 17 |
at San Francisco 49ers |
L 10–14 |
4–8 |
Candlestick Park |
50,180 |
Recap |
13 |
November 24 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
L 14–34 |
4–9 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
37,307 |
Recap |
14 |
Bye |
15 |
December 8 |
Washington Redskins |
L 14–20 |
4–10 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
48,373 |
Recap |
16 |
December 15 |
at Denver Broncos |
L 19–24 |
4–11 |
Mile High Stadium |
74,098 |
Recap |
17 |
December 22 |
New Orleans Saints |
L 3–27 |
4–12 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
30,928 |
Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
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Game summaries
Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
14 |
7 |
0 | 3 | 24 |
Rams |
0 |
7 |
7 | 0 | 14 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- LA – Robert Delpino 1-yard run (Tony Zendejas kick). Cardinals 21–14.
Fourth quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 32-yard field goal. Cardinals 24–14.
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Top passers
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 10/18, 124 yards, TD
- LA – Jim Everett – 25/35, 290 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
- PHO – Anthony Thompson – 29 rushes, 60 yards
- LA – Robert Delpino – 15 rushes, 81 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
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Week 1: Phoenix Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California
- Date: September 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,069
- Box Score
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
13 |
3 |
3 | 7 | 26 |
Eagles |
0 |
10 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 52-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.
- PHO – Johnny Johnson 51-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 10–0.
- PHO – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–0.
Second quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 22-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–0.
- PHI – Thomas Sanders 3-yard run (Roger Ruzek kick). Cardinals 16–7.
- PHI – Roger Ruzek 47-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–10.
Third quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 42-yard field goal. Cardinals 19–10.
Fourth quarter
- PHO – Rod Saddler 7-yard fumble return (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 26–10.
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Top passers
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 6/19, 218 yards, TD, INT
- PHI – Jim McMahon – 19/34, 173 yards
Top rushers
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 19 rushes, 54 yards
- PHI – Thomas Sanders – 15 rushes, 43 yards
Top receivers
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Week 3: at Washington Redskins
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Redskins |
7 |
7 |
14 | 6 | 34 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- WAS – Ricky Sanders 10-yard run (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 14–0.
Third quarter
- WAS – Gary Clark 28-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 21–0.
- WAS – Wilber Marshall 55-yard interception return (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 28–0.
Fourth quarter
- WAS – Chip Lohmiller 30-yard field goal. Redskins 31–0.
- WAS – Chip Lohmiller 48-yard field goal. Redskins 34–0.
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Top passers
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 13/24, 120 yards, 3 INT
- WAS – Mark Rypien – 15/23, 181 yards, TD
Top rushers
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 8 rushes, 27 yards
- WAS – Earnest Byner – 23 rushes, 109 yards, TD
Top receivers
- PHO – Tim Jorden – 5 receptions, 36 yards
- WAS – Gary Clark – 5 receptions, 72 yards, TD
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Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cowboys |
14 |
0 |
0 | 3 | 17 |
Cardinals |
0 |
6 |
0 | 3 | 9 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
- DAL – Emmitt Smith 60-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 7–0.
- DAL – Emmitt Smith 60-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 14–0.
Second quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 14–3.
- PHO – Greg Davis 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 14–6.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 29-yard field goal. Cowboys 14–9.
- DAL – Ken Willis 41-yard field goal. Cowboys 17–9.
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Top passers
Top rushers
- DAL – Emmitt Smith – 23 rushes, 182 yards, 2 TD
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 24 rushes, 92 yards
Top receivers
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Week 5: vs. New England Patriots
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Patriots |
0 |
7 |
0 | 3 | 10 |
Cardinals |
0 |
14 |
0 | 10 | 24 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- NE – Jason Staurovsky 39-yard field goal. Cardinals 14–10.
- PHO – Ricky Proehl 62-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 21–10.
- PHO – Greg Davis 47-yard field goal. Cardinals 24–10.
