# 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.
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

1996 Arizona Cardinals draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 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 ||||||

## 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 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (TNT): Verne Lundquist, Pat Haden, Ernie Johnson
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Harlan, Jerry Glanville
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Eric Clemons, Jim Burt
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Eric Clemons, Jim Burt
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, John Madden
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Mike Breen, Bill Maas
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Randy Cross
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Harlan, Jerry Glanville
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Ron Pitts
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Harlan, Jerry Glanville
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Bill Maas
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, John Madden
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green
* 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

| 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
* TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green
* 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 :
| viewtalkedit | 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 |