The 2016 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 97th in the National Football League (NFL), their 118th overall, their 29th in Arizona, their 11th at University of Phoenix Stadium and their fourth under head coach Bruce Arians.
In free agency, they signed veteran defensive back Tyvon Branch and veteran lineman Evan Mathis, while re-signing several key players. They traded for Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots, sending Jonathan Cooper and a late second-round pick to New England.
The Cardinals came into the 2016 season with expectations of improving on their 2015 campaign and reaching the Super Bowl. However, after a 1–3 start, they suffered injuries to quarterback Carson Palmer and most of the offensive line. On October 23, the Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks played out a 6–6 tie; this was the Cardinals' first tie since 1986 when they were the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also the lowest-scoring NFL tie since overtime was introduced in 1974. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2013 in Week 15 after a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Despite winning their final two games, the Cardinals ended the season with a losing record at 7–8–1. Because the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, their first title in 108 years, the Cardinals also finished the season with the longest active championship drought in the four major American professional sports, with their last championship in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals.
Free agents Position Player 2016 Team Notes WR Jaron Brown RFA ARI one-year deal TE Jermaine Gresham UFA ARI one-year deal TE Darren Fells UFA ARI one-year deal TE Ifeanyi Momah ERFA ARI one-year deal QB Drew Stanton UFA ARI two-year deal RB Chris Johnson RFA ARI one-year deal P Drew Butler UFA ARI two-year deal LS Mike Leach UFA --- retired G Ted Larsen UFA CHI one-year deal C Lyle Sendlein UFA --- retired T Bobby Massie UFA CHI three-year deal T Kelvin Palmer UFA TB one-year deal T Bradley Sowell UFA SEA one-year deal S Tony Jefferson RFA ARI one-year deal S D. J. Swearinger RFA ARI one-year deal S Rashad Johnson UFA TEN one-year deal S Chris Clemons UFA ARI one-year deal CB Jerraud Powers UFA BAL one-year deal CB Corey White UFA BUF one-year deal DE Billy Winn RFA DEN one-year deal ILB Sean Weatherspoon UFA ATL one-year deal ILB Kenny Demens ERFA ARI one-year deal OLB LaMarr Woodley UFA TBA OLB Dwight Freeney UFA ATL one-year deal DE Josh Mauro ERFA ARI one-year deal DE Red Bryant UFA ARI one-year deal Player re-signed by the Cardinals
Draft
2016 Arizona Cardinals Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 29 Robert Nkemdiche DE Ole Miss 3 92 Brandon Williams CB Texas A&M 4 128 Evan Boehm C Missouri 5 167 Marqui Christian S Midwestern State 5 170 Cole Toner OT Harvard 6 205 Harlan Miller CB Southeastern Louisiana Notes The Cardinals traded their second-round selection (No. 61 overall) and guard Jonathan Cooper to the New England Patriots in exchange for defensive end Chandler Jones. The Cardinals traded a conditional seventh-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Matt Barkley; the Eagles will only receive this selection if Barkley is on the Cardinals' roster for at least six games during the season. The Cardinals received a sixth-round compensatory pick (No. 170 overall) as the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Cardinals experienced during the free agency period.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Oakland Raiders L 10–31 0–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 at San Diego Chargers L 3–19 0–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 3 at Houston Texans L 24–34 0–3 NRG Stadium Recap 4 Denver Broncos W 38–17 1–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 New England Patriots L 21–23 0–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 September 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 40–7 1–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 3 September 25 at Buffalo Bills L 18–33 1–2 New Era Field Recap 4 October 2 Los Angeles Rams L 13–17 1–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 5 at San Francisco 49ers W 33–21 2–3 Levi's Stadium Recap 6 New York Jets W 28–3 3–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 7 October 23 Seattle Seahawks T 6–6 3–3–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 8 October 30 at Carolina Panthers L 20–30 3–4–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap 9 Bye 10 November 13 San Francisco 49ers W 23–20 4–4–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 11 November 20 at Minnesota Vikings L 24–30 4–5–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 12 November 27 at Atlanta Falcons L 19–38 4–6–1 Georgia Dome Recap 13 December 4 Washington Redskins W 31–23 5–6–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 14 December 11 at Miami Dolphins L 23–26 5–7–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 15 December 18 New Orleans Saints L 41–48 5–8–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 16 at Seattle Seahawks W 34–31 6–8–1 CenturyLink Field Recap 17 January 1 at Los Angeles Rams W 44–6 7–8–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
With Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suspended and Jimmy Garoppolo starting, the Cardinals were huge favorites to win. The game was close, but was lost last minute, with a missed game-winning Cardinals field goal.
Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 6: vs. New York Jets
This was the Cardinals' first win over the Jets since 1975, when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis, Missouri.
Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Cardinals placekicker Chandler Catanzaro and Seahawks placekicker Steven Hauschka each miss game winning field goals as the game finishes in a 6-6 tie and the Cardinals earn their first tie since the 1986 season.
Week 8: at Carolina Panthers
In a rematch of the NFC championship, the Panthers led by as much as 24 points until Arizona ended the game by cutting the lead to 10.
Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 13: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 14: at Miami Dolphins This was the Cardinals' first loss to the Dolphins since 1999.
Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints
With the close loss, the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 17: at Los Angeles Rams
Despite losing running back David Johnson to a knee injury in the first quarter, Arizona still managed to blow out the Rams, 44-6 to finish the year at 7-8-1.
Standings
Division
Conference
References
External links