2009 Arizona Cardinals season The 2009 Arizona Cardinals season is the 90th season for the team in the National Football League and the 22nd season in Arizona . The Cardinals finished the season with a 10 – 6 record , an improvement from their 9 – 7 previous season record and the first time the team has won ten games since 1976 The franchise was able to successfully defend the National Football Conference ( NFC ) West division title and earned a playoff berth in the NFC Playoffs wild card round against the Green Bay Packers , which they won in overtime . Their season ended on January 17 , 2010 , in a loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints in the NFC Playoffs divisional round . 2009 NFL Draft . As and having lost Super Bowl XLIII , the Cardinals had the second - to - last pick in the first round ( 31st overall ) . Regular season results . Week 1 : vs . San Francisco 49ers . With their NFC title on the line , the Cardinals began their season at home in a Week 1 divisional duel with their NFC West rival , the San Francisco 49ers . In the first quarter , Arizona trailed early as Niners kicker Joe Nedney got a 37 - yard and a 50 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Cardinals got on the board as kicker Neil Rackers made a 44 - yard field goal . San Francisco answered with running back Frank Gore getting a 6 - yard touchdown run , while Arizona closed out the half with Rackers kicking a 29 - yard field goal . The Cardinals would tie the game in the third quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 5 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald . In the fourth quarter , Arizona took the lead as Rackers nailed a 43 - yard field goal . However , the 49ers regained their lead as quarterback Shaun Hill completed a 3 - yard touchdown pass to Gore . San Francisco ' s defense would then prevent the Cards ' offense from rallying . With the loss , the Cardinals began their season at 0 – 1 . Week 2 : at Jacksonville Jaguars . Hoping to rebound from their loss to the 49ers , the Cardinals traveled to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 2 interconference duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars . The Cardinals scored on their first drive with a 1 - yard run by running back Tim Hightower . The Jaguars also scored on their first possession with a 30 - yard field goal from kicker Josh Scobee . Arizona then answered with a 45 - yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers . In the second quarter , trailing 10 – 3 , the Jaguars lined up for another Scobee field goal only to have it blocked by backup defensive end Calais Campbell and returned by free safety Antrel Rolle for an 83 - yard touchdown . The Cardinals would extend their lead by halftime as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 5 - yard touchdown pass to running back Jason Wright . Warner would find wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the third quarter for a 22 - yard touchdown pass that increased the Cardinal lead to 28 . Jacksonville would attempt to mount a comeback with quarterback David Garrard completing a 25 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis in the third quarter and a 25 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Sims - Walker in the fourth quarter , but Arizona held on for the victory . With the win , the Cardinals improved to 1 – 1 . Warner ' s performance ( 24 / 26 , 243 yards , 2 TDs ) would become the new NFL record for a single - game completion percentage ( 92 . 3 % ) , snapping Vinny Testaverde ' s old record set in 1993 ( 91 . 3 % ) . Week 3 : vs . Indianapolis Colts . Coming off their Week 2 road win over the Jaguars , the Cardinals went home for a Week 3 Sunday night interconference duel with the Indianapolis Colts . Arizona took flight in the first quarter with kicker Neil Rackers ' 38 - yard field goal . However , the Colts took a monster lead in the second quarter as quarterback Peyton Manning completed a 20 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne , a 10 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Clark , and a 53 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Pierre Garçon . The Cardinals tried to fight back in the third quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner hooked up with wide receiver Anquan Boldin on a 10 - yard touchdown pass , but Indianapolis replied with Manning ' s 3 - yard touchdown pass to running back Joseph Addai . Afterwards , the Colts closed out the game in the fourth quarter with kicker Adam Vinatieri ' s 26 - yard field goal . With the loss , Arizona entered its bye week at 1 – 2 . Week 5 : vs . Houston Texans . Coming off their bye week , the Cardinals stayed at home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Houston Texans . Arizona would get off to a very fast start as running back Tim Hightower got a 1 - yard touchdown run in the first quarter , followed by quarterback Kurt Warner completing a 9 - yard and a 26 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the second . However , the Texans gained steam in the third quarter with a 1 - yard touchdown run from running back Chris Brown . Afterwards , Houston would tie the game in the fourth quarter with quarterback Matt Schaub completing an 11 - yard and a 17 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson . However , the Cardinals went back to work with two crucial defensive moments . First , cornerback Dominique Rodgers - Cromartie would return an interception 49 yards for a touchdown . Second , even when the Texans ' offense got down to Arizona ' s 1 - yard line on a 1st down play inside of the two minute warning , the defense withstood three tries and held on for the victory . With the win , the Cardinals improved to 2 – 2 . Week 6 : at Seattle Seahawks . Coming off their home win over the Texans , the Cardinals flew to Qwest Field for a Week 6 NFC West duel with the Seattle Seahawks . Arizona took flight in the first quarter with quarterback Kurt Warner hooking up