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Top passers
- NE – Hugh Millen – 12/21, 115 yards
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 17/28, 312 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers
- NE – Jon Vaughn – 7 rushes, 61 yards
- PHO – Anthony Thompson – 26 rushes, 98 yards
Top receivers
- NE – Marv Cook – 6 receptions, 42 yards
- PHO – Ernie Jones – 8 receptions, 145 yards, TD
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Week 5: New England Patriots at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 26,043
- Box Score
Week 6: at New York Giants
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
3 |
0 |
6 | 0 | 9 |
Giants |
14 |
3 |
0 | 3 | 20 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- NYG – Matt Bahr 30-yard field goal. Giants 17–3.
Third quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 40-yard field goal. Giants 17–6.
- PHO – Greg Davis 29-yard field goal. Giants 17–9.
Fourth quarter
- NYG – Matt Bahr 27-yard field goal. Giants 20–9.
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Top passers
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 23/40, 230 yards, 2 INT
- NYG – Jeff Hostetler – 14/18, 200 yards, TD
Top rushers
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 14 rushes, 73 yards
- NYG – Rodney Hampton – 22 rushes, 137 yards, TD
Top receivers
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Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
0 |
0 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
Vikings |
7 |
13 |
7 | 7 | 34 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- MIN – Herschel Walker 1-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 14–0.
- MIN – Rich Gannon 18-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 20–0.
Third quarter
- MIN – Anthony Carter 3-yard pass from Rich Gannon (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 27–0.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 21/36, 240 yards
- MIN – Rich Gannon – 23/31, 254 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 3 rushes, 22 yards
- MIN – Rich Gannon – 5 rushes, 34 yards, TD
Top receivers
- PHO – Ernie Jones – 6 receptions, 67 yards
- MIN – Cris Carter – 6 receptions, 118 yards, TD
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Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons |
7 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
Cardinals |
3 |
0 |
10 | 3 | 16 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- ATL – Norm Johnson 29-yard field goal. Falcons 10–3.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 51-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–10.
- PHO – Greg Davis 49-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–10.
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Top passers
- ATL – Chris Miller – 13/35, 220 yards, TD, 4 INT
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 9/23, 139 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
- ATL – Andre Rison – 5 receptions, 91 yards
- PHO – Randal Hill – 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD
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Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 29,804
- Box Score
Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Vikings |
0 |
7 |
7 | 14 | 28 |
Cardinals |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- MIN – Herschel Walker 1-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 21–0.
- MIN – Herschel Walker 5-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 28–0.
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Top passers
- MIN – Rich Gannon – 17/26, 142 yards, TD, INT
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 12/30, 123 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
- MIN – Herschel Walker – 17 rushes, 79 yards, 3 TD
- PHO – Anthony Thompson – 6 rushes, 26 yards
Top receivers
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Week 9: Minnesota Vikings at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,447
- Box Score
Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
Cowboys |
10 |
0 |
7 | 10 | 27 |
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More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- DAL – Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 17–7.
Fourth quarter
- DAL – Ken Willis 27-yard field goal. Cowboys 20–7.
- DAL – Emmitt Smith 3-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 27–7.
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Top passers
Top rushers
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 19 rushes, 89 yards, TD
- DAL – Emmitt Smith – 22 rushes, 62 yards, 3 TD
Top receivers
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Close
Week 10: Phoenix Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
- Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C)
- Game attendance: 61,190
- Box Score
Week 11: vs. New York Giants
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Giants |
7 |
7 |
7 | 0 | 21 |
Cardinals |
0 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- NYG – Jeff Hostetler 4-yard run (Raul Allegre kick). Giants 21–7.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
- NYG – Jeff Hostetler – 12/21, 124 yards
- PHO – Tom Tupa – 15/25, 175 yards, INT
Top rushers
- NYG – Rodney Hampton – 24 rushes, 99 yards, TD
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 14 rushes, 37 yards, TD
Top receivers
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Close
Week 11: New York Giants at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: November 10
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,048
- Box Score
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
0 |
0 |
3 | 7 | 10 |
49ers |
0 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- SF – Tom Rathman 1-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 14–3.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
- PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 14/26, 156 yards, TD
- SF – Steve Bono – 20/35, 187 yards
Top rushers
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 12 rushes, 32 yards
- SF – Keith Henderson – 15 rushes, 51 yards, TD
Top receivers
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Close
Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Eagles |
20 |
0 |
7 | 7 | 34 |
Cardinals |
7 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- PHO – Lorenzo Lynch 35-yard interception return (Greg Davis kick). Eagles 20–14.
