NFL team season
The 1991 Phoenix Cardinals seasonNational Football League (NFL). The team failed to improve on their previous output of 5–11, winning only four games. After beginning the season 2–0, the Cardinals suffered a tough schedule and lost their last eight matches to finish 4–12.[1]
The Cardinals’ 196 points scored is the lowest total in franchise history for a 16-game season.[2]
Regular season
Schedule
The 1991 Cardinals suffered from a very tough schedule playing in a powerful NFC East that provided the first four Super Bowl winners of the 1990s, and seven of ten between 1986 and 1995 . Football statistics site Football Outsiders [note 1] [5] Pro Football Reference 1971 .[note 2]
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
September 1
at Los Angeles Rams
W 24–14
1–0
Anaheim Stadium
47,069
Recap
2
September 8
at Philadelphia Eagles
W 26–10
2–0
Veterans Stadium
63,818
Recap
3
September 15
at Washington Redskins
L 0–34
2–1
RFK Stadium
54,662
Recap
4
September 22
Dallas Cowboys L 9–17
2–2
Sun Devil Stadium
68,814
Recap
5
September 29
New England Patriots
W 24–10
3–2
Sun Devil Stadium
26,043
Recap
6
October 6
at New York Giants
L 9–20
3–3
Giants Stadium
75,891
Recap
7
October 13
at Minnesota Vikings
L 7–34
3–4
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
51,209
Recap
8
October 20
Atlanta Falcons
W 16–10
4–4
Sun Devil Stadium
29,804
Recap
9
October 27
Minnesota Vikings
L 0–28
4–5
Sun Devil Stadium
45,447
Recap
10
November 3
at Dallas Cowboys
L 7–27
4–6
Texas Stadium
61,190
Recap
11
November 10
New York Giants L 14–21
4–7
Sun Devil Stadium
50,048
Recap
12
November 17
at San Francisco 49ers
L 10–14
4–8
Candlestick Park
50,180
Recap
13
November 24
Philadelphia Eagles L 14–34
4–9
Sun Devil Stadium
37,307
Recap
14
Bye
15
December 8
Washington Redskins L 14–20
4–10
Sun Devil Stadium
48,373
Recap
16
December 15
at Denver Broncos
L 19–24
4–11
Mile High Stadium
74,098
Recap
17
December 22
New Orleans Saints
L 3–27
4–12
Sun Devil Stadium
30,928
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 1: Phoenix Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals 14
7
0 3 24
Rams
0
7
7 0 14
at Anaheim Stadium , Anaheim, California
Date : September 1Game time : 1:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 67 °F (19 °C)Game attendance : 47,069Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
LA – Robert Delpino 1-yard run (Tony Zendejas kick). Cardinals 21–14. Fourth quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 32-yard field goal. Cardinals 24–14.
Top passers
PHO – Tom Tupa – 10/18, 124 yards, TD
LA – Jim Everett – 25/35, 290 yards, 2 INT Top rushers
PHO – Anthony Thompson – 29 rushes, 60 yards
LA – Robert Delpino – 15 rushes, 81 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 2: Phoenix Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals 13
3
3 7 26
Eagles
0
10
0 0 10
at Veterans Stadium , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date : September 8Game time : 1:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 76 °F (24 °C)Game attendance : 63,818Box Score
Game information
First quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 52-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.
PHO – Johnny Johnson 51-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 10–0.
PHO – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–0. Second quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 22-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–0.
PHI – Thomas Sanders 3-yard run (Roger Ruzek kick). Cardinals 16–7.
PHI – Roger Ruzek 47-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–10. Third quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 42-yard field goal. Cardinals 19–10. Fourth quarter
PHO – Rod Saddler 7-yard fumble return (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 26–10.
Top passers
PHO – Tom Tupa – 6/19, 218 yards, TD, INT
PHI – Jim McMahon – 19/34, 173 yards Top rushers
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 19 rushes, 54 yards
PHI – Thomas Sanders – 15 rushes, 43 yards Top receivers
Week 3: at Washington Redskins
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
WAS – Ricky Sanders 10-yard run (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 14–0. Third quarter
WAS – Gary Clark 28-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 21–0.
WAS – Wilber Marshall 55-yard interception return (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 28–0. Fourth quarter
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 30-yard field goal. Redskins 31–0.
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 48-yard field goal. Redskins 34–0.
