2021 Arizona Cardinals season
The 2021 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 102nd season in the National Football League, their 34th in Arizona and their third under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. They improved from their 8–8 season from the previous year with a 23–13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11. The Cardinals started 7–0 for the first time in 47 years when they were based in St. Louis. With their week 11 win over their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals improved on their record from the previous year and clinched their first winning season since 2015. Despite  a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, the Cardinals clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2015 after the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Los Angeles Rams. Despite an impressive 7–0 start and acquiring All-Pros J. J. Watt and A. J. Green prior to the season starting, the team suffered their second consecutive late-season collapse, losing four out of their last five games and dropping to the fifth seed. In the Wild Card playoffs, the Cardinals lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions Los Angeles Rams, 34–11. In the offseason, cornerback Patrick Peterson was  lost to free agency after 10 years, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald chose not to sign with any team after 17 years with the franchise. Preseason. The Cardinals' preseason schedule was announced on May 12. Regular season. Schedule. The Cardinals' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12. Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries. Week 3: at Jacksonville Jaguars. The Cardinals earned their first 3–0 start since 2015. Week 4: at Los Angeles Rams. With the win, the Cardinals not only improved to 4–0 for the first time since 2012, but earned their first victory over the  Rams since Week 17 of the 2016 season. Also, with the Broncos, the Raiders, and the Panthers losing their first games of the season, the Cardinals became the last undefeated team in the NFL. Week 6: at Cleveland Browns. The Cardinals started 6–0 for the first time since 1974. Week 7: vs. Houston Texans. The Arizona Cardinals played the Houston Texans at home. This was the first game where former Texans DeAndre Hopkins and JJ Watt played against their former team, as well as tight end Zach Ertz's debut with the Cardinals. Week 8: vs. Green Bay Packers. The  Packers handed the Cardinals their first loss to deny them a perfect season with a 24–21 victory on Thursday Night Football. Kyler Murray had the ball with time winding down, and the ball in field goal range, but a pass intended for wide receiver A. J. Green was picked off in the endzone by Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas, who began the season on the Cardinals practice squad. Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers. Despite Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins not playing, the Cardinals dominated the game to sweep the season series for the first time since 2018. With the win , the Cardinals improved to 8–1 and tied their 8-win mark from the previous season. Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks. With this win the Cardinals improved to 9-2 and secured their first winning season since 2015. Week 13: at Chicago Bears. Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins returned to the field after the bye and connected for a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Week 15: at Detroit Lions. Despite being the favorite to win, the 1-11-1 Detroit Lions blew out the Cardinals 30-12 in the unexpected loss. The Lions opened the scoring in the first  quarter via a 37-yard field goal by Riley Patterson. The Lions scored 14 points in the second quarter via a 37-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Josh Reynolds, which made the score 17–0 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Cardinals finally got on the board in the third quarter via a 29-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The Lions extended their lead via a six-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Jason Cabinda. The Cardinals responded with a 29-yard field  goal by Prater. The Lions extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 47-yard field goal by Patterson. The Cardinals responded with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to Christian Kirk. The Lions scored the final points of the game via a 45-yard field goal by Patterson, making the final score 30–12 in favor of Detroit. With the loss, Arizona fell to 10-4 and lost their first road game. Week 16: vs. Indianapolis Colts. NFL on Christmas Day Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys. With the win, the Cardinals finished a league-best 8–1 on  the road. Week 18: vs. Seattle Seahawks. With the loss, the Cardinals finished the season 11–6, earning a Wildcard spot in the 2021–22 NFL playoffs as the 5th seed. Statistics. Individual. "Statistics correct as of the end of the 2021 NFL season"