2012 Arizona Cardinals season

2012 Arizona Cardinals season
Head coach	Ken Whisenhunt
General manager	Rod Graves
Owner	Bill Bidwill
Home field	University of Phoenix Stadium
Results
Record	5–11
Division place	4th NFC West
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Uniform

The 2012 Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise's 93rd season in the National Football League and the 25th in Arizona. After a surprising 4–0 start, 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.

2012 draft class

Arizona at the New York Jets in week 13

Round	Selection	Player	Position	College
1	13	Michael Floyd	Wide receiver	Notre Dame
2	None[upper-alpha 1]
3	80	Jamell Fleming	Cornerback	Oklahoma
4	112	Bobby Massie	Offensive tackle	Ole Miss
5	151	Senio Kelemete	Guard	Washington
6	177[upper-alpha 2]	Justin Bethel	Safety	Presbyterian
	185	Ryan Lindley	Quarterback	San Diego State
7	221	Nate Potter	Offensive tackle	Boise State

Staff

2012 Arizona Cardinals 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 – Jason Licht Assistant Director of Pro Personnel – Quentin Harris Head coaches Head Coach – Ken Whisenhunt Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator – Mike Miller Quarterbacks – John McNulty Running Backs – Tommie Robinson Wide Receivers – Frank Reich Tight Ends – Freddie Kitchens Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line – Russ Grimm Offensive Quality Control – Chad Grimm			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Ray Horton Defensive Line – Ron Aiken Linebackers – Matt Raich Defensive Backs – Louie Cioffi Assistant Defensive Backs – Deshea Townsend 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

2012 Arizona Cardinals final roster
	Quarterbacks  6 Brian Hoyer 14 Ryan Lindley 19 John Skelton Running backs 33 William Powell 35 Anthony Sherman FB 29 Alfonso Smith 36 LaRod Stephens-Howling 26 Beanie Wells Wide receivers 17 LaRon Byrd 85 Early Doucet 11 Larry Fitzgerald 15 Michael Floyd 12 Andre Roberts 18 Kerry Taylor Tight ends 81 Jim Dray 87 Jeff King 83 Kory Sperry		Offensive linemen 74 D'Anthony Batiste T 71 Daryn Colledge G 69 Mike Gibson G 64 Senio Kelemete G 70 Bobby Massie T 67 Pat McQuistan T 76 Nate Potter T 68 Adam Snyder G/T 66 Scott Wedige C Defensive linemen 93 Calais Campbell DE 79 David Carter NT 90 Darnell Dockett DE 98 Nick Eason DE 91 Vonnie Holliday DE 96 Ronald Talley DE 92 Dan Williams NT		Linebackers 94 Sam Acho OLB/DE 55 Stewart Bradley ILB 54 Quentin Groves OLB 51 Paris Lenon ILB 59 Zack Nash OLB 56 Reggie Walker ILB 58 Daryl Washington ILB Defensive backs 27 Michael Adams CB 31 Justin Bethel CB 23 Jamell Fleming CB 22 William Gay CB 49 Rashad Johnson FS 21 Patrick Peterson CB 25 Kerry Rhodes FS 39 James Sanders SS 28 Greg Toler CB 24 Adrian Wilson SS Special teams  3 Jay Feely K 82 Mike Leach LS  9 Dave Zastudil P		Reserve lists 62 Ryan Bartholomew C (IR) 75 Levi Brown OT (IR) 65 Blake DeChristopher G (IR) 84 Rob Housler TE (IR) 45 Javarris James RB (IR)  4 Kevin Kolb QB (IR) 72 Rich Ohrnberger C (IR) 50 O'Brien Schofield OLB/DE (IR) 63 Lyle Sendlein C (IR) - Brandon Williams OLB (IR) 34 Ryan Williams RB (IR) Practice squad 78 Steven Baker OT 53 Tim Fugger OLB 95 Ricky Lumpkin NT 20 Greg McCoy CB 52 Colin Parker ILB 10 Gerell Robinson WR 60 Everrette Thompson DE 32 Fozzy Whittaker RB Rookies in italics 53 Active, 11 Inactive, 8 Practice squad

Schedule

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game site	NFL.com recap
HOF	August 5	vs. New Orleans Saints	L 10–17	0–1	Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio)	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

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game site	NFL.com 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 (OT)	4–0	University of Phoenix Stadium	Recap
5	October 4	at St. Louis Rams	L 3–17	4–1	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
6	October 14	Buffalo Bills	L 16–19 (OT)	4–2	University of Phoenix Stadium	Recap
7	October 21	at Minnesota Vikings	L 14–21	4–3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	Recap
8	October 29	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

Week One: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	3	0	10	3	16
Cardinals	3	7	3	7	20

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: September 9
• Game time: 1:25 p.m.
• Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
• Game attendance: 60,032
• Referee: Bruce Hermansen
• TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Heath Evans and Heidi Androl

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers SEA – ARI – Top rushers SEA – ARI – Top receivers SEA – ARI – Top tacklers SEA – ARI –

The Cardinals began their season at home against their divisional rival Seahawks with QB 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 his Cards debut going 6/8 for 66 yards and a touchdown pass.