with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on a 2 - yard touchdown pass , followed by a 2 - yard touchdown run from running back Tim Hightower . In the second quarter , the Cardinals would add onto their lead as kicker Neil Rackers made a 29 - yard field goal . The Seahawks would then get their only score of the game as kicker Olindo Mare got a 28 - yard field goal . In the second half , Arizona pulled away with Warner completing a 16 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Breaston in the third quarter and Rackers booting a 31 - yard field goal in the fourth . With the win , the Cardinals improved to 3 – 2 . Week 7 : at New York Giants . Coming off their road win over the Seahawks , the Cardinals flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 7 Sunday night duel with the New York Giants . After a scoreless first quarter , Arizona would trail in the second quarter as Giants running back Brandon Jacobs got a 4 - yard touchdown run . The Cardinals would answer with rookie running back Chris " Beanie " Wells , but New York came right back with quarterback Eli Manning completing a 62 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hakeem Nicks . Arizona would end the half with kicker Neil Rackers nailing a 30 - yard field goal . The Cardinals would take the lead in the third quarter with running back Tim Hightower ' s 1 - yard touchdown run , followed by quarterback Kurt Warner completing a 6 - yard touchdown pass to running back Jason Wright . The Giants tried to come back in the fourth quarter as kicker Lawrence Tynes booted a 20 - yard field goal , yet safety Antrel Rolle ' s final interception of the game sealed the deal for Arizona . With the win , the Cardinals improved to 4 – 2 . Week 8 : vs . Carolina Panthers . Coming off their impressive road win over the Giants , the Cardinals went home for a Week 8 duel with the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of last year ' s divisional game . In the first quarter , Arizona trailed early as Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart got a 6 - yard touchdown run . The Cardinals would respond as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 14 - yard touchdown pass to rookie running back LaRod Stephens - Howling . However , Carolina unleashed its fury in the second quarter with Stewart ' s 10 - yard touchdown run , quarterback Jake Delhomme ' s 50 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Smith , and defensive end Julius Peppers returning an intercepton 13 yards for a touchdown . The Cardinals would begin their rally in the third quarter as Warner connected with tight end Ben Patrick on a 1 - yard touchdown pass , but the Panthers would answer in the fourth quarter as kicker John Kasay booted a 35 - yard field goal . Arizona tried to come back as running back Tim Hightower got a 1 - yard touchdown run , but Carolina would seal the win as Kasay nailed a 31 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Cardinals fell to 4 – 3 . Week 9 : at Chicago Bears . Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Panthers , the Cardinals flew to Soldier Field for a Week 9 duel with the Chicago Bears . Arizona would deliver the opening strike in the first quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner completed an 11 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald . The Bears would respond with quarterback Jay Cutler hooking up with tight end Greg Olsen on a 33 - yard touchdown pass , yet the Cardinals would answer with Warner finding tight end Ben Patrick on a 6 - yard touchdown pass . In the second quarter , Arizona would unleash a firestorm as Warner found Fitzgerald again on a 17 - yard touchdown pass , followed by tight end Anthony Becht on a 15 - yard touchdown pass . Afterwards , the Cardinals would close out the half with a 43 - yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers . In the third quarter , Arizona would get the period ' s only points as Rackers booted a 30 - yard field goal . Chicago would begin to rally in the fourth quarter as Cutler found Olsen again on a 3 - yard and a 20 - yard touchdown , yet the Cards closed out the game with Warner hooking up with wide receiver Steve Breaston on a 4 - yard touchdown pass . With the win , the Cardinals impoved to 5 – 3 . Week 10 : vs . Seattle Seahawks . Coming off their dominating road win over the Bears , the Cardinals went home for a Week 10 NFC West rematch with the Seattle Seahawks . Arizona would trail in the first quarter as Seahawks running back Justin Forsett got a 20 - yard touchdown run . In the second quarter , Seattle would increase their lead as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck found tight end John Carlson on a 31 - yard touchdown pass . The Cardinals would get on the board with quarterback Kurt Warner ' s 28 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Breaston , but the Seahawks answered with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 32 - yad field goal . Arizona would end the half with a 27 - yard field goal from kicker Neil Rackers . The Cardinals would tie the game in the third quarter with a 10 - yard touchdown run from rookie running back Chris " Beanie " Wells . Seattle tried to take control in the fourth quarter with Mare booting a 20 - yard field goal , yet Arizona came out on top as Wells picked up a 13 - yard touchdown run and Warner connected with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on an 18 - yard touchdown pass . With the win , the Cardinals improved to 6 – 3 . Week 11 : at St . Louis Rams . Looking to improve to 5 – 0 on the road , the Cardinals went to their former home for a Week 11 duel against divisional rival St . Louis Rams . The Rams would score first , on a Josh Brown field goal following a fumble by Chris " Beanie " Wells . However , the Cardinals would score the next 21 points , as Kurt Warner connected with Anquan Boldin for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter , followed by a Warner to Larry Fitzgerald touchdown and a