The 2010 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 91st in the National Football League (NFL) and their 23rd in Arizona. The Cardinals attempted to improve on their 10–6 record from 2009 behind starting quarterback Derek Anderson. Anderson was named the starter after Kurt Warner retired in the offseason. But after a modest 3–2 start, the Cardinals fell apart by losing 9 of their remaining 11 contests. Anderson suffered a concussion behind a poorly performing offensive line in Week 14. The team was eliminated from postseason contention for the first time since 2007 in Week 15. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt's offense proved erratic in accuracy and nullified Anderson’s very respectable arm strength. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis was fired after the season.
Offseason Quarterback Kurt Warner announced his retirement on January 29, 2010.
2010 NFL draft
After finishing the season with a loss in the divisional round of the postseason, the Cardinals will pick 26th. The Cardinals will also have an additional third and fourth round pick from a trade that sent wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens. Their fourth round pick was traded to the New York Jets for safety Kerry Rhodes.
+ Arizona Cardinals 2010 NFL Draft selections Round Selection Player Position College 1 26 Dan Williams DT Tennessee 2 47* Daryl Washington LB Texas Christian 3 88** Andre Roberts WR Citadel 4 130* O'Brien Schofield DE University of Wisconsin5 155** John Skelton QB Fordham6 201* Jorrick Calvin CB Troy7 233 Jim Dray TE Stanford
Staff and roster
Coaching staff Arizona Cardinals 2010 staff Front office Owner/chairman – Bill Bidwill President – Michael Bidwill general manager – Rod Graves Director of football administration – Reggie Terry Director of player personnel – Steve Keim Director of pro personnel – T. J. McCreight Assistant director of pro personnel – Quentin Harris
Head coaches Head coach – Ken Whisenhunt Assistant head coach/run game coordinator/offensive line – Russ Grimm
Offensive coaches Pass game coordinator – Mike Miller Quarterbacks – Chris Miller Running backs – Tommie Robinson Wide receivers – John McNulty Tight ends – Freddie Kitchens Offensive quality control – Chad Grimm Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Billy Davis Defensive line – Ron Aiken Linebackers – Matt Raich Defensive backs – Donnie Henderson Assistant defensive backs – Rick Courtright Defensive quality control – Ryan Slowik
Special teams coaches Special teams – Kevin Spencer
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – John Lott Assistant strength and conditioning – Pete Alosi
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 14 Houston Texans W 19–16 1–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 August 23 at Tennessee Titans L 10–24 1–1 LP Field Recap 3 August 28 at Chicago Bears W 14–9 2–1 Soldier Field Recap 4 September 2 Washington Redskins W 20–10 3–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at St. Louis Rams W 17–13 1–0 Edward Jones Dome Recap 2 September 19 at Atlanta Falcons L 7–41 1–1 Georgia Dome Recap 3 September 26 Oakland Raiders W 24–23 2–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 4 October 3 at San Diego Chargers L 10–41 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 5 October 10 New Orleans Saints W 30–20 3–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 6 Bye 7 October 24 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–22 3–3 Qwest Field Recap 8 October 31 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 35–38 3–4 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at Minnesota Vikings L 24–27 3–5 Mall of America Field Recap 10 November 14 Seattle Seahawks L 18–36 3–6 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at Kansas City Chiefs L 13–31 3–7 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 12 November 29 San Francisco 49ers L 6–27 3–8 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 13 December 5 St. Louis Rams L 6–19 3–9 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 14 December 12 Denver Broncos W 43–13 4–9 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 15 December 19 at Carolina Panthers L 12–19 4–10 Bank of America Stadium Recap 16 December 25 Dallas Cowboys W 27–26 5–10 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at San Francisco 49ers L 7–38 5–11 Candlestick Park Recap
Standings
Regular season results Week 1: at St. Louis Rams
The Cardinals began their season at the Edward Jones Dome for an NFC West match against the St. Louis Rams. The Cardinals scored first in the second quarter with kicker Jay Feely nailing a 22-yard field goal, which was replied by St. Louis when kicker Josh Brown made a 46-yard field goal. Arizona took the lead again with running back Tim Hightower making a 1-yard touchdown run, but failed to maintain it, with quarterback Sam Bradford making a 1-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Laurent Robinson. In the third quarter, the Cardinals trailed for the first time when Brown nailed a 25-yard field goal, which they overcame in the fourth quarter when quarterback Derek Anderson made a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, giving Arizona a win.
With the win, Arizona began the season at 1–0.
Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons
Hoping to maintain their current winning streak the Cardinals flew to Georgia Dome for an NFC duel with the Falcons. In the first quarter Arizona trailed early as quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roddy White, followed in the second quarter by kicker Matt Bryant hitting a 24-yard field goal. Arizona would reply with running back Tim Hightower getting an 80-yard touchdown run, but fell further behind when Ryan threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jason Snelling, followed by Snelling getting a 1-yard touchdown run. In the third quarter the Cardinals struggled further when Ryan completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Finneran, followed by Bryan nailing a 35-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter Arizona continued to struggle with fullback Jason Snelling getting a 7-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders
The Cardinals' third game was an Interconference duel with the Raiders. The Cardinals led early in the first quarter when running back LaRod Stephens-Howling returned a kickoff from his own goal line to the endzone running 102 yards for a touchdown. The Raiders replied and took the lead with quarterback Bruce Gradkowski completing a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Miller, followed by kicker Sebastian Janikowski making a 22-yard field goal. Arizona replied with kicker Jay Feely kicking a 42-yard field goal. Then the Raiders replied with Janikowski making a 54-yard field goal. The Cardinals took the lead in the second quarter when quarterback Derek Anderson made a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Breaston, but it didn't last very long after running back Darren McFadden got a 2-yard touchdown run. Arizona got the lead back in the third quarter when Anderson found wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on an 8-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter Oakland cut the lead when Janikowski made a 23-yard field goal. Janikowski missed three field goals in the game, giving Arizona the win.
With the close win, Arizona improved to 2–1.
Week 4: at San Diego Chargers
Hoping to increase their winning streak the Cardinals flew to Qualcomm Stadium for an interconference duel with the Chargers. In the first quarter the Cardinals trailed early as quarterback Philip Rivers completed a 33-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Gates, but they replied in the second quarter when free safety Kerry Rhodes recovered a fumble and ran 2 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. After that, the Cardinals fell further behind with fullback Mike Tolbert making a 5-yard touchdown run, followed by Rivers making a 26-yard touchdown pass to tight end Antonio Gates. The Cardinals had more problems when quarterback Derek Anderson's pass was intercepted by outside linebacker Shaun Phillips which converted into a 31-yard touchdown run. This was followed in the third quarter by kicker Nate Kaeding making a 48-yard field goal. Then running back Ryan Mathews got a 15-yard touchdown run. This was followed in the fourth quarter by Kaeding nailing a 47-yard field goal. The Cardinals tried to cut the lead, but only came away with kicker Jay Feely's 53-yard field goal.
With the loss, Arizona fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Chargers the Cardinals played on home ground for an NFC duel with the Super Bowl champion Saints using a new starting quarterback: Max Hall (who had substituted in for Derek Anderson in the previous game). In the first quarter the Cardinals trailed early as kicker John Carney nailed a 31-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Drew Brees completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Cardinals replied with kicker Jay Feely making a 37-yard field goal, followed by offensive tackle Levi Brown recovering a fumble and returning it 2 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter the Cardinals replied and took the lead when Feely got a 44-yard field goal, followed the fourth quarter by Feely's 29-yard field goal. Then free safety Kerry Rhodes recovered a fumble and ran 27 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. The lead was broken down with Brees making a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem, but the Cardinals managed to pull away when Brees' pass was intercepted by cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and returned 28 yards to the endzone for a touchdown.
With the win, Arizona went into their bye week at 3–2.
Week 7: at Seattle Seahawks
Coming off their bye week the Cardinals flew to Qwest Field for an NFC West rivalry match against the Seahawks. In the first quarter the Cardinals trailed early as kicker Olindo Mare got a 20-yard field goal. Followed in the second quarter by quarterback Matt Hasselbeck making a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Williams. The Cardinals fell further behind in the third quarter with Mare nailing a 31 and a 51-yard field goal. The Cardinals replied with running back Beanie Wells getting a 2-yard touchdown run. The Seahawks continued to score with Mare hitting a 24-yard field goal, but the Cardinals responded in the fourth quarter with kicker Jay Feely getting a 24-yard field goal. The Seahawks pulled away with Mare making a 26-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 3–3.
Week 8: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cardinals' seventh game was an NFC duel with the Buccaneers at University of Phoenix Stadium. In the first quarter the Cardinals took the lead when quarterback Max Hall made a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Buccaneers replied with outside linebacker Geno Hayes returning an interception 41 yards for a touchdown. The Cardinals led again in the second quarter with running back Beanie Wells getting a 1-yard touchdown run, but the Buccaneers went on a scoring rally with quarterback Josh Freeman making a 47-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Williams, and cornerback Aqib Talib returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. This was followed by kicker Connor Barth hitting a 21-yard field goal, and in the third quarter with running back LeGarrette Blount getting a 15-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals also went on a rally to take the lead back with running back LaRod Stephens-Howling making a 30-yard touchdown run, which was followed by inside linebacker Gerald Hayes recovering a fumble and running 21 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. Then quarterback Derek Anderson found Fitzgerald on a 5-yard touchdown pass. The Buccaneers scored once more to take the win with Blount getting a 1-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, Arizona recorded back to back losses for the first time since the 2008 season, and fell to 3–4.
Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings