2016 Arizona Cardinals season

The 2016 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 97th in the National Football League, their 118th overall, their 29th in Arizona, their 11th at University of Phoenix Stadium and their fourth under head coach Bruce Arians.

2016 Arizona Cardinals season
OwnerBill Bidwill
General managerSteve Keim
Head coachBruce Arians
Home fieldUniversity of Phoenix Stadium
Results
Record7–8–1
Division place2nd NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
3
AP All-Pros
3
Uniform

In free agency, they signed veteran defensive back Tyvon Branch and veteran lineman Evan Mathis, while re-signing several key players. They traded for Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots, sending Jonathan Cooper and a late second-round pick to New England.

The Cardinals came into the 2016 season with expectations of improving on their 2015 campaign and reaching the Super Bowl. However, after a 1–3 start, they suffered injuries to quarterback Carson Palmer and most of the offensive line. On October 23, the Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks played out a 6–6 tie; this was the Cardinals' first tie since 1986 when they were the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also the lowest-scoring NFL tie since overtime was introduced in 1974. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15 after a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Despite winning their final two games, the Cardinals ended the season with a losing record at 7–8–1. Because the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, their first title in 108 years, the Cardinals also finished the season with the longest active championship drought in the four major American professional sports, with their last championship in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals.

Free agents
PositionPlayerTag2016 TeamNotes
WRJaron BrownRFAARIone-year deal
TEJermaine GreshamUFAARIone-year deal
TEDarren FellsUFAARIone-year deal
TEIfeanyi MomahERFAARIone-year deal
QBDrew StantonUFAARItwo-year deal
RBChris JohnsonRFAARIone-year deal
PDrew ButlerUFAARItwo-year deal
LSMike LeachUFA---retired
GTed LarsenUFACHIone-year deal
CLyle SendleinUFA---retired
TBobby MassieUFACHIthree-year deal
TKelvin PalmerUFATBone-year deal
TBradley SowellUFASEAone-year deal
STony JeffersonRFAARIone-year deal
SD. J. SwearingerRFAARIone-year deal
SRashad JohnsonUFATENone-year deal
SChris ClemonsUFAARIone-year deal
CBJerraud PowersUFABALone-year deal
CBCorey WhiteUFABUFone-year deal
DEBilly WinnRFADENone-year deal
ILBSean WeatherspoonUFAATLone-year deal
ILBKenny DemensERFAARIone-year deal
OLBLaMarr WoodleyUFATBA
OLBDwight FreeneyUFAATLone-year deal
DEJosh MauroERFAARIone-year deal
DERed BryantUFAARIone-year deal
Player re-signed by the Cardinals

Draft
Main article: 2016 NFL draft
2016 Arizona Cardinals Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
129 Robert NkemdicheDEOle Miss
392 Brandon WilliamsCBTexas A&M
4128 Evan BoehmCMissouri
5167 Marqui ChristianSMidwestern State
5170 Cole TonerOTHarvard
6205 Harlan MillerCBSoutheastern Louisiana

Notes

  • The Cardinals traded their second-round selection (No. 61 overall) and guard Jonathan Cooper to the New England Patriots in exchange for defensive end Chandler Jones.
  • The Cardinals traded a conditional seventh-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Matt Barkley; the Eagles will only receive this selection if Barkley is on the Cardinals' roster for at least six games during the 2015 season.
  • The Cardinals received a sixth-round compensatory pick (No. 170 overall) as the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Cardinals experienced during the 2015 free agency period.

Staff
2016 Arizona Cardinals staff
Front office
  • Owner/chairman – Bill Bidwill
  • President – Michael Bidwill
  • general manager – Steve Keim
  • Vice president of player personnel – Terry McDonough
  • Director of college scouting – Dru Grigson
  • Director of pro scouting – Quentin Harris
  • Assistant director of pro scouting – Malik Boyd
  • Director of football administration – Mike Disner

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Buddy Morris
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Roger Kingdom

Final roster
2016 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, 17 inactive, 10 practice squad

Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 12 Oakland Raiders L 10–31 0–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
2 August 19 at San Diego Chargers L 3–19 0–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
3 August 28 at Houston Texans L 24–34 0–3 NRG Stadium Recap
4 September 1 Denver Broncos W 38–17 1–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 11 New England Patriots L 21–23 0–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
2 September 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 40–7 1–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
3 September 25 at Buffalo Bills L 18–33 1–2 New Era Field Recap
4 October 2 Los Angeles Rams L 13–17 1–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
5 October 6 at San Francisco 49ers W 33–21 2–3 Levi's Stadium Recap
6 October 17 New York Jets W 28–3 3–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
7 October 23 Seattle Seahawks T 6–6 (OT) 3–3–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
8 October 30 at Carolina Panthers L 20–30 3–4–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
9 Bye
10 November 13 San Francisco 49ers W 23–20 4–4–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
11 November 20 at Minnesota Vikings L 24–30 4–5–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap
12 November 27 at Atlanta Falcons L 19–38 4–6–1 Georgia Dome Recap
13 December 4 Washington Redskins W 31–23 5–6–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
14 December 11 at Miami Dolphins L 23–26 5–7–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
15 December 18 New Orleans Saints L 41–48 5–8–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
16 December 24 at Seattle Seahawks W 34–31 6–8–1 CenturyLink Field Recap
17 January 1 at Los Angeles Rams W 44–6 7–8–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
Week One: New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots 10 0 7623
Cardinals 0 7 7721

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

With Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suspended and Jimmy Garoppolo starting, the Cardinals were huge favorites to win. The game was close, but was lost last minute, with a missed game-winning Cardinals field goal.

Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Two: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 0 707
Cardinals 0 24 9740

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
Week Three: Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 6518
Bills 10 7 13333

at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week Four: Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 3 0717
Cardinals 0 10 3013

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers
Week Five: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 141233
49ers 0 7 7721

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

Week 6: vs. New York Jets
Week Six: New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 3 003
Cardinals 7 7 7728

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

This was the Cardinals' first win over the Jets since 1975, when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Seahawks 0 0 0336
Cardinals 0 3 0036

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 65,089
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Cardinals placekicker Chandler Catanzaro and Seahawks placekicker Steven Hauschka each miss game winning field goals as the game finishes in a 6-6 tie and the Cardinals earn their first tie since the 1986 season.

Week 8: at Carolina Panthers
Week Eight: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 7620
Panthers 14 10 6030

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: October 30
  • Game time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 74,088
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

In a rematch of the NFC championship, the Panthers led by as much as 24 points until Arizona ended the game by cutting the lead to 10.

Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Ten: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 10 3720
Cardinals 7 13 0323

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Week Eleven: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 10 0724
Vikings 7 13 10030

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Twelve: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 6 0619
Falcons 7 10 71438

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 13: vs. Washington Redskins
Week Thirteen: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 6 14323
Cardinals 7 3 71431

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 2:25 pm. MST
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), sunny - retractable roof open
  • Game attendance: 64,939
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Chris Spielman and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 14: at Miami Dolphins
Week Fourteen: Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 6 3 01423
Dolphins 7 7 7526

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 11:00 am. MST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 65,750
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

This was the Cardinals' first loss to the Dolphins since 1999.

Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Fifteen: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 10 14 32148
Cardinals 7 13 71441

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 18
  • Game time: 2:05 pm. MST
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), sunny - retractable roof open
  • Game attendance: 65,072
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With the close loss, the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks
Week Sixteen: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 7 02034
Seahawks 0 3 72131

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 2:25 pm. MST
  • Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 69,050
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 17: at Los Angeles Rams
Week Seventeen: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 13 141444
Rams 0 6 006

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: January 1, 2017
  • Game time: 2:25 pm. MST
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 80,729
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Despite losing running back David Johnson to a knee injury in the first quarter, Arizona still managed to blow out the Rams, 44-6 to finish the year at 7-8-1.

Standings

Division
NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Seattle Seahawks 10 5 1 .656 3–2–1 6–5–1 354 292 W1
Arizona Cardinals 7 8 1 .469 4–1–1 6–5–1 418 362 W2
Los Angeles Rams 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 224 394 L7
San Francisco 49ers 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 309 480 L1

Conference
NFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Dallas Cowboys East 13 3 0 .813 3–3 9–3 .471 .440 L1
2 Atlanta Falcons South 11 5 0 .688 5–1 9–3 .480 .452 W4
3 Seattle Seahawks West 10 5 1 .656 3–2–1 6–5–1 .441 .425 W1
4 Green Bay Packers North 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .508 .453 W6
Wild Cards
5 New York Giants East 11 5 0 .688 4–2 8–4 .486 .455 W1
6[lower-alpha 1] Detroit Lions North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .475 .392 L3
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[lower-alpha 1] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 9 7 0 .563 4–2 7–5 .492 .434 W1
8 Washington Redskins East 8 7 1 .531 3–3 6–6 .516 .430 L1
9 Minnesota Vikings North 8 8 0 .500 2–4 5–7 .492 .457 W1
10 Arizona Cardinals West 7 8 1 .469 4–1–1 6–5–1 .463 .366 W2
11[lower-alpha 2] New Orleans Saints South 7 9 0 .438 2–4 6–6 .523 .393 L1
12[lower-alpha 2] Philadelphia Eagles East 7 9 0 .438 2–4 5–7 .559 .518 W2
13 Carolina Panthers South 6 10 0 .375 1–5 5–7 .518 .354 L2
14 Los Angeles Rams West 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .504 .500 L7
15 Chicago Bears North 3 13 0 .188 2–4 3–9 .521 .396 L4
16 San Francisco 49ers West 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 .504 .250 L1
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 3]
  1. Detroit finished ahead of Tampa Bay for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents — Detroit's cumulative record against
    Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New Orleans was 3–2, while Tampa Bay's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
  2. New Orleans finished ahead of Philadelphia based on better record vs. conference opponents.
  3. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

References
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