1996 Arizona Cardinals season

The 1996 Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise's 98th season, 77th in the National Football League and ninth in Arizona. The team improved upon their previous output of 4–12, winning seven games. Despite this improvement, the Cardinals failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourteenth consecutive season.

1996 Arizona Cardinals season
Owner	Bill Bidwill
Head coach	Vince Tobin
Home field	Sun Devil Stadium
Results
Record	7–9
Division place	4th NFC East
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	FB Larry Centers WR Rob Moore CB Aeneas Williams
AP All-Pros	FB Larry Centers (1st team) CB Aeneas Williams (2nd team)

The low point of the season was providing a notorious New York Jets team with its only win in front of fewer than thirty thousand people. This was the first time the Cardinals had opposed the Jets since 1978. The reason for this is that before the admission of the Texans in 2002, NFL scheduling formulas for games outside a team’s division were much more influenced by table position during the previous season.

This was Boomer Esiason's only season with the Cardinals as he would re-sign with the Cincinnati Bengals after this season.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1996 NFL draft

1996 Arizona Cardinals draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	3	Simeon Rice *	Defensive end	Illinois
2	32	Leeland McElroy	Running back	Texas A&M
3	64	Johnny McWilliams	Tight end	USC
4	112	Aaron Graham	Center	Nebraska
5	137	James Dexter	Offensive tackle	South Carolina
5	161	Harry Stamps	Offensive tackle	Oklahoma
5	162	Dell McGee		Auburn
6	169	Mike Foley	Defensive end	New Hampshire
7	212	Jarius Hayes	Tight end	North Alabama
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1996 Arizona Cardinals staff

Front office President – Bill Bidwill Vice president – Larry Wilson Assistant general manager – Joe Woolley Assistant to the president – Bob Ferguson Director of pro scouting – Keith Kidd Director of college scouting – Bo Bolinger Head coaches Head coach – Vince Tobin Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Jim Fassel Running backs – Jim Skipper Wide receivers – Vic Rapp Tight ends/quality control – Geep Chryst Offensive line – Carl Mauck

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Dave McGinnis Defensive line – Joe Greene Linebackers – Glenn Pires Defensive backs – Larry Marmie Special teams coaches Special teams – Al Everest Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki

Roster

1996 Arizona Cardinals roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 15 Stoney Case  7 Boomer Esiason 11 Kent Graham  5 Chad May Running backs (RB) 37 Larry Centers FB 36 Ryan Christopherson FB 32 LeShon Johnson 30 Leeland McElroy KR 40 Derrick Moore 45 Cedric Smith FB Wide receivers (WR) 82 Stevie Anderson 84 Marcus Dowdell PR 83 Anthony Edwards 85 Rob Moore 81 Frank Sanders Tight ends (TE) 80 Pat Carter 89 Jarius Hayes 87 Johnny McWilliams

Offensive linemen (OL) 75 Lomas Brown T 62 Mike Devlin C/G 64 James Dexter T 54 Aaron Graham C 66 Eric Jonassen T 73 Matt Joyce T 60 Anthony Redmon G 78 Joe Staysniak G/T 68 Joe Wolf T Defensive linemen (DL) 63 Michael Bankston DE 76 Jerry Drake DT 92 Eric England DE 96 Brad Ottis DE 79 Simeon Rice DE 98 Eric Swann DT 94 Bernard Wilson DT

Linebackers (LB) 58 Eric Hill MLB 56 Terry Irving OLB 59 Seth Joyner OLB 52 Wesley Leasy OLB 55 Devon McDonald OLB 57 Ronald McKinnon MLB 95 Jamir Miller OLB Defensive backs (DB) 46 Brent Alexander FS 28 Tommy Bennett SS 23 Ronnie Bradford CB 43 Matt Darby SS 44 D. J. Johnson CB 42 Kwamie Lassiter FS 47 JJ McCleskey CB 27 Tito Paul CB 35 Aeneas Williams CB Special teams  3 Kevin Butler K 10 Jeff Feagles P 86 Trey Junkin LS

