The 2012 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 93rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 25th in Arizona, and their sixth and final season under head coach Ken Whisenhunt. After a surprising 4–0 start, which included a major upset of the New England Patriots in week 2, the Cardinals lost 11 of their final 12 games, and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season, resulting in the firing of head coach Ken Whisenhunt after six seasons. This was Rod Graves' last season as general manager of the Cardinals. A day after the final game of the regular season, he was fired after 6 seasons.
2012 draft class
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap HOF August 5 vs. New Orleans Saints L 10–17 0–1 Fawcett Stadium Recap 1 August 10 at Kansas City Chiefs L 17–27 0–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 2 August 17 Oakland Raiders W 31–27 1–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 3 August 23 at Tennessee Titans L 27–32 1–3 LP Field Recap 4 August 30 Denver Broncos L 13–16 1–4 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 Seattle Seahawks W 20–16 1–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 September 16 at New England Patriots W 20–18 2–0 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 September 23 Philadelphia Eagles W 27–6 3–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 4 September 30 Miami Dolphins W 24–21 4–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 5 at St. Louis Rams L 3–17 4–1 Edward Jones Dome Recap 6 October 14 Buffalo Bills L 16–19 4–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 7 October 21 at Minnesota Vikings L 14–21 4–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 8 San Francisco 49ers L 3–24 4–4 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 9 November 4 at Green Bay Packers L 17–31 4–5 Lambeau Field Recap 10 Bye 11 November 18 at Atlanta Falcons L 19–23 4–6 Georgia Dome Recap 12 November 25 St. Louis Rams L 17–31 4–7 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 13 December 2 at New York Jets L 6–7 4–8 MetLife Stadium Recap 14 December 9 at Seattle Seahawks L 0–58 4–9 CenturyLink Field Recap 15 December 16 Detroit Lions W 38–10 5–9 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 16 December 23 Chicago Bears L 13–28 5–10 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 17 December 30 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–27 5–11 Candlestick Park Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals began their season at home against their divisional rival Seahawks with quarterback John Skelton at the starting helm. The team started their season 1–0 despite Skelton finishing the game 14/28 for 149 yards and an interception. Kevin Kolb later on made an appearance in relief of Skelton going 6/8 for 66 yards and a touchdown pass.
Week 2: at New England Patriots
In a huge upset at Gillette Stadium, the Cardinals beat the Patriots to become 2–0. This was the Cardinals' first win against the Patriots since 1991. This would be their last win over New England until 2024.
Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
With the win, the Cardinals started 3–0 for the first time since 1974.
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 5: at St. Louis Rams
This was the Cardinals' 700th loss. They became the first team in NFL history to do this.
Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the tough loss, the Cardinals fell to 4–2 and also with the Seahawks' win over the Patriots and the 49ers' loss to the Giants, the team remained in a tie for first place in the NFC West.
Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 9: at Green Bay Packers
Losing their fifth straight game of the season by remaining winless at Lambeau Field (0–7), the Cardinals headed into their bye week at 4–5.
Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 12: vs. St. Louis Rams With their 7th straight loss the Cardinals were swept by the Rams and fell to 4-7.
Week 13: at New York Jets In a game most remembered as possibly the worst QB duel in NFL history, the Cardinals fell 7-6 marking their 8th straight loss.
Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks
With the loss, the Cardinals were not only eliminated from postseason contention by falling to 4–9, but the 58-point loss was the worst in franchise history. They committed 8 turnovers, which was the most that the Cardinals have ever committed in a game. Arizona had only 154 yards of total offense while the defense gave up 493 yards.
The Cardinals also became the first team in NFL history to lose 9 consecutive games after starting 4–0.
Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions
With this win, the Cardinals ended their 9 game losing streak.
Week 16: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers
With this loss, the Cardinals surpassed the 1989 Chicago Bears for the worst record by an NFL team starting 4–0.Pro Football Reference; Team Record Finder Query Results: From 1961 to 2017, excluding 1982 and 1987, show the final records of teams that started 4–0
Standings
Footnotes
References
External links