| 2012 Arizona Cardinals season | |
|---|---|
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| Owner | Bill Bidwill |
| Head coach | Ken Whisenhunt |
| General manager | Rod Graves |
| Home field | University of Phoenix Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 5-11 |
| Division place | 4th NFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | WR Larry Fitzgerald LB Daryl Washington |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The 2012 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 93rd in the National Football League and their 25th in Arizona. After a surprising 4-0 start, which included a major upset of the New England Patriots in week 2, 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. This was Rod Graves last season as General Manager of the Cardinals. A day after the final game of the regular season, he was fired after 16 seasons. As of 2020, this is the Cardinals most recent 4-0 start.
2012 draft class
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | Michael Floyd | Wide receiver | Notre Dame |
| 2 | None[A] | |||
| 3 | 80 | Jamell Fleming | Cornerback | Oklahoma |
| 4 | 112 | Bobby Massie | Offensive tackle | Ole Miss |
| 5 | 151 | Senio Kelemete | Guard | Washington |
| 6 | 177[B] | Justin Bethel | Safety | Presbyterian |
| 185 | Ryan Lindley | Quarterback | San Diego State | |
| 7 | 221 | Nate Potter | Offensive tackle | Boise State |
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | 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
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | 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
The Cardinals began their season at home against their divisional rival Seahawks with quarterback 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 a appearance in relief of Skelton going 6/8 for 66 yards and a touchdown pass.
Week 2: at New England Patriots
In a huge upset at Gillette Stadium, the Cardinals beat the Patriots to become 2-0. This was the Cardinals' first win against the Patriots since 1991.
Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 5: at St. Louis Rams
This was the Cardinals' 700th loss. They became the first team in NFL history to do this.
Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills
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 remained in a tie for first place in the NFC West.
Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 9: at Green Bay Packers
Losing their fifth straight game of the season by remaining winless at Lambeau Field (0-7), the Cardinals headed into their bye week at 4-5.
Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 12: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 13: at New York Jets
Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks
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 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 16: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers
With this loss, the Cardinals surpassed the 1989 Chicago Bears for the worst record by an NFL team starting 4-0.[1]
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
- ^ The Cardinals traded their second-round selection and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Kevin Kolb.
- ^ 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
Media related to 2012 Arizona Cardinals season at Wikimedia Commons
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