Practice squad 16 Fred Brock WR 61 Ryan Leahy G 24 Dell McGee CB 69 Leslie Ratliffe T 17 Michael Watkins WR 53 active, 5 inactive, 5 practice squad Reserve 90 Blaine Berger DT (IR) 65 Ernest Dye T (IR) 67 Duval Love G (IR) 70 Lance Scott C (IR) 74 Rob Selby G (IR) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 1	at Indianapolis Colts	L 13–20	0–1	RCA Dome	48,133
2	September 8	Miami Dolphins	L 10–38	0–2	Sun Devil Stadium	55,444
3	September 15	at New England Patriots	L 0–31	0–3	Foxboro Stadium	59,118
4	September 22	at New Orleans Saints	W 28–14	1–3	Louisiana Superdome	34,316
5	September 29	St. Louis Rams	W 31–28 (OT)	2–3	Sun Devil Stadium	33,116
6	Bye
7	October 13	at Dallas Cowboys	L 3–17	2–4	Texas Stadium	64,096
8	October 20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 13–9	3–4	Sun Devil Stadium	27,738
9	October 27	New York Jets	L 21–31	3–5	Sun Devil Stadium	28,088
10	November 3	at New York Giants	L 8–16	3–6	Giants Stadium	68,262
11	November 10	at Washington Redskins	W 37–34	4–6	RFK Stadium	51,929
12	November 17	New York Giants	W 31–23	5–6	Sun Devil Stadium	34,924
13	November 24	Philadelphia Eagles	W 36–30	6–6	Sun Devil Stadium	36,175
14	December 1	at Minnesota Vikings	L 17–41	6–7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	45,767
15	December 8	Dallas Cowboys	L 6–10	6–8	Sun Devil Stadium	70,763
16	December 15	Washington Redskins	W 27–26	7–8	Sun Devil Stadium	34,260
17	December 22	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 19–29	7–9	Veterans Stadium	63,658
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Indianapolis Colts

Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	3	3	0	7	13
Colts	0	10	0	10	20

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: September 1
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 48,133
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ARI – Greg Davis 24-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0. Second quarter ARI – Greg Davis 29-yard field goal. Cardinals 6–0. IND – Zack Crockett 2-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh (Cary Blanchard kick). Colts 7–6. IND – Cary Blanchard 23-yard field goal. Colts 10–6.' Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter IND – Cary Blanchard 40-yard field goal. Colts 13–6. IND – Marvin Harrison 35-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh (Cary Blanchard kick). Colts 20–6. ARI – Boomer Esiason 2-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Colts 20–13. Top passers ARI – Boomer Esiason – 25/38, 237 yards IND – Jim Harbaugh – 16/25, 196 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers ARI – Leeland McElroy – 17 rushes, 63 yards IND – Marshall Faulk – 12 rushes, 46 yards Top receivers ARI – Larry Centers – 11 receptions, 108 yards IND – Marvin Harrison – 6 receptions, 85 yards, TD

Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 2: Miami Dolphins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	7	17	7	7	38
Cardinals	0	0	10	0	10

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: September 8
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C)
• Game attendance: 55,444
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar 3-yard run (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 7–0. Second quarter MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar 3-yard run (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 14–0. MIA – Lamar Thomas 20-yard pass from Dan Marino (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 21–0. MIA – Joe Nedney 36-yard field goal. Dolphins 24–0. Third quarter ARI – Cedric Smith 1-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Dolphins 24–7. ARI – Greg Davis 26-yard field goal. Dolphins 24–10. MIA – Irving Spikes 1-yard run (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 31–10. Fourth quarter MIA – O.J. McDuffie 5-yard pass from Dan Marino (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 38–10. Top passers MIA – Dan Marino – 14/23, 178 yards, 2 TD ARI – Kent Graham – 13/19, 133 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers MIA – Irving Spikes – 11 rushes, 79 yards, TD ARI – Larry Centers – 6 rushes, 23 yards Top receivers MIA – Charles Jordan – 2 receptions, 51 yards ARI – Frank Sanders – 8 receptions, 81 yards

