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 4–12.1991 Phoenix Cardinals 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.Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, playing for the Ari (StL/Chi) Cardinals, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For.
Offseason
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1991 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeDonn GrimmLinebackerNotre Dame
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 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 New England Patriots W 46–0 3–0 Sun Devil Stadium 51,070 4 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 scheduleThe toughest schedule between 1989 and 2013 according to Football Outsiders was played by the 2004 Cleveland Browns. based on strength of opponent of any NFL team between 1989 and 2013,Football Outsiders; DVOA Analysis: ‘Let Me Check My Schedule’ although Pro Football Reference argues that the 1991 Cardinals suffered the ninth toughest non-strike schedule since 1971.Tougher schedules according to Pro Football Reference in non-strike seasons since 1971 were suffered by, in descending order of toughness, the 2010 Buffalo Bills, the 1975 Cleveland Browns and 1975 New York Jets (equal), the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2010 Miami Dolphins, the 1979 Cincinnati Bengals, the 1977 Kansas City Chiefs and the 1973 San Francisco 49ers. 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 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
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3: at Washington Redskins
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 5: vs. New England Patriots
Week 6: at New York Giants
Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 11: vs. New York Giants
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 15: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 16: at Denver Broncos
Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints
Standings
Notes
References