2011 Arizona Cardinals season
OwnerBill Bidwill
General managerRod Graves
Head coachKen Whisenhunt
Home fieldUniversity of Phoenix Stadium
Results
Record8–8
Division place2nd NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersLarry Fitzgerald, WR
Patrick Peterson, CB
Adrian Wilson, SS
Uniform

The 2011 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 92nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 24th in Arizona and their fifth under head coach Ken Whisenhunt. This was going to be the Cardinals first season with new starting quarterback Kevin Kolb, but he was injured and replaced by John Skelton. Despite a 1-6 start the Cardinals managed to win 7 out of 9 games, including a stunning upset against the San Francisco 49ers in week 14. The team improved on their 5–11 record from the 2010 season, but missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

The 2011 Cardinals won four overtime games, an NFL record that would later be matched by the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders.[1]

Offseason

Signings

Pos.Player2010 TeamContract
GDaryn ColledgeGreen Bay Packers5 years, $27.5 million
LBStewart BradleyPhiladelphia Eagles5 years, $25 million
CLyle SendleinArizona Cardinals5 years, $16 million
TEJeff KingCarolina Panthers3 years, $5.5 million
DENick EasonPittsburgh Steelers2 years, $1.9 million
SMichael AdamsArizona Cardinals2 years, $1.7 million
GFloyd WomackCleveland Browns1 year, $1.7 million
RBChester TaylorChicago Bears1 year, $810,000
CBMatt WareArizona Cardinals1 year, $855,000
CBen ClaxtonArizona Cardinals1 year, $700,000

Departures

Pos.Player2011 Team
WRSteve BreastonKansas City Chiefs
DTAlan BranchSeattle Seahawks
GAlan Faneca

2011 NFL Draft

Arizona Cardinals 2011 NFL Draft selections[2]
Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College
Round Choice Overall
155 Patrick Peterson CB 6'0" 219 lbs. LSU
2638 Ryan Williams RB 5'9" 212 lbs. VT
3569 Rob Housler TE 6'5" 215 lbs. FAU
46103 Sam Acho OLB 6'2" 262 lbs. Texas
55136 Anthony Sherman RB 5'10" 242 lbs. UConn
66171 Quan Sturdivant ILB 6'1" 241 lbs. UNC
19184[upper-alpha 1] David Carter DE 6'5" 297 lbs. UCLA
7[upper-alpha 2]46249[upper-alpha 3] DeMarco Sampson WR 6'2" 204 lbs. SDSU

Acquisitions

On July 28, 2011 the Cardinals acquired Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 2nd-round pick. The next day they signed former Carolina Panthers starting CB Richard Marshall.[3]

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 11 at Oakland Raiders W 24–18 1–0 O.co Coliseum Recap
2 August 19 at Green Bay Packers L 20–28 1–1 Lambeau Field Recap
3 August 27 San Diego Chargers L 31–34 1–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
4 September 1 Denver Broncos W 26–7 2–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 11 Carolina Panthers W 28–21 1–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
2 September 18 at Washington Redskins L 21–22 1–1 FedExField Recap
3 September 25 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–13 1–2 CenturyLink Field Recap
4 October 2 New York Giants L 27–31 1–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
5 October 9 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–34 1–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap
6 Bye
7 October 23 Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–32 1–5 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
8 October 30 at Baltimore Ravens L 27–30 1–6 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
9 November 6 St. Louis Rams W 19–13 (OT) 2–6 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
10 November 13 at Philadelphia Eagles W 21–17 3–6 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
11 November 20 at San Francisco 49ers L 7–23 3–7 Candlestick Park Recap
12 November 27 at St. Louis Rams W 23–20 4–7 Edward Jones Dome Recap
13 December 4 Dallas Cowboys W 19–13 (OT) 5–7 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
14 December 11 San Francisco 49ers W 21–19 6–7 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
15 December 18 Cleveland Browns W 20–17 (OT) 7–7 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
16 December 24 at Cincinnati Bengals L 16–23 7–8 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
17 January 1 Seattle Seahawks W 23–20 (OT) 8–8 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week One: Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 7 7021
Cardinals 7 0 71428

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Week 2: at Washington Redskins

Week Two: Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 0 7721
Redskins 0 10 01222

at FedExField, Landover, Maryland

Game information

Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks

Week Three: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 10 0010
Seahawks 3 3 7013

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 1:15 pm[upper-alpha 4]
  • Game weather: 68 °F (Rain)
  • Game attendance: 66,199
  • Referee: Alberto Riveron
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Drea Avent
Game information

Week 4: vs. New York Giants

Week Four: New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 10 02131
Cardinals 3 3 14727

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Despite the Cardinals holding a 10-point lead twice in the fourth quarter, the Giants scored three touchdowns in the final frame as Arizona dropped its third straight game and fell to 1–3.