Week 3: at New England Patriots

Week 3: Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Patriots	7	13	8	3	31

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

• Date: September 15
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
• Game attendance: 59,118
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter NE – Curtis Martin 13-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 7–0. Second quarter NE – Curtis Martin 1-yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 14–0. NE – Ben Coates 2-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (kick failed). Patriots 20–0. Third quarter NE – Curtis Martin 7-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Drew Bledsoe–Curtis Martin pass). Patriots 28–0. Fourth quarter NE – Adam Vinatieri 31-yard field goal. Patriots 31–0. Top passers ARI – Kent Graham – 9/19, 111 yards, INT NE – Drew Bledsoe – 21/35, 221 yards, 3 TD Top rushers ARI – Larry Centers – 6 rushes, 31 yards NE – Curtis Martin – 27 rushes, 91 yards, TD Top receivers ARI – Larry Centers – 5 receptions, 56 yards NE – Terry Glenn – 5 receptions, 66 yards

Week 4: at New Orleans Saints

Week 4: Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	3	3	8	14	28
Saints	0	7	0	7	14

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Date: September 22
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 34,316
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ARI – Greg Davis 25-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0. Second quarter ARI – Greg Davis 25-yard field goal. Cardinals 6–0. NO – Brian Jones 11-yard blocked punt return (Doug Brien kick). Saints 7–6.' Third quarter ARI – Rob Moore 20-yard pass from Kent Graham (Kent Graham–Rob Moore). Cardinals 14–7. Fourth quarter ARI – LeShon Johnson 56-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 21–7.' ARI – LeShon Johnson 70-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 28–7.' NO – Haywood Jeffires 23-yard pass from Jim Everett (Doug Brien kick). Cardinals 28–14. Top passers ARI – Kent Graham – 11/25, 165 yards, TD NO – Jim Everett – 18/33, 164 yards, TD, INT Top rushers ARI – LeShon Johnson – 21 rushes, 214 yards, 2 TD NO – Ray Zellars – 12 rushes, 57 yards Top receivers ARI – Rob Moore – 4 receptions, 91 yards, TD NO – Haywood Jeffires – 2 receptions, 31 yards, TD

Week 5: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week 5: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Rams	7	14	7	0	0	28
Cardinals	0	14	0	14	3	31

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: September 29
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C)
• Game attendance: 33,116
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter STL – Eddie Kennison 66-yard punt return (Chip Lohmiller kick). Rams 7–0. Second quarter STL – Isaac Bruce 46-yard pass from Tony Banks (Chip Lohmiller kick). Rams 14–0. ARI – Rob Moore 24-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Rams 14–7. STL – Eddie Kennison 34-yard pass from Tony Banks (Chip Lohmiller kick). Rams 21–7. ARI – LeShon Johnson 2-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Rams 21–14. Third quarter STL – Isaac Bruce 49-yard pass from Tony Banks (Chip Lohmiller kick). Rams 28–14. Fourth quarter ARI – Larry Centers 5-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Rams 28–21. ARI – Frank Sanders 5-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Tied 28–28. Overtime ARI – Greg Davis 24-yard field goal. Cardinals 31–28. Top passers STL – Tony Banks – 10/17, 186 yards, 3 TD, INT ARI – Kent Graham – 37/58, 366 yards, 4 TD Top rushers STL – Harold Green – 10 rushes, 39 yards ARI – LeShon Johnson – 12 rushes, 97 yards Top receivers STL – Isaac Bruce – 4 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD ARI – Rob Moore – 9 receptions, 143 yards, TD

Week 7: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 7: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	3	3
Cowboys	0	3	7	7	17

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

• Date: October 13
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C)
• Game attendance: 64,096
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter DAL – Chris Boniol 23-yard field goal. Cowboys 3–0.' Third quarter DAL – Emmitt Smith 3-yard run (Chris Boniol kick). Cowboys 10–0. Fourth quarter ARI – Greg Davis 49-yard field goal. Cowboys 10–3.' DAL – Emmitt Smith 13-yard run (Chris Boniol kick). Cowboys 17–3. Top passers ARI – Kent Graham – 16/31, 141 yards, INT DAL – Troy Aikman – 23/37, 199 yards, INT Top rushers ARI – Larry Centers – 5 rushes, 24 yards DAL – Emmitt Smith – 21 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TD Top receivers ARI – Rob Moore – 3 receptions, 45 yards DAL – Michael Irvin – 5 receptions, 51 yards

Week 8: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	0	0	3	6	9
Cardinals	3	7	3	0	13

