# 1991 Phoenix Cardinals season

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. This was the ninth consecutive season the Cardinals failed to qualify to the playoffs.
The Cardinals’ 196 points scored is the lowest total in franchise history for a 16-game season.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

1991 Phoenix Cardinals draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 6 | Eric Swann * | Defensive tackle | Wake Technical CC |
| 2 | 32 | Mike Jones | Defensive end | North Carolina State |
| 3 | 59 | Aeneas Williams * $^†$ | Cornerback | Southern |
| 4 | 86 | Dexter Davis | Cornerback | Clemson |
| 5 | 117 | Vince Hammond | Defensive tackle | Clemson |
| 6 | 144 | Eduardo Vega | Offensive tackle | Memphis |
| 7 | 171 | Ivory Lee Brown | Running back | Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
| 8 | 198 | Greg Amsler | Running back | Tennessee |
| 8 | 204 | Jerry Evans | Tight end | Toledo |
| 8 | 209 | Scott Evans | Defensive end | Oklahoma |
| 10 | 255 | Herbie Anderson | Defensive back | Texas A&I |
| 11 | 282 | Nathan LaDuke | Defensive back | Arizona State |
| 12 | 309 | Jeff Bridewell | Quarterback | UC Davis |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1991 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Donn Grimm | Linebacker | Notre Dame |

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | August 3 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 31–13 | 1–0 | Kingdome | 49,448 |
| 2 | August 11 | at Chicago Bears | W 12–10 | 2–0 | Soldier Field | 55,513 |
| 3 | August 17 | New England Patriots | W 46–0 | 3–0 | Sun Devil Stadium | 51,070 |
| 4 | August 23 | Denver Broncos | W 34–10 | 4–0 | Sun Devil Stadium | 38,372 |

## 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 schedule 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. 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.
| 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 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | 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. ||||||||

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 14 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| Rams | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 26 |
| Eagles | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Date: September 8
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 63,818
* Box Score
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.
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Redskins | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, District of Columbia
* Date: September 15
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
* Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 54,662
* Box Score
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
* Date: September 22
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C)
* Game attendance: 68,814
* Box Score
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
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| Giants | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
* Date: October 6
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 75,891
* Box Score
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Vikings | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: October 13
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
* Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
* Game attendance: 51,209
* Box Score
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 16 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cowboys | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| 49ers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
* Date: November 17
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
* Game attendance: 50,180
* Box Score
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 20 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
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
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 19 |
| Broncos | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Date: December 15
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C)
* Game attendance: 74,098
* Box Score
Game information :
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 0 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
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
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
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

NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(1)}$ Washington Redskins | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 6–2 | 10–2 | 485 | 224 | L1 |
| $^{(5)}$ Dallas Cowboys | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–3 | 8–4 | 342 | 310 | W5 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–3 | 6–6 | 285 | 244 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–5 | 5–7 | 281 | 297 | W1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–7 | 3–11 | 196 | 344 | L8 |