1991 Phoenix Cardinals season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1991 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

• President – Bill Bidwill
• Vice president and general manager – Larry Wilson
• Director of pro personnel – Erik Widmark
• Director of player personnel – George Boone
• Head coach – Joe Bugel
• Offensive coordinator – Jerry Rhome
• Running backs – Bobby Hammond
• Receivers – Ted Plumb
• Offensive line – Tom Lovat
• Defensive coordinator – Fritz Shurmur
• Defensive line – Ted Cottrell
• Inside linebackers/quality control – Mike Murphy
• Outside linebackers – Joe Pascale
• Defensive secondary – Jim Johnson
• Special teams – Pete Rodriguez
• Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki

Roster

47 active, 5 inactive, 4 practice squad

Preseason

Regular season

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 scheduleThe toughest schedule between 1989 and 2013 according to Football Outsiders was played by the 2004 Cleveland Browns. based on strength of opponent of any NFL team between 1989 and 2013, although Pro Football Reference argues that the 1991 Cardinals suffered the ninth toughest non-strike schedule since 1971.Tougher schedules according to Pro Football Reference in non-strike seasons since 1971 were suffered by, in descending order of toughness, the 2010 Buffalo Bills, the 1975 Cleveland Browns and 1975 New York Jets (equal), the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2010 Miami Dolphins, the 1979 Cincinnati Bengals, the 1977 Kansas City Chiefs and the 1973 San Francisco 49ers. 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.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams

First quarter

• PHO – Eric Hill 85-yard fumble return (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 7–0.
• PHO – Ernie Jones 28-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 14–0. Second quarter
• LA – Robert Delpino 1-yard run (Tony Zendejas kick). Cardinals 14–7.
• PHO – Tom Tupa 1-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 21–7. 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. 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
• PHO – Ricky Proehl – 5 receptions, 69 yards
• LA – Henry Ellard – 7 receptions, 116 yards

Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles

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.

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
• PHO – Ricky Proehl – 2 receptions, 75 yards
• PHI – Fred Barnett – 6 receptions, 67 yards

Week 3: at Washington Redskins

First quarter

• WAS – Earnest Byner 2-yard run (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 7–0. 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.

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

Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys

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
• No scoring plays Fourth quarter
• PHO – Greg Davis 29-yard field goal. Cowboys 14–9.
• DAL – Ken Willis 41-yard field goal. Cowboys 17–9. Top passers
• DAL – Troy Aikman – 12/20, 150 yards
• PHO – Tom Tupa – 24/38, 242 yards Top rushers
• DAL – Emmitt Smith – 23 rushes, 182 yards, 2 TD
• PHO – Johnny Johnson – 24 rushes, 92 yards Top receivers
• DAL – Michael Irvin – 3 receptions, 68 yards
• PHO – Ernie Jones – 8 receptions, 92 yards

Week 5: vs. New England Patriots

First quarter

• No scoring plays Second quarter
• PHO – Ernie Jones 17-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 7–0.
• NE – Jon Vaughn 99-yard kickoff return (Jason Staurovsky kick). Tied 7–7.
• PHO – Johnny Johnson 15-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 14–7. Third quarter
• No scoring plays 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.

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

Week 6: at New York Giants

First quarter

• NYG – Rodney Hampton 12-yard run (Matt Bahr kick). Giants 7–0.
• PHO – Greg Davis 52-yard field goal. Giants 7–3.
• NYG – Zeke Mowatt 7-yard pass from Jeff Hostetler (Matt Bahr kick). Giants 14–3. 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.

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
• PHO – Randal Hill – 6 receptions, 65 yards
• NYG – Odessa Turner – 3 receptions, 46 yards

Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings

First quarter

• MIN – Cris Carter 42-yard pass from Rich Gannon (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 7–0. 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
• MIN – Alfred Anderson 6-yard run (Fuad Reveiz). Vikings 34–0.
• PHO – Anthony Thompson 1-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Vikings 34–7.

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

Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons

First quarter

• PHO – Greg Davis 29-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.
• ATL – Mike Pritchard 21-yard pass from Chris Miller (Norm Johnson kick). Falcons 7–3. Second quarter
• ATL – Norm Johnson 29-yard field goal. Falcons 10–3. Third quarter
• PHO – Randal Hill 31-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Tied 10–10. Fourth quarter
• PHO – Greg Davis 51-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–10.
• PHO – Greg Davis 49-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–10.

