1991 Phoenix Cardinals season

The 1991 Phoenix Cardinals season was the 72nd season the team was in the National 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] This was the ninth consecutive season the Cardinals failed to qualify to the playoffs.

1991 Phoenix Cardinals season
Head coachJoe Bugel
General managerLarry Wilson
OwnerBill Bidwill
Home fieldSun Devil Stadium
Results
Record4–12
Division place5th NFC East
Playoff finishdid not qualify
Pro BowlersSS Tim McDonald
P Rich Camarillo

The Cardinals’ 196 points scored is the lowest total in franchise history for a 16-game season.[2]

Offseason

NFL Draft
Main article: 1991 NFL Draft
1991 Phoenix Cardinals draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 6 Eric Swann *  Defensive tackle Wake Technical CC
2 32 Mike Jones  Defensive end North Carolina State
3 59 Aeneas Williams * †  Cornerback Southern
4 86 Dexter Davis  Cornerback Clemson
5 117 Vince Hammond  Defensive tackle Clemson
6 144 Eduardo Vega  Offensive tackle Memphis
7 171 Ivory Lee Brown  Running back Arkansas–Pine Bluff
8 198 Greg Amsler  Running back Tennessee
8 204 Jerry Evans  Tight end Toledo
8 209 Scott Evans  Defensive end Oklahoma
10 255 Herbie Anderson  Defensive back Texas A&I
11 282 Nathan LaDuke  Defensive back Arizona State
12 309 Jeff Bridewell  Quarterback UC Davis
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[3]

Personnel

Staff
1991 Phoenix Cardinals staff
Front office
  • President – Bill Bidwill
  • Vice President and General Manager – Larry Wilson
  • Director of Pro Personnel – Erik Widmark
  • Director of Player Personnel – George Boone

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Bob Rogucki

Roster
1991 Phoenix 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
 active, inactive, practice squad

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 calculated that the 1991 Cardinals played the second-toughest schedule[note 1] based on strength of opponent of any NFL team between 1989 and 2013,[4] although Pro Football Reference argues that the 1991 Cardinals suffered the ninth toughest non-strike schedule since 1971.[note 2] The Cardinals played just two games against opponents with losing records – both amongst their first five games and both won – whilst ten opponents including all their last five finished 10–6 or better.

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 1, 1991 at Los Angeles Rams W 24–14
47,069
2 September 8, 1991 at Philadelphia Eagles W 26–10
63,818
3 September 15, 1991 at Washington Redskins L 34–0
54,662
4 September 22, 1991 Dallas Cowboys L 17–9
68,814
5 September 29, 1991 New England Patriots W 24–10
26,043
6 October 6, 1991 at New York Giants L 20–9
75,891
7 October 13, 1991 at Minnesota Vikings L 34–7
51,209
8 October 20, 1991 Atlanta Falcons W 16–10
29,804
9 October 27, 1991 Minnesota Vikings L 28–0
45,447
10 November 3, 1991 at Dallas Cowboys L 27–7
61,190
11 November 10, 1991 New York Giants L 21–14
50,048
12 November 17, 1991 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–10
50,180
13 November 24, 1991 Philadelphia Eagles L 34–14
37,307
14 Bye
15 December 8, 1991 Washington Redskins L 20–14
48,373
16 December 15, 1991 at Denver Broncos L 24–19
74,098
17 December 22, 1991 New Orleans Saints L 27–3
30,928

Standings
NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) Washington Redskins 14 2 0 .875 6–2 10–2 485 224 L1
(5) Dallas Cowboys 11 5 0 .688 5–3 8–4 342 310 W5
Philadelphia Eagles 10 6 0 .625 5–3 6–6 285 244 W1
New York Giants 8 8 0 .500 3–5 5–7 281 297 W1
Phoenix Cardinals 4 12 0 .250 1–7 3–11 196 344 L8

Notes
  1. The toughest schedule between 1989 and 2013 according to Football Outsiders was played by the 2004 Cleveland Browns.
  2. Tougher schedules according to Pro Football Reference in non-strike seasons since 1971 were suffered by, in descending order of toughness, the 2010 Buffalo Bills, the 1975 Cleveland Browns and 1975 New York Jets (equal), the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2010 Miami Dolphins, the 1979 Cincinnati Bengals, the 1977 Kansas City Chiefs and the 1973 San Francisco 49ers.

References
  1. 1991 Phoenix Cardinals
  2. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, playing for the Ari (StL/Chi) Cardinals, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For.
  3. "1991 Phoenix Cardinals Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  4. Football Outsiders; DVOA Analysis: ‘Let Me Check My Schedule’
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