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: October 20
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
• Game attendance: 27,738
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ARI – Greg Davis 22-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0. Second quarter ARI – Larry Centers 5-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 10–0. Third quarter TB – Michael Husted 41-yard field goal. Cardinals 10–3. ARI – Greg Davis 37-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–3. Fourth quarter TB – Mike Alstott 1-yard run (kick failed). Cardinals 13–9. Top passers TB – Trent Dilfer – 22/35, 229 yards ARI – Kent Graham – 17/26, 146 yards, TD Top rushers TB – Reggie Brooks – 14 rushes, 43 yards ARI – Kent Graham – 5 rushes, 40 yards Top receivers TB – Courtney Hawkins – 6 receptions, 74 yards ARI – Frank Sanders – 4 receptions, 40 yards

Week 9: vs. New York Jets

Week 9: New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jets	3	14	0	14	31
Cardinals	0	0	14	7	21

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: October 27
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
• Game attendance: 28,088
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter NYJ – Nick Lowery 37-yard field goal. Jets 3–0. Second quarter NYJ – Keyshawn Johnson 34-yard pass from Frank Reich (Nick Lowery kick). Jets 10–0. NYJ – Richie Anderson 1-yard run (Nick Lowery kick). Jets 17–0. Third quarter ARI – Larry Centers 1-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Jets 17–7. ARI – Larry Centers 2-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Jets 17–14. Fourth quarter NYJ – Adrian Murrell 1-yard run (Nick Lowery kick). Jets 24–14. ARI – Rob Moore 6-yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick). Jets 24–21. NYJ – Reggie Cobb 2-yard run (Nick Lowery kick). Jets 31–21. Top passers NYJ – Frank Reich – 22/31, 254 yards, TD, 2 INT ARI – Kent Graham – 17/32, 255 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers NYJ – Adrian Murrell – 31 rushes, 199 yards, TD ARI – LeShon Johnson – 12 rushes, 85 yards Top receivers NYJ – Keyshawn Johnson – 7 receptions, 94 yards, TD ARI – Rob Moore – 7 receptions, 143 yards, TD

Week 10: at New York Giants

Week 10: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	8	8
Giants	3	0	3	10	16

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Date: November 3
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
• Game attendance: 64,096
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter NYG – Brad Daluiso 31-yard field goal. Giants 3–0.' Second quarter No scoring plays Third quarter NYG – Brad Daluiso 32-yard field goal. Giants 6–0.' Fourth quarter NYG – Thomas Lewis 24-yard pass from Danny Kanell (Brad Daluiso kick). Giants 13–0. NYG – Brad Daluiso 45-yard field goal. Giants 16–0.' ARI – Frank Sanders 7-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Boomer Esiason run). Giants 16–8. Top passers ARI – Boomer Esiason – 20/40, 196 yards, TD, 2 INT NYG – Danny Kanell – 14/27, 128 yards, TD Top rushers ARI – LeShon Johnson – 10 rushes, 29 yards NYG – Rodney Hampton – 24 rushes, 94 yards Top receivers ARI – Frank Sanders – 5 receptions, 61 yards, TD NYG – Thomas Lewis – 7 receptions, 77 yards, TD

Week 11: at Washington Redskins

Week 11: Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Cardinals	3	10	0	21	3	37
Redskins	3	10	14	7	0	34

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, District of Columbia

• Date: November 10
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
• Game attendance: 51,929
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ARI – Kevin Butler 26-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.' WAS – Scott Blanton 53-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.' Second quarter WAS – Marc Logan 36-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 10–3.' ARI – Kevin Butler 39-yard field goal. Redskins 10–6.' ARI – Marcus Dowdell 64-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 13–10. WAS – Scott Blanton 24-yard field goal. Tied 13–13.' Third quarter WAS – Michael Westbrook 17-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 20–13. WAS – Terry Allen 1-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 27–13.' Fourth quarter ARI – Larry Centers 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Redskins 27–20.' WAS – Terry Allen 1-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 34–20.' ARI – Johnny McWilliams 13-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Redskins 34–27. ARI – Anthony Edwards 12-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Tied 34–34. Overtime ARI – Kevin Butler 32-yard field goal. Cardinals 37–34.' Top passers ARI – Boomer Esiason – 35/59, 522 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT WAS – Gus Frerotte – 18/36, 212 yards, TD, INT Top rushers ARI – LeShon Johnson – 20 rushes, 65 yards WAS – Terry Allen – 31 rushes, 124 yards, 2 TD Top receivers ARI – Marcus Dowdle – 3 receptions, 92 yards, TD WAS – Michael Westbrook – 6 receptions, 91 yards, TD