Week 5: at Minnesota Vikings

Week Five: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 3 7010
Vikings 28 0 3334

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

  • Date: October 9
  • Game time: 12:00 pm. CDT/10:00 am[upper-alpha 4]
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 62,479
  • Referee: Scott Green
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
Game information

Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Seven: Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 10 9632
Cardinals 0 7 7620

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Coming off their bye week, the Cardinals went home for a Week 7 interconference duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII. Arizona trailed early in the first quarter as Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller. Pittsburgh would add onto their lead in the second quarter as Roethlisberger completed a 95-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace. The Cardinals would answer with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Alfonso Smith. The Steelers would close out the half with kicker Shaun Suisham getting a 41-yard field goal.

Arizona opened the third quarter with quarterback Kevin Kolb finding running back LaRod Stephens-Howling on a 73-yard touchdown pass, but Pittsburgh struck back with Roethlisberger completing a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, along with Kolb's intentional grounding penalty in the endzone resulting in a safety. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers continued to pull away with Suisham making a 42-yard and a 39-yard field goal. The Cardinals tried to rally as Kolb found wide receiver Early Doucet on a 2-yard touchdown pass (with a failed two-point conversion), but Pittsburgh held on to preserve the victory.

With the loss, Arizona fell to 1–5.

Week 8: at Baltimore Ravens

Week Eight: Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 21 0327
Ravens 0 6 141030

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

The Cardinals blew a 21-point first half lead and lost their sixth straight game to fall to 1–6.

Week 9: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week Nine: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Rams 3 6 40013
Cardinals 3 0 37619

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C), (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 60,628
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen and Chad Pennington
Game information

The Cardinals snapped their six-game losing streak as rookie Patrick Peterson returned a punt 98 yards for a game-winning touchdown in overtime. With the win, the Cardinals improved to 2–6. The game also featured the Rams' scoring the four points in the third quarter as the got two safeties on consecutive drives. This was first time in NFL history that a team had recorded four points in a quarter.

Week 10: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week Ten: Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 01421
Eagles 0 14 0317

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers

Week Eleven: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 077
49ers 6 3 14023

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: 2:05 pm. MST/1:05 pm. PST
  • Game weather: 55 °F (Rain)
  • Game attendance: 69,732
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
Game information

Week 12: at St. Louis Rams

Week Twelve: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 0 17323
Rams 7 3 01020

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: November 27
  • Game time: 12:00 pm. CST/11:00 am. MST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 56,029
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Chad Pennington and Tina Cervasio
Game information

Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week Thirteen: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Cowboys 0 10 30013
Cardinals 3 0 37619

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 2:15 pm. MST
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C), (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 62,180
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Game information

Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week Fourteen: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 3 9 7019
Cardinals 0 7 7721

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 2:05 pm. MST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 60,808
  • Referee: Alberto Riveron
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Game information

The Cardinals came back from 12-point halftime deficit to stun the 10–2 49ers. With the win, the Cardinals improved to 6–7.

Week 15: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week Fifteen: Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Browns 7 3 70017
Cardinals 0 7 010320

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 18
  • Game time: 2:15 pm. MST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,443
  • Referee: Scott Green
  • TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt recorded his 43rd win as the Cardinals' head coach, and surpassed Don Coryell to become the winningest head coach in franchise history. Whisenhunt was the all-time leader in wins for Cardinals head coaches until his record was broken by Bruce Arians 5 years later.

Week 16: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week Sixteen: Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 01616
Bengals 10 10 3023

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game information

Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week Seventeen: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Seahawks 0 3 710020
Cardinals 7 3 73323

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Standings

NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) San Francisco 49ers 13 3 0 .813 5–1 10–2 380 229 W3
Arizona Cardinals 8 8 0 .500 4–2 7–5 312 348 W1
Seattle Seahawks 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 321 315 L2
St. Louis Rams 2 14 0 .125 0–6 1–11 193 407 L7

Coaching staff

Arizona Cardinals 2011 staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – John Lott
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Pete Alosi

Final roster

2011 Arizona Cardinals final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 8 inactive, 7 practice squad

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Cardinals acquired this sixth-round selection (No. 184 overall) in a trade that sent guard Reggie Wells to the Philadelphia Eagles.
  2. ↑ The Cardinals traded their original seventh-round selection (No. 208 overall) and a 2010 fourth-round selection to the New York Jets in exchange for safety Kerry Rhodes.
  3. ↑ Compensatory selection.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The state of Arizona lies entirely within the Mountain Time Zone, but does not observe Daylight saving time (excluding the Navajo Nation), so it is effectively the same as Pacific Daylight Time from mid-March until the first Sunday of November. Therefore, all kickoffs during the preseason and from Weeks 1–8 during the regular season are listed as Pacific time, while kickoffs from Weeks 9–17 are listed as Mountain time.

References

  1. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, team won game, Game went to overtime, sorted by descending Date.
  2. ↑ "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. ↑ "2011 Arizona Cardinals Transactions". ESPN. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
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