Week 2: at New England Patriots

Week Two: Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	6	0	7	7	20
Patriots	3	3	3	9	18

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

• Date: September 16
• Game time: 10:00 a.m.
• Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C), partly cloudy
• Game attendance: 68,756
• Referee: David Scott
• TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers ARI – NE – Top rushers ARI – NE – Top receivers ARI – NE – Top tacklers ARI – NE –

In a huge upset at Gillette Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals beat the New England Patriots and become 2–0.

Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week Three: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	0	6	0	6
Cardinals	10	14	0	3	27

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: September 23
• Game time: 1:05 p.m.
• Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
• Game attendance: 60,436
• Referee: Mike Shepherd
• TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin

Game information

First quarter Jay Feely, 47-yard field goal, 10:18 (ARI 3–0) Michael Floyd, 8-yard pass from Kevin Kolb, Jay Feely XP good, 1:04 (ARI 10–0) Second quarter Larry Fitzgerald, 37-yard pass from Kevin Kolb, Jay Feely XP good, 7:30 (ARI 17–0) James Sanders, 98-yard fumble return, Jay Feely XP good, 0:00 (ARI 24–0) Third quarter Alex Henery, 36-yard field goal, 5:07 (ARI 24–3) Alex Henery, 40-yard field goal, 0:02 (ARI 24–6) Fourth quarter Jay Feely, 27-yard field goal, 3:52 (ARI 27–6) Top passers PHI –Michael Vick (17–37, 217 yards) ARI –Kevin Kolb (17–24, 222 yards, 2 TD) Top rushers PHI –LeSean McCoy (13 rushes, 70 yards) ARI –Ryan Williams (13 rushes, 83 yards) Top receivers PHI –Damaris Johnson (5 catches, 84 yards) ARI –Larry Fitzgerald (9 catches, 113 yards, TD) Top tacklers PHI –Kurt Coleman (9) ARI –TIE: Daryl Washington, O'Brien Schofield, William Gay (6)

Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week Four: Miami Dolphins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Dolphins	0	13	0	8	0	21
Cardinals	0	0	7	14	3	24

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: September 30
• Game time: 1:05 p.m.
• Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
• Game attendance: 60,183
• Referee: Scott Green
• TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Overtime Top passers MIA – ARI – Top rushers MIA – ARI – Top receivers MIA – ARI – Top tacklers MIA – ARI –

Week 5: at St. Louis Rams

Week Five: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	3	0	0	0	3
Rams	7	3	0	7	17

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 5:20 p.m.
• Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
• Game attendance: 54,653
• Referee: John Parry
• TV announcers (NFLN): Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock and Alex Flanagan

Game information
First quarter 27–14 Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers ARI – STL – Top rushers ARI – STL – Top receivers ARI – STL – Top tacklers ARI – STL –

Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week Six: Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Bills	9	0	7	0	3	19
Cardinals	3	7	3	3	0	16

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: October 14
• Game time: 1:05 p.m.
• Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
• Game attendance: 60,385
• Referee: Alberto Riveron
• TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers BUF – ARI – Top rushers BUF – ARI – Top receivers BUF – ARI – Top tacklers BUF – ARI –

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 remains in a tie for first place in the NFC West.

Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings

Week Seven: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	7	0	7	14
Vikings	7	7	7	0	21

at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: October 21
• Game time: 10:00 a.m.
• Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
• Game attendance: 61,068
• Referee: Terry McAulay
• TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers ARI – MIN – Top rushers ARI – MIN – Top receivers ARI – MIN – Top tacklers ARI – MIN –

Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week Eight: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	10	7	0	24
Cardinals	0	0	3	0	3

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: October 29
• Game time: 5:30 p.m.
• Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C), sunny & clear skies
• Game attendance: 62,810
• Referee: Bill Leavy
• TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Lisa Salters

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers SF – ARI – Top rushers SF – ARI – Top receivers SF – ARI – Top tacklers SF – ARI –

Week 9: at Green Bay Packers

Week Nine: Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	7	10	0	17
Packers	7	14	10	0	31

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Date: November 4
• Game time: 11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), mostly cloudy
• Game attendance: 70,504
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers ARI – GB – Top rushers ARI – GB – Top receivers ARI – GB – Top tacklers ARI – GB –

Losing their fifth straight game of the season by remaining winless at Lambeau Field (0–7), the Cardinals head into their bye week at 4–5.

Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons

Week Eleven: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	13	3	0	3	19
Falcons	0	16	0	7	23

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

• Date: November 18
• Game time: 11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
• Game attendance: 69,630
• Referee: Bill Vinovich
• TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers ARI – ATL – Top rushers ARI – ATL – Top receivers ARI – ATL – Top tacklers ARI – ATL –

Week 12: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week Twelve: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	14	14	3	31
Cardinals	7	10	0	0	17

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: November 25
• Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
• Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
• Game attendance: 60,062
• Referee: Tony Corrente
• TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers STL – ARI – Top rushers STL – ARI – Top receivers STL – ARI – Top tacklers STL – ARI –

Week 13: at New York Jets

Week Thirteen: Arizona Cardinals at New York Jets – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	3	0	3	6
Jets	0	0	0	7	7

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Date: December 2
• Game time: 11:00 a.m. MST
• Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), cloudy
• Game attendance: 79,088
• Referee: Walt Anderson
• TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin

Game information

First quarter None Second quarter Jay Feely 48 yds, :03. ARI 3–0 Third quarter Fourth quarter Jeff Cumberland 1-yd pass from Greg McElroy (Nick Folk kick good), 15:00 NYJ 7–3 Jay Feely 35 yds, 10:39. ARI 6–7. Top passers ARI – Ryan Lindley: 10/31, 72 yds, INT. NYJ – Mark Sanchez: 10/21, 97 yds, 3 INT. Top rushers ARI – Rashad Johnson: 1 rush, 40 yds. NYJ – Shonn Greene: 24 rushes, 104 yds. Top receivers ARI – Stephen Hill: 5 rec, 40 yds. NYJ – Larry Fitzgerald: 1 rec, 23 yds. Top tacklers ARI – Dan Williams: 10 tackles, 4 assists. NYJ – Kyle Wilson: 6 tackles, 5 solo.

Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks

Week Fourteen: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Seahawks	10	28	13	7	58

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

• Date: December 9
• Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), rain
• Game attendance: 67,685
• Referee: Carl Cheffers
• TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan, and Jaime Maggio

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers ARI – SEA – Top rushers ARI – SEA – Top receivers ARI – SEA – Top tacklers ARI – SEA –

With that loss, the Cardinals were not only eliminated from postseason contention and also falling to 4–9, but the 58-point loss was the worst in the Cardinals' franchise history. They had 8 turnovers, which was the most that the Cardinals have ever committed in a game.

Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions

Week Fifteen: Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	7	3	0	10
Cardinals	0	21	3	14	38

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: December 16
• Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), sunny, clear skies
• Game attendance: 60,483
• Referee: Jerome Boger
• TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers DET – ARI – Top rushers DET – ARI – Top receivers DET – ARI – Top tacklers DET – ARI –

Week 16: vs. Chicago Bears

Week Sixteen: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	7	14	7	0	28
Cardinals	3	3	0	7	13

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

• Date: December 23
• Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), sunny
• Game attendance: 62,734
• Referee: Terry McAulay
• TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers CHI – ARI – Top rushers CHI – ARI – Top receivers CHI – ARI – Top tacklers CHI – ARI –

Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers

Week Seventeen: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	3	3	0	7	13
49ers	0	7	10	10	27

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

• Date: December 30
• Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), sunny
• Game attendance: 69,732
• Referee: Pete Morelli
• TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Charles Davis and Kristina Pink

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers ARI – SF – Top rushers ARI – SF – Top receivers ARI – SF – Top tacklers ARI – SF –

Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
^(2) San Francisco 49ers	11	4	1	.719	3–2–1	7–4–1	397	273	W1
^(5) Seattle Seahawks	11	5	0	.688	3–3	8–4	412	245	W5
St. Louis Rams	7	8	1	.469	4–1–1	6–5–1	299	348	L1
Arizona Cardinals	5	11	0	.313	1–5	3-9	250	357	L2

Footnotes

1. The Cardinals traded their second-round selection and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Kevin Kolb.
2. The Cardinals acquired this sixth-round selection (No. 177 overall) and defensive end Vonnie Holliday in a trade that sent running back Tim Hightower to the Washington Redskins.

References

External links

• Official website

Media related to 2012 Arizona Cardinals season at Wikimedia Commons