Top passers
PHO – Tom Tupa – 13/24, 120 yards, 3 INT
WAS – Mark Rypien – 15/23, 181 yards, TD Top rushers
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 8 rushes, 27 yards
WAS – Earnest Byner – 23 rushes, 109 yards, TD Top receivers
PHO – Tim Jorden – 5 receptions, 36 yards
WAS – Gary Clark – 5 receptions, 72 yards, TD
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 4: Dallas Cowboys at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cowboys 14
0
0 3 17
Cardinals
0
6
0 3 9
at Sun Devil Stadium , Tempe, Arizona
Date : September 22Game time : 8:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 86 °F (30 °C)Game attendance : 68,814Box Score
Game information
First quarter
DAL – Emmitt Smith 60-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 7–0.
DAL – Emmitt Smith 60-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 14–0. Second quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 14–3.
PHO – Greg Davis 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 14–6. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 29-yard field goal. Cowboys 14–9.
DAL – Ken Willis 41-yard field goal. Cowboys 17–9.
Top passers
Top rushers
DAL – Emmitt Smith – 23 rushes, 182 yards, 2 TD
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 24 rushes, 92 yards Top receivers
Week 5: vs. New England Patriots
Week 5: New England Patriots at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Patriots
0
7
0 3 10
Cardinals 0
14
0 10 24
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : September 29Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 87 °F (31 °C)Game attendance : 26,043Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NE – Jason Staurovsky 39-yard field goal. Cardinals 14–10.
PHO – Ricky Proehl 62-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 21–10.
PHO – Greg Davis 47-yard field goal. Cardinals 24–10.
Top passers
NE – Hugh Millen – 12/21, 115 yards
PHO – Tom Tupa – 17/28, 312 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers
NE – Jon Vaughn – 7 rushes, 61 yards
PHO – Anthony Thompson – 26 rushes, 98 yards Top receivers
NE – Marv Cook – 6 receptions, 42 yards
PHO – Ernie Jones – 8 receptions, 145 yards, TD
Week 6: at New York Giants
Week 6: Phoenix Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
3
0
6 0 9
Giants 14
3
0 3 20
at Giants Stadium , East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : October 6Game time : 2:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 64 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 75,891Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYG – Matt Bahr 30-yard field goal. Giants 17–3. Third quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 40-yard field goal. Giants 17–6.
PHO – Greg Davis 29-yard field goal. Giants 17–9. Fourth quarter
NYG – Matt Bahr 27-yard field goal. Giants 20–9.
Top passers
PHO – Tom Tupa – 23/40, 230 yards, 2 INT
NYG – Jeff Hostetler – 14/18, 200 yards, TD Top rushers
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 14 rushes, 73 yards
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 22 rushes, 137 yards, TD Top receivers
Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 7: Phoenix Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
0
0 7 7
Vikings 7
13
7 7 34
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome , Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date : October 13Game time : 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : None (Indoor stadium)Game attendance : 51,209Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
MIN – Herschel Walker 1-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 14–0.
MIN – Rich Gannon 18-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 20–0. Third quarter
MIN – Anthony Carter 3-yard pass from Rich Gannon (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 27–0. Fourth quarter
Top passers
PHO – Tom Tupa – 21/36, 240 yards
MIN – Rich Gannon – 23/31, 254 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
PHO – Tom Tupa – 3 rushes, 22 yards
MIN – Rich Gannon – 5 rushes, 34 yards, TD Top receivers
PHO – Ernie Jones – 6 receptions, 67 yards
MIN – Cris Carter – 6 receptions, 118 yards, TD
Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
7
3
0 0 10
Cardinals 3
0
10 3 16
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : October 20Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 83 °F (28 °C)Game attendance : 29,804Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
ATL – Norm Johnson 29-yard field goal. Falcons 10–3. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 51-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–10.
PHO – Greg Davis 49-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–10.
Top passers
ATL – Chris Miller – 13/35, 220 yards, TD, 4 INT
PHO – Tom Tupa – 9/23, 139 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
Top receivers
ATL – Andre Rison – 5 receptions, 91 yards
PHO – Randal Hill – 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD
Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 9: Minnesota Vikings at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings 0
7
7 14 28
Cardinals
0
0
0 0 0
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : October 27Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 65 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 45,447Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
MIN – Herschel Walker 1-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 21–0.
MIN – Herschel Walker 5-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick). Vikings 28–0.
Top passers
MIN – Rich Gannon – 17/26, 142 yards, TD, INT
PHO – Tom Tupa – 12/30, 123 yards, 2 INT Top rushers
MIN – Herschel Walker – 17 rushes, 79 yards, 3 TD
PHO – Anthony Thompson – 6 rushes, 26 yards Top receivers
Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 10: Phoenix Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
7
0 0 7
Cowboys 10
0
7 10 27
at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas
Date : November 3Game time : 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : 33 °F (1 °C)Game attendance : 61,190Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
DAL – Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 17–7. Fourth quarter
DAL – Ken Willis 27-yard field goal. Cowboys 20–7.
DAL – Emmitt Smith 3-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 27–7.