Beanie Wells rushing touchdown in the second quarter . During the second touchdown drive of the second quarter , Warner was hit hard by St . Louis safety O . J . Atogwe , with his head hitting the turf as he went down . Warner played the remaining six plays of the drive , but was replaced for the remainder of the game by backup quarterback Matt Leinart . Leinart struggled with a more conservative game throughout the second half , and the Cardinals did not score for the remainder of the game . St . Louis attempted to rally ; however , they were only able to muster a second Josh Brown field goal and a Steven Jackson touchdown . With the win , the Cardinals improved to 7 – 3 ; however , Warner ' s status remained questionable for the next week ' s game against the Tennessee Titans . Week 12 : at Tennessee Titans . With Kurt Warner on the sidelines due to injury , and in the tenth season since he won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Titans , the Cardinals fell to a game - winning rally led by quarterback Vince Young as he raced the Titans 99 yards down field over the final 2 : 37 , converted two fourth downs , and fired the winning ten - yard touchdown on the final play to Kenny Britt . The win made the Titans the first team to win five straight after starting 0 - 6 as they improved to 5 - 6 while the Cadinals fell to 7 - 4 . Week 13 : vs . Minnesota Vikings . Week 13 saw the return of staring quarterback Kurt Warner to the line - up . The Cardinals took off in the first half building a 24 - 10 lead . Warner played exceptionally well , throwing for three first half touchdowns on his way to a 285 yard effort . The defense stifled Favre and the Vikings and held Adrian Peterson to a season - low 19 yards . The Warner led offense propelled the Cards to a stunningly one - sided 30 - 17 victory . Week 16 : vs . St . Louis Rams . With this win , The Cardinals got their 10th win of the season . The last time the Cardinals had double digit wins in a season was in 1976 . Week 17 : vs . Green Bay Packers . With the Vikings win earlier in the day , this game was rendered unimportant . The Cardinals pulled Kurt Warner along with other starters early in the 2nd quarter while the Packers continued to play their starters until the 4th quarter . Late in the 4th quarter , quarterback Brian St . Pierre threw his first career touchdown pass . Post season results . NFC Wild Card : vs . Green Bay Packers . Entering the postseason as the NFC ' s # 4 seed , the Cardinals began their playoff run at home in the NFC Wild Card game against the # 5 Green Bay Packers , looking to avenge their Week 17 defeat . Arizona would take advantage of some Packer turnovers early in the first quarter by turning them into a 1 - yard touchdown run for running back Tim Hightower and quarterback Kurt Warner ' s 15 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Early Doucet . The Cardinals would also add a 23 - yard field goal from kicker Neil Rackers . Green Bay would reply in the second quarter with quarterback Aaron Rodgers getting a 1 - yard touchdown run , yet Arizona went right back to work as Warner found Doucet again on a 15 - yard touchdown pass . The Packers would end the half with a 20 - yard field goal from kicker Mason Crosby . In the third quarter , the Cardinals went back to work as Warner found wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on a 33 - yard touchdown pass , but Green Bay would answer with Rodgers completing a 6 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings followed by a 10 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson . Arizona continued to show off its offense firepower as Warner hooked up with Fitzgerald again on an 11 - yard touchdown pass . The Packers would tie the game in the fourth quarter as Rodgers would complete a 30 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver James Jones , followed by fullback John Kuhn ' s 1 - yard touchdown run . The Cardinals ' offense continued to flex its muscles as Warner found wide receiver Steve Breaston on a 17 - yard touchdown pass . Just then , Green Bay would tie the game again as Rodgers would complete an 11 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Spencer Havner . The Cardinals drove down field in the final minutes , but a 34 - yard field goal try by Neil Rackers with nine seconds remaining sailed wide left , forcing overtime . Arizona ' s defense would rise to the occasion in overtime as linebacker Karlos Dansby recovered a fumble and ran it back 17 yards for the game - winning touchdown . With the win , the Cardinals improved to overall record to 11 – 6 . The 96 combined points between both teams would become the highest point total in a NFL postseason game . NFC Divisonal Round : at New Orleans Saints . Coming off their shootout win over the Packers , the Cardinals flew to the Louisiana Superdome for the NFC Divisional Round against the top - seeded New Orleans Saints . On their very first offensive play of the game , Arizona came out fast as running back Tim Hightower got a 70 - yard touchdown run . The Saints would hugely respond with running back Lynell Hamilton getting a 1 - yard touchdown run , followed by quarterback Drew Brees completing a 17 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey , along with running back Reggie Bush getting a 54 - yard touchdown run . In the second quarter , the Cardinals would come right back as rookie running back Chris " Beanie " Wells got a 4 - yard touchdown run . However , New Orleans came right back as Brees threw a 44 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devery Henderson and a 2 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston . The Saints would add onto their lead in the third quarter with a 43 - yard field goal from kicker Garrett Hartley , followed by an 83 - yard punt return for a touchdown by Bush . Arizona tried to rally , but New Orleans ' defense continued to shut down possible rally . With the loss , the Cardinals ' season ended with an overall record of 11 – 7 .