Week 12: vs. New York Giants

Week 12: New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	0	6	7	10	23
Cardinals	14	7	7	3	31

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: November 17
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
• Game attendance: 34,924
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ARI – Rob Moore 6-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 7–0. ARI – Cedric Smith 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 14–0. Second quarter NYG – Brad Daluiso 25-yard field goal. Cardinals 14–3. ARI – Frank Sanders 2-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 21–3. NYG – Brad Daluiso 22-yard field goal. Cardinals 21–6. Third quarter NYG – Tyrone Wheatley 4-yard pass from Dave Brown (Brad Daluiso kick). Cardinals 21–13. ARI – LeShon Johnson 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 28–13. Fourth quarter NYG – Tyrone Wheatley 9-yard pass from Dave Brown (Brad Daluiso kick). Cardinals 28–20. ARI – Kevin Butler 18-yard field goal. Cardinals 31–20. NYG – Brad Daluiso 27-yard field goal. Cardinals 31–23. Top passers NYG – Dave Brown – 22/41, 262 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT ARI – Boomer Esiason – 18/27, 260 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers NYG – Tyrone Wheatley – 13 rushes, 50 yards ARI – LeShon Johnson – 17 rushes, 48 yards, TD Top receivers NYG – Chris Calloway – 6 receptions, 95 yards ARI – LeShon Johnson – 2 receptions, 50 yards

Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 13: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	7	3	3	17	30
Cardinals	3	10	3	20	36

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: November 24
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C)
• Game attendance: 36,175
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter PHI – Ricky Watters 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick). Eagles 7–0. ARI – Kevin Butler 21-yard field goal. Eagles 7–3. Second quarter PHI – Gary Anderson 44-yard field goal. Eagles 10–3. ARI – Leeland McElroy 4-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Tied 10–10. ARI – Kevin Butler 36-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–10. Third quarter PHI – Gary Anderson 25-yard field goal. Tied 13–13. ARI – Kevin Butler 27-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–13. Fourth quarter ARI – Pat Carter 6-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (pass failed). Cardinals 22–13. PHI – Ricky Watters 4-yard run (Gary Anderson kick). Cardinals 22–20. ARI – Larry Centers 2-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 29–20. PHI – Derrick Witherspoon 95-yard kickoff return (Gary Anderson kick). Cardinals 29–27. PHI – Gary Anderson 32-yard field goal. Eagles 30–29. ARI – Marcus Dowdell 24-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 36–30. Top passers PHI – Ty Detmer – 21/38, 322 yards, INT ARI – Boomer Esiason – 24/43, 367 yards, 3 TD Top rushers PHI – Ricky Watters – 25 rushes, 64 yards, 2 TD ARI – Larry Centers – 13 rushes, 45 yards Top receivers PHI – Irving Fryar – 7 receptions, 131 yards ARI – Rob Moore – 9 receptions, 156 yards

Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 14: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	3	0	14	17
Vikings	3	10	14	14	41

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: December 1
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 45,767
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter MIN – Scott Sisson 38-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.' Second quarter MIN – Scott Sisson 26-yard field goal. Vikings 6–0.' MIN – Amp Lee 19-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Scott Sisson kick). Vikings 13–0. ARI – Kevin Butler 38-yard field goal. Vikings 13–3.' Third quarter MIN – Jake Reed 40-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Scott Sisson kick). Vikings 20–3. MIN – Qadry Ismail 13-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Scott Sisson kick). Vikings 27–3. Fourth quarter MIN – Cris Carter 4-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Scott Sisson kick). Vikings 34–3. ARI – Larry Centers 9-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Kevin Butler kick). Vikings 34–10. MIN – Leroy Hoard 1-yard run (Scott Sisson kick). Vikings 41–10.' ARI – Larry Centers 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Vikings 41–17.' Top passers ARI – Boomer Esiason – 26/40, 270 yards, TD, 2 INT MIN – Brad Johnson – 19/26, 238 yards, 4 TD Top rushers ARI – Larry Centers – 4 rushes, 21 yards, TD MIN – Leroy Hoard – 22 rushes, 94 yards, TD Top receivers ARI – Larry Centers – 10 receptions, 85 yards, TD MIN – Jake Reed – 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD

Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 15: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cowboys	0	0	7	3	10
Cardinals	3	3	0	0	6

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: December 8
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C)
• Game attendance: 70,763
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ARI – Kevin Butler 33-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0. Second quarter ARI – Kevin Butler 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 6–0. Third quarter DAL – Michael Irvin 50-yard pass from Troy Aikman (Chris Boniol kick). Cowboys 7–6. Fourth quarter DAL – Chris Boniol 31-yard field goal. Cowboys 10–6. Top passers DAL – Troy Aikman – 15/24, 255 yards, TD ARI – Boomer Esiason – 18/36, 224 yards, 2 INT Top rushers DAL – Emmitt Smith – 27 rushes, 70 yards ARI – Leeland McElroy – 14 rushes, 90 yards Top receivers DAL – Michael Irving – 8 receptions, 198 yards, TD ARI – Rob Moore – 4 receptions, 94 yards

Week 16: vs. Washington Redskins

Week 16: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	3	13	7	3	26
Cardinals	7	7	3	10	27

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

• Date: December 15
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C)
• Game attendance: 34,260
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ARI – Larry Centers 6-yard pass from Kent Graham (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 7–0. WAS – Scott Blanton 20-yard field goal. Cardinals 7–3. Second quarter ARI – Jamir Miller 26-yard fumble return (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 14–3. WAS – Scott Turner 0-yard fumble return (Scott Blanton kick). Cardinals 14–10. WAS – Scott Blanton 22-yard field goal. Cardinals 14–13. WAS – Scott Blanton 23-yard field goal. Redskins 16–14. Third quarter WAS – Terry Allen 14-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 23–14.' ARI – Kevin Butler 22-yard field goal. Redskins 23–17. Fourth quarter ARI – Frank Sanders 21-yard pass from Kent Graham (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 24–23. WAS – Scott Blanton 35-yard field goal. Redskins 26–24. ARI – Kevin Butler 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 27–26. Top passers WAS – Gus Frerotte – 22/40, 258 yards ARI – Kent Graham – 20/46, 232 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers WAS – Terry Allen – 17 rushes, 69 yards, TD ARI – Leeland McElroy – 18 rushes, 59 yards Top receivers WAS – Michael Westbrook – 4 receptions, 59 yards ARI – Frank Sanders – 6 receptions, 82 yards, TD

Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 17: Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	3	3	13	19
Eagles	13	10	3	3	29

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Date: December 22
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C)
• Game attendance: 63,658
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter PHI – Mike Mamula 4-yard fumble return (Gary Anderson kick). Eagles 7–0.' PHI – Gary Anderson 23-yard field goal. Eagles 10–0.' PHI – Gary Anderson 22-yard field goal. Eagles 13–0.' Second quarter PHI – Gary Anderson 43-yard field goal. Eagles 16–0.' ARI – Kevin Butler 41-yard field goal. Eagles 16–3.' PHI – Ricky Watters 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick). Eagles 23–3.' Third quarter ARI – Kevin Butler 41-yard field goal. Eagles 23–6.' PHI – Gary Anderson 26-yard field goal. Eagles 26–6.' Fourth quarter PHI – Gary Anderson 39-yard field goal. Eagles 29–6.' ARI – Leeland McElroy 22-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (kick failed). Eagles 29–12. ARI – Aeneas Williams 65-yard interception return (Kevin Butler kick). Eagles 29–19. Top passers ARI – Boomer Esiason – 12/26, 138 yards, TD PHI – Ty Detmer – 20/32, 216 yards, INT Top rushers ARI – Leeland McElroy – 9 rushes, 45 yards PHI – Ricky Watters – 31 rushes, 99 yards, TD Top receivers ARI – Larry Centers – 6 receptions, 43 yards PHI – Chris Jones – 5 receptions, 65 yards

Standings

NFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(3) Dallas Cowboys	10	6	0	.625	286	250	L1
(5) Philadelphia Eagles	10	6	0	.625	363	341	W2
Washington Redskins	9	7	0	.563	364	312	W1
Arizona Cardinals	7	9	0	.438	300	397	L1
New York Giants	6	10	0	.375	242	297	L2