Top passers
Top rushers
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 19 rushes, 89 yards, TD
DAL – Emmitt Smith – 22 rushes, 62 yards, 3 TD Top receivers
Week 11: vs. New York Giants
Week 11: New York Giants at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants 7
7
7 0 21
Cardinals
0
7
0 7 14
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : November 10Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 74 °F (23 °C)Game attendance : 50,048Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
NYG – Jeff Hostetler 4-yard run (Raul Allegre kick). Giants 21–7. Fourth quarter
Top passers
NYG – Jeff Hostetler – 12/21, 124 yards
PHO – Tom Tupa – 15/25, 175 yards, INT Top rushers
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 24 rushes, 99 yards, TD
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 14 rushes, 37 yards, TD Top receivers
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 12: Phoenix Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
0
3 7 10
49ers 0
7
0 7 14
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Date : November 17Game time : 1:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 59 °F (15 °C)Game attendance : 50,180Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SF – Tom Rathman 1-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 14–3. Fourth quarter
Top passers
PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 14/26, 156 yards, TD
SF – Steve Bono – 20/35, 187 yards Top rushers
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 12 rushes, 32 yards
SF – Keith Henderson – 15 rushes, 51 yards, TD Top receivers
Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 13: Philadelphia Eagles at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Eagles 20
0
7 7 34
Cardinals
7
7
0 0 14
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : November 24Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 58 °F (14 °C)Game attendance : 37,307Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
PHO – Lorenzo Lynch 35-yard interception return (Greg Davis kick). Eagles 20–14. Third quarter
PHI – Keith Jackson 29-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 27–14. Fourth quarter
PHI – Keith Byars 14-yard run (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 34–14.
Top passers
PHI – Jim McMahon – 10/25, 162 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 19/39, 193 yards, TD, 4 INT Top rushers
Top receivers
PHI – Fred Barnett – 4 receptions, 90 yards, TD
PHO – Randal Hill – 7 receptions, 80 yards
Week 15: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 15: Washington Redskins at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Redskins 0
0
14 6 20
Cardinals
0
14
0 0 14
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : December 8Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 59 °F (15 °C)Game attendance : 48,373Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
PHO – Johnny Johnson 1-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 7–0.
PHO – Johnny Johnson 3-yard run (Greg Davis kick). Cardinals 14–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 42-yard field goal. Redskins 17–14.
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 27-yard field goal. Redskins 20–14.
Top passers
WAS – Mark Rypien – 22/33, 256 yards, 2 TD
PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 11/21, 111 yards, 2 INT Top rushers
WAS – Earnest Byner – 25 rushes, 116 yards
PHO – Johnny Johnson – 13 rushes, 48 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
Week 16: at Denver Broncos
Week 16: Phoenix Cardinals at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
3
10 6 19
Broncos 7
3
7 7 24
at Mile High Stadium , Denver, Colorado
Date : December 15Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 34 °F (1 °C)Game attendance : 74,098Box Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DEN – David Treadwell 18-yard field goal. Broncos 10–0.
PHO – Greg Davis 33-yard field goal. Broncos 10–3. Third quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 45-yard field goal. Broncos 10–6.
DEN – Steve Sewell 8-yard run (David Treadwell kick). Broncos 17–6.
PHO – Ernie Jones 45-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Greg Davis kick). Broncos 17–13. Fourth quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Broncos 17–16.
PHO – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 19–17.
DEN – John Elway 4-yard run (David Treadwell kick). Broncos 24–19.
Top passers
PHO – Chris Chandler – 15/32, 194 yards, TD
DEN – John Elway – 19/33, 245 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers
Top receivers
PHO – Ernie Jones – 4 receptions, 84 yards, TD
DEN – Vance Johnson – 4 receptions, 58 yards
Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 17: New Orleans Saints at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints 0
13
7 7 27
Cardinals
3
0
0 0 3
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : December 22Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 55 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 30,928Box Score
Game information
First quarter
PHO – Greg Davis 38-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0. Second quarter
NO – Morten Andersen 27-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
NO – Dalton Hilliard 2-yard run (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 10–3.
NO – Morten Anderson 39-yard field goal. Saints 13–3. Third quarter
NO – Buford Jordan 3-yard run (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 20–3. Fourth quarter
Top passers
NO – Bobby Hebert – 12/24, 100 yards, TD, INT
PHO – Stan Gelbaugh – 12/24, 128 yards, 3 INT Top rushers
NO – Buford Jordan – 4 rushes, 38 yards, TD
PHO – Anthony Thompson – 7 rushes, 28 yards Top receivers
NO – Floyd Turner – 4 receptions, 47 yards, TD
PHO – Randal Hill – 5 receptions, 65 yards
Standings
