1998 Arizona Cardinals season | |
---|---|
Owner | Bill Bidwill |
Head coach | Vince Tobin |
Home field | Sun Devil Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 9–7 |
Division place | 2nd NFC East |
Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–7 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Vikings) 21–41 |
Pro Bowlers | DB Aeneas Williams |
The 1998 Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise's 100th season, 79th season in the National Football League and the 11th in Arizona. The club posted its first winning record since 1984, appeared in the postseason for the first time since 1982, its first postseason appearance in a non-strike season since 1975, and won its first postseason game since 1947 (it was also their first ever playoff win on the road). It was the Cardinals' first playoff appearance in its tenure in Arizona. After shocking the 10–6 Dallas Cowboys in the opening round in which the Cardinals won 20–7, Arizona ended up losing to the 15–1 Minnesota Vikings, 41–21 in the Divisional round. Over the next ten seasons, the Cardinals fell out of contention. They returned to the playoffs following the 2008 season, including a Super Bowl appearance despite a similarly mediocre 9–7 record.
Statistics site Football Outsiders states that the 1998 Arizona Cardinals are the third-worst team behind the 2004 Rams and 2010 Seahawks to qualify for the NFL playoffs since they began calculating ratings.[1] Ironically, all three of those teams won their first playoff games, before falling in the divisional round.
The season also marked the Cardinals' first game in St. Louis since re-locating to Arizona after the 1987 season. The Cardinals defeated the St. Louis Rams 20-17. Prior to the 2002 season, the Cardinals would be realigned to the NFC West, thus becoming divisional rivals to the Rams, and from then would play a regular season game in their former city every year until the Rams' return to the Los Angeles metropolitan area after the 2015 season.
Offseason
NFL Draft
1998 Arizona Cardinals draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Andre Wadsworth | Defensive end | Florida State | |
2 | 33 | Corey Chavous * | Defensive back | Vanderbilt | |
2 | 36 | Anthony Clement | Offensive tackle | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
4 | 95 | Michael Pittman | Running back | Fresno State | |
5 | 125 | Terry Hardy | Tight end | Southern Miss | |
6 | 158 | Zack Walz | Linebacker | Dartmouth | |
7 | 193 | Phil Savoy | Wide receiver | Colorado | |
7 | 209 | Jomo Cousins | Defensive end | Florida A&M | |
7 | 226 | Pat Tillman | Defensive back | Arizona State | |
7 | 233 | Ron Janes | Running back | Missouri | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Undrafted free agents
Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Cory Sauter | Quarterback | Minnesota |
Personnel
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
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Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | TV | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 6 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 10–38 | 0–1 | Texas Stadium | FOX | 63,602 |
2 | September 13 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 14–33 | 0–2 | Kingdome | FOX | 57,678 |
3 | September 20 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 17–3 | 1–2 | Sun Devil Stadium | ESPN | 39,782 |
4 | September 27 | at St. Louis Rams | W 20–17 | 2–2 | Trans World Dome | FOX | 55,832 |
5 | October 4 | Oakland Raiders | L 20–23 | 2–3 | Sun Devil Stadium | CBS | 53,240 |
6 | October 11 | Chicago Bears | W 20–7 | 3–3 | Sun Devil Stadium | FOX | 50,495 |
7 | October 18 | at New York Giants | L 7–34 | 3–4 | Giants Stadium | FOX | 70,456 |
8 | Bye | ||||||
9 | November 1 | at Detroit Lions | W 17–15 | 4–4 | Pontiac Silverdome | FOX | 66,087 |
10 | November 8 | Washington Redskins | W 29–27 | 5–4 | Sun Devil Stadium | FOX | 45,950 |
11 | November 15 | Dallas Cowboys | L 28–35 | 5–5 | Sun Devil Stadium | FOX | 71,670 |
12 | November 22 | at Washington Redskins | W 45–42 | 6–5 | Jack Kent Cooke Stadium | FOX | 63,435 |
13 | November 29 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 24–34 | 6–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | FOX | 69,613 |
14 | December 6 | New York Giants | L 19–23 | 6–7 | Sun Devil Stadium | FOX | 46,128 |
15 | December 13 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 20–17 (OT) | 7–7 | Veterans Stadium | FOX | 62,176 |
16 | December 20 | New Orleans Saints | W 19–17 | 8–7 | Sun Devil Stadium | FOX | 51,617 |
17 | December 27 | San Diego Chargers | W 16–13 | 9–7 | Sun Devil Stadium | CBS | 71,670 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Cowboys | 0 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 38 |
Game information | ||
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Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Seahawks | 10 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 33 |
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
- Date: September 13
- Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST/2:15 p.m. MST
- Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 57,678
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 |
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at St. Louis Rams
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
Rams | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: September 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 55,832
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 6 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Game information | ||
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Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Cardinals | 3 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: October 11
- Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,860
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 7: at New York Giants
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Giants | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: October 18
- Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,456
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 9: at Detroit Lions
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Lions | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
- Date: November 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
- Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,087
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Redskins | 3 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 29 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: November 8
- Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 43,159
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: November 15
- Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,923
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at Washington Redskins
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 17 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
Redskins | 0 | 6 | 21 | 15 | 42 |
at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Maryland
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
- Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,435
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 13: at Kansas City Chiefs
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 34 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 29
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
- Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,613
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 14: vs. New York Giants
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 7 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
Cardinals | 14 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 19 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 6
- Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 46,128
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
Eagles | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
- Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,176
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Cardinals | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 20
- Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 51,617
- TV: Fox
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 17: vs. San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 27
- Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,670
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Standings
NFC East | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
(3) Dallas Cowboys | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 381 | 275 | W2 |
(6) Arizona Cardinals | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 325 | 378 | W3 |
New York Giants | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 287 | 309 | W4 |
Washington Redskins | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 319 | 421 | L1 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 161 | 344 | L3 |
Postseason
Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wild Card | January 2, 1999 | at Dallas Cowboys (3) | W 20–7 | 1–0 | Texas Stadium |
Divisional | January 10, 1999 | at Minnesota Vikings (1) | L 21–41 | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
NFC Wild Card Round: at (3) Dallas Cowboys
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: January 2
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Clear, 43 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,969
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers (ABC): Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire (color commentators), and Solomon Wilcots (sideline reporter)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Quarterback Jake Plummer passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Cardinals to their first playoff victory since 1947.[3]
NFC Divisional Round: at (1) Minnesota Vikings
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Vikings | 7 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: January 10
- Game time: 3:15 p.m. CST/2:15 p.m. MST
- Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,760
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall (play-by-play), John Madden (color commentator), and Ron Pitts (sideline reporter)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Awards and records
References
- ↑ Football Outsiders: Final 2010 DVOA Ratings “The Seahawks do pass the 1998 Cardinals as the second-worst playoff team in DVOA history.”
- ↑ "1998 Arizona Cardinals Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ↑ Arizona Cardinals (1988–Present)
- ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 452
- ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 94
- ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 451