2012 Arizona Cardinals season

2012 draft class

Main article: 2012 NFL draft

Staff

• Owner/chairman – Bill Bidwill

• President – Michael Bidwill

• general manager – Rod Graves

• Director of football administration – Reggie Terry

• Director of player personnel – Steve Keim

• Director of pro personnel – Jason Licht

• Assistant director of pro personnel – Quentin Harris

• Head coach – Ken Whisenhunt

• Assistant head coach/run game coordinator/offensive line – Russ Grimm

• Offensive coordinator – Mike Miller

• Quarterbacks – John McNulty

• Running backs – Tommie Robinson

• Wide receivers – Frank Reich

• Tight ends – Freddie Kitchens

• Offensive quality control – Chad Grimm

• Defensive coordinator – Ray Horton

• Defensive line – Ron Aiken

• Linebackers – Matt Raich

• Defensive backs – Louie Cioffi

• Assistant defensive backs – Deshea Townsend

• Defensive quality control – Ryan Slowik

• Special teams – Kevin Spencer

• Strength and conditioning – John Lott

• Assistant strength and conditioning – Pete Alosi

Final roster

Preseason

Schedule

Regular season

Schedule

:Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Cardinals began their season at home against their divisional rival Seahawks with quarterback John Skelton at the starting helm. The team started their season 1–0 despite Skelton finishing the game 14/28 for 149 yards and an interception. Kevin Kolb later on made an appearance in relief of Skelton going 6/8 for 66 yards and a touchdown pass.

Week 2: at New England Patriots

First quarter

• ARI – Jay Feely 38-yard field goal, 8:47. ''Cardinals 3–0. '''Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 6:18.'''''
• ARI – Jay Feely 47-yard field goal, 7:47. ''Cardinals 6–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 0:49.'''''
• NE – Stephen Gostkowski 46-yard field goal, 2:27. ''Cardinals 6–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 47 yards, 5:20.''''' Second quarter
• NE – Stephen Gostkowski 34-yard field goal, 9:12. ''Tied 6–6. '''Drive: 7 plays, 36 yards, 3:32.''''' Third quarter
• NE – Stephen Gostkowski 51-yard field goal, 12:58. ''Patriots 9–6. '''Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 2:07.'''''
• ARI – Andre Roberts 2-yard pass from Kevin Kolb (Jay Feely kick), 8:52. ''Cardinals 13–9. '''Drive: 3 plays, 2 yards, 0:49.''''' Fourth quarter
• ARI – Kevin Kolb 5-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 14:00. ''Cardinals 20–9. '''Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 3:46.'''''
• NE – Stephen Gostkowski 53-yard field goal, 6:50. ''Cardinals 20–12. '''Drive: 6 plays, 29 yards, 1:11.'''''
• NE – Rob Gronkowski 5-yard pass from Tom Brady (pass failed), 2:06. ''Cardinals 20–18. '''Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards, 3:36.''''' Top passers
• ARI – Kevin Kolb – 15/27, 140 yards, TD
• NE – Tom Brady – 28/46, 316 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• ARI – Beanie Wells – 14 rushes, 44 yards
• NE – Stevan Ridley – 18 rushes, 71 yards Top receivers
• ARI – Todd Heap – 5 receptions, 62 yards
• NE – Wes Welker – 5 receptions, 95 yards

In a huge upset at Gillette Stadium, the Cardinals beat the Patriots to become 2–0. This was the Cardinals' first win against the Patriots since 1991. This would be their last win over New England until 2024.

Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

First quarter

• ARI – Jay Feely 47-yard field goal, 10:18. ''Cardinals 3–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 36 yards, 3:47.'''''
• ARI – Michael Floyd 8-yard pass from Kevin Kolb (Jay Feely kick), 1:04. ''Cardinals 10–0. '''Drive: 12 plays, 34 yards, 3:32.''''' Second quarter
• ARI – Larry Fitzgerald 37-yard pass from Kevin Kolb (Jay Feely kick), 7:30. ''Cardinals 17–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:32.'''''
• ARI – James Sanders 98-yard fumble return (Jay Feely kick), 0:00. Cardinals 24–0. Third quarter
• PHI – Alex Henery 36-yard field goal, 5:07. ''Cardinals 24–3. '''Drive: 13 plays, 77 yards, 6:30.'''''
• PHI Alex Henery 40-yard field goal, 0:02. ''Cardinals 24–6. '''Drive: 8 plays, 33 yards, 3:12.''''' Fourth quarter
• ARI – Jay Feely 27-yard field goal, 3:52. ''Cardinals 27–6. '''Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6:34.''''' Top passers
• PHI – Michael Vick – 17/37, 217 yards
• ARI – Kevin Kolb – 17/24, 222 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
• PHI – LeSean McCoy – 13 rushes, 70 yards
• ARI – Ryan Williams – 13 rushes, 83 yards Top receivers
• PHI – Damaris Johnson – 5 receptions, 84 yards
• ARI – Larry Fitzgerald – 9 receptions, 113 yards, TD With the win, the Cardinals started 3–0 for the first time since 1974.

Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins

First quarter

• No scoring plays Second quarter
• MIA – Dan Carpenter 32-yard field goal, 13:25. ''Dolphins 3–0. '''Drive: 14 plays, 64 yards, 5:49.'''''
• MIA – Jorvorskie Lane 1-yard run (Dan Carpenter kick), 1:56. ''Dolphins 10–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 95 yards, 3:49.'''''
• MIA – Dan Carpenter 27-yard field goal, 0:06. ''Dolphins 13–0. '''Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards, 0:24.''''' Third quarter
• ARI – Larry Fitzgerald 3-yard pass from Kevin Kolb (Jay Feely kick), 9:46. ''Dolphins 13–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 2:57.''''' Fourth quarter
• ARI – Andre Roberts 46-yard pass from Kevin Kolb (Jay Feely kick), 9:45. ''Cardinals 14–13. '''Drive: 3 plays, 81 yards, 1:27.'''''
• MIA – Brian Hartline 80-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill (Tannehill pass to Lane), 7:05. ''Dolphins 21–14. '''Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:08.'''''
• ARI – Andre Roberts 15-yard pass from Kevin Kolb (Jay Feely kick), 0:22. ''Tied 21–21. '''Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 2:29.''''' Overtime
• ARI – Jay Feely 46-yard field goal, 8:34. ''Cardinals 24–21. '''Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 3:30.''''' Top passers
• MIA – Ryan Tannehill – 26/41, 431 yards, TD, 2 INT
• ARI – Kevin Kolb – 29/48, 324 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• MIA – Reggie Bush – 17 rushes, 67 yards
• ARI – Ryan Williams – 13 rushes, 26 yards Top receivers
• MIA – Brian Hartline – 12 receptions, 253 yards, TD
• ARI – Andre Roberts – 6 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD

Week 5: at St. Louis Rams

This was the Cardinals' 700th loss. They became the first team in NFL history to do this.

Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills

With the tough loss, the Cardinals fell to 4–2 and also with the Seahawks' win over the Patriots and the 49ers' loss to the Giants, the team remained in a tie for first place in the NFC West.

Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 9: at Green Bay Packers

Losing their fifth straight game of the season by remaining winless at Lambeau Field (0–7), the Cardinals headed into their bye week at 4–5.

Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 12: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week 13: at New York Jets

First quarter

• No scoring plays Second quarter
• ARI – Jay Feely 48-yard field goal, 0:03. ''Cardinals 3–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 61 yards, 2:31.''''' Third quarter
• No scoring plays Fourth quarter
• NYJ – Jeff Cumberland 1-yard pass from Greg McElroy (Nick Folk kick), 14:55. ''Jets 7–3. '''Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 4:53.'''''
• ARI – Jay Feely 35-yard field goal, 10:39. ''Jets 7–6. '''Drive: 6 plays, 21 yards, 2:03.''''' Top passers
• ARI – Ryan Lindley – 10/31, 72 yards, INT
• NYJ – Mark Sanchez – 10/21, 97 yards, 3 INT Top rushers
• ARI – Rashad Johnson – 1 rush, 40 yards
• NYJ – Shonn Greene – 24 rushes, 104 yards Top receivers
• ARI – Larry Fitzgerald – 1 reception, 23 yards
• NYJ – Stephen Hill – 5 receptions, 40 yards

Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks

First quarter

• SEA – Stephen Hauschka 31-yard field goal, 10:04. ''Seahawks 3–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 2:01.'''''
• SEA – Marshawn Lynch 20-yard run (Stephen Hauschka kick), 2:04. ''Seahawks 10–0. '''Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 6:14.''''' Second quarter
• SEA – Marshawn Lynch 4-yard run (Stephen Hauschka kick), 14:53. ''Seahawks 17–0. '''Drive: 3 plays, 72 yards, 1:11.'''''
• SEA – Richard Sherman 19-yard interception return (Stephen Hauschka kick), 10:12. Seahawks 24–0.
• SEA – Malcolm Smith fumble recovery (Stephen Hauschka kick), 6:31. Seahawks 31–0.
• SEA – Zach Miller 24-yard pass from Russell Wilson (Stephen Hauschka kick), 0:06. ''Seahawks 38–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 0:13.''''' Third quarter
• SEA – Marshawn Lynch 33-yard run (Stephen Hauschka kick), 11:08. ''Seahawks 45–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 86 yards, 3:52.'''''
• SEA – Stephen Hauschka 28-yard field goal, 7:47. ''Seahawks 48–0. '''Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 2:36.'''''
• SEA – Stephen Hauschka 32-yard field goal, 2:10. ''Seahawks 51–0. '''Drive: 6 plays, 26 yards, 2:43.''''' Fourth quarter
• SEA – Leon Washington 3-yard run (Stephen Hauschka kick), 2:32. ''Seahawks 58–0. '''Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 2:51.''''' Top passers
• ARI – John Skelton – 11/24, 74 yards, 4 INT
• SEA – Russell Wilson – 7/13, 148 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• ARI – William Powell – 5 rushes, 20 yards
• SEA – Marshawn Lynch – 11 rushes, 128 yards, 3 TD Top receivers
• ARI – Andre Roberts – 3 receptions, 36 yards
• SEA – Anthony McCoy – 3 receptions, 105 yards With the loss, the Cardinals were not only eliminated from postseason contention by falling to 4–9, but the 58-point loss was the worst in franchise history. They committed 8 turnovers, which was the most that the Cardinals have ever committed in a game. Arizona had only 154 yards of total offense while the defense gave up 493 yards.

The Cardinals also became the first team in NFL history to lose 9 consecutive games after starting 4–0.

Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions

With this win, the Cardinals ended their 9 game losing streak.

Week 16: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers

With this loss, the Cardinals surpassed the 1989 Chicago Bears for the worst record by an NFL team starting 4–0.

Standings

Footnotes

References

References

1. "2012 Arizona Cardinals Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
2. ''[[Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/record_finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1961&year_max=2017&wins=4&losses=0&ties=0&exclude_strike=Y Team Record Finder Query Results: From 1961 to 2017, excluding 1982 and 1987, show the final records of teams that started 4–0]