Third quarter
- PHI – Keith Jackson 29-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 27–14.
Fourth quarter
- PHI – Keith Byars 14-yard run (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 34–14.
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Top passers
- PHI – Jim McMahon – 10/25, 162 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
- PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 19/39, 193 yards, TD, 4 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
- PHI – Fred Barnett – 4 receptions, 90 yards, TD
- PHO – Randal Hill – 7 receptions, 80 yards
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Week 13: Philadelphia Eagles at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 37,307
- Box Score
Week 15: vs. Washington Redskins
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
0 |
0 |
14 | 6 | 20 |
Cardinals |
0 |
14 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- PHO – Johnny Johnson 1-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 7–0.
- PHO – Johnny Johnson 3-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 14–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- WAS – Chip Lohmiller 42-yard field goal. Redskins 17–14.
- WAS – Chip Lohmiller 27-yard field goal. Redskins 20–14.
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Top passers
- WAS – Mark Rypien – 22/33, 256 yards, 2 TD
- PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 11/21, 111 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
- WAS – Earnest Byner – 25 rushes, 116 yards
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 13 rushes, 48 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
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Close
Week 15: Washington Redskins at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 8
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 48,373
- Box Score
Week 16: at Denver Broncos
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals |
0 |
3 |
10 | 6 | 19 |
Broncos |
7 |
3 |
7 | 7 | 24 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- DEN – David Treadwell 18-yard field goal. Broncos 10–0.
- PHO – Greg Davis 33-yard field goal. Broncos 10–3.
Third quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 45-yard field goal. Broncos 10–6.
- DEN – Steve Sewell 8-yard run (David Treadwell kick). Broncos 17–6.
- PHO – Ernie Jones 45-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Greg Davis kick). Broncos 17–13.
Fourth quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Broncos 17–16.
- PHO – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 19–17.
- DEN – John Elway 4-yard run (David Treadwell kick). Broncos 24–19.
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Top passers
- PHO – Chris Chandler – 15/32, 194 yards, TD
- DEN – John Elway – 19/33, 245 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
- PHO – Ernie Jones – 4 receptions, 84 yards, TD
- DEN – Vance Johnson – 4 receptions, 58 yards
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Close
Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Saints |
0 |
13 |
7 | 7 | 27 |
Cardinals |
3 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information |
First quarter
- PHO – Greg Davis 38-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.
Second quarter
- NO – Morten Andersen 27-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
- NO – Dalton Hilliard 2-yard run (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 10–3.
- NO – Morten Anderson 39-yard field goal. Saints 13–3.
Third quarter
- NO – Buford Jordan 3-yard run (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 20–3.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
- NO – Bobby Hebert – 12/24, 100 yards, TD, INT
- PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 12/24, 128 yards, 3 INT
Top rushers
- NO – Buford Jordan – 4 rushes, 38 yards, TD
- PHO – Anthony Thompson – 7 rushes, 28 yards
Top receivers
- NO – Floyd Turner – 4 receptions, 47 yards, TD
- PHO – Randal Hill – 5 receptions, 65 yards
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Close
Week 17: New Orleans Saints at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 22
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 30,928
- Box Score
Standings
More information NFC East, W ...
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