Top passers

• ATL – Chris Miller – 13/35, 220 yards, TD, 4 INT
• PHO – Tom Tupa – 9/23, 139 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• ATL – Steve Broussard – 7 rushes, 34 yards
• PHO – Johnny Johnson – 25 rushes, 83 yards Top receivers
• ATL – Andre Rison – 5 receptions, 91 yards
• PHO – Randal Hill – 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD

Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings

First quarter

• No scoring plays Second quarter
• MIN – Hassan Jones 5-yard pass from Rich Gannon (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 7–0. Third quarter
• MIN – Herschel Walker 16-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 14–0. 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.

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
• MIN – Steve Jordan – 5 receptions, 54 yards
• PHO – Ernie Jones – 3 receptions, 53 yards

Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys

First quarter

• DAL – Ken Willis 36-yard field goal. Cowboys 3–0. Second quarter
• DAL – Emmitt Smith 3-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 10–0.
• PHO – Johnny Johnson 1-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cowboys 10–7. 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.

Top passers

• PHO – Tom Tupa – 15/34, 130 yards, 2 INT
• DAL – Troy Aikman – 17/23, 191 yards, 2 INT Top rushers
• PHO – Johnny Johnson – 19 rushes, 89 yards, TD
• DAL – Emmitt Smith – 22 rushes, 62 yards, 3 TD Top receivers
• PHO – Ricky Proehl – 4 receptions, 47 yards
• DAL – Alvin Harper – 3 receptions, 67 yards

Week 11: vs. New York Giants

First quarter

• NYG – Jeff Hostetler 47-yard run (Raul Allegre kick). Giants 7–0. Second quarter
• NYG – Rodney Hampton 1-yard run (Raul Allegre kick). Giants 14–0.
• PHO – Johnny Johnson 3-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Giants 14–7. Third quarter
• NYG – Jeff Hostetler 4-yard run (Raul Allegre kick). Giants 21–7. Fourth quarter
• PHO – Ricky Proehl 34-yard pass from Stan Gelbaugh (Greg Davis kick). Giants 21–14.

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
• NYG – Mark Ingram – 3 receptions, 46 yards
• PHO – Ernie Jones – 5 receptions, 99 yards

Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers

First quarter

• No scoring plays Second quarter
• SF – Keith Henderson 2-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 7–0.
• PHO – Greg Davis 35-yard field goal. 49ers 7–3. Third quarter
• SF – Tom Rathman 1-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 14–3. Fourth quarter
• PHO – Ernie Jones 26-yard pass from Stan Gelbaugh (Greg Davis kick). 49ers 14–10.

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
• PHO – Ricky Proehl – 6 receptions, 59 yards
• SF – Brent Jones – 5 receptions, 79 yards

Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

First quarter

• PHI – Fred Barnett 18-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 7–0.
• PHI – Seth Joyner 34-yard fumble return (kick failed). Eagles 13–0.
• PHO – Willie Williams 3-yard pass from Stan Gelbaugh (Greg Davis kick). Eagles 13–7.
• PHI – Clyde Simmons 0-yard fumble return (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 20–7. 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.

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
• PHI – James Joseph – 25 rushes, 85 yards
• PHO – Anthony Thompson – 10 rushes, 35 yards Top receivers
• PHI – Fred Barnett – 4 receptions, 90 yards, TD
• PHO – Randal Hill – 7 receptions, 80 yards

Week 15: vs. Washington Redskins

First quarter

• No scoring plays 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
• WAS – Terry Orr 4-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Cardinals 14–7.
• WAS – Ricky Sanders 17-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Tied 14–14. Fourth quarter
• WAS – Chip Lohmiller 42-yard field goal. Redskins 17–14.
• WAS – Chip Lohmiller 27-yard field goal. Redskins 20–14.

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
• WAS – Gary Clark – 7 receptions, 99 yards
• PHO – Ernie Jones – 4 receptions, 76 yards

Week 16: at Denver Broncos

First quarter

• DEN – Shannon Sharpe 3-yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick). Broncos 7–0. 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.

Top passers

• PHO – Chris Chandler – 15/32, 194 yards, TD
• DEN – John Elway – 19/33, 245 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers
• PHO – Johnny Johnson – 13 rushes, 37 yards
• DEN – Gaston Green – 13 rushes, 50 yards Top receivers
• PHO – Ernie Jones – 4 receptions, 84 yards, TD
• DEN – Vance Johnson – 4 receptions, 58 yards

Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints

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
• NO – Floyd Turner 19-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 27–3.

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

Standings

Notes

References

References

1. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/1991.htm 1991 Phoenix Cardinals]
2. [http://pfref.com/tiny/pgvux Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, playing for the Ari (StL/Chi) Cardinals, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For.]
3. "1991 Phoenix Cardinals Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
4. "1991 Phoenix Cardinals (NFL)". Pro Football Archives.
5. ''Football Outsiders''; [https://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2014/let-me-check-my-schedule ''DVOA Analysis'': ‘Let Me Check My Schedule’]