2012 Arizona Cardinals season

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 Arizona Cardinals season
OwnerBill Bidwill
Head coachKen Whisenhunt
General managerRod Graves
Home fieldUniversity of Phoenix Stadium
Results
Record5–11
Division place4th NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersWR Larry Fitzgerald
LB Daryl Washington
Uniform

2012 draft class
Arizona at the New York Jets in week 13
Main article: 2012 NFL Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
113 Michael FloydWide receiverNotre Dame
2 None[upper-alpha 1]
380 Jamell FlemingCornerbackOklahoma
4112 Bobby MassieOffensive tackleOle Miss
5151 Senio KelemeteGuardWashington
6177[upper-alpha 2] Justin BethelSafetyPresbyterian
185 Ryan LindleyQuarterbackSan Diego State
7221 Nate PotterOffensive tackleBoise State

Staff
2012 Arizona Cardinals staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Ray Horton
  • Defensive Line – Ron Aiken
  • Linebackers – Matt Raich
  • Defensive Backs – Louie Cioffi
  • Assistant Defensive Backs – Deshea Townsend
  • Defensive Quality Control – Ryan Slowik

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – John Lott
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Pete Alosi

Final roster
2012 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, 11 inactive, 8 practice squad

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.

Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week One: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Seahawks 3 0 10316
Cardinals 3 7 3720

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: September 9
  • Game time: 1:25 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,032
  • Referee: Bruce Hermansen
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Heath Evans and Heidi Androl
Game information

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
Week Two: Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 6 0 7720
Patriots 3 3 3918

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: September 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m MDT
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C), partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 68,756
  • Referee: David Scott
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Game information

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 Three: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 0 606
Cardinals 10 14 0327

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: September 23
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,436
  • Referee: Mike Shepherd
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
Game information

Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week Four: Miami Dolphins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Dolphins 0 13 08021
Cardinals 0 0 714324

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,183
  • Referee: Scott Green
  • TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information

Week 5: at St. Louis Rams
Week Five: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 0 003
Rams 7 3 0717

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

This was the Cardinals' 700th loss. They became the first team in NFL history to do this.

Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Six: Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Bills 9 0 70319
Cardinals 3 7 33016

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: October 14
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,385
  • Referee: Alberto Riveron
  • TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
Game information

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 Seven: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 0714
Vikings 7 7 7021

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

  • Date: October 21
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/10:00 a.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 61,068
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
Game information

Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Eight: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 7 10 7024
Cardinals 0 0 303

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Week 9: at Green Bay Packers
Week Nine: Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 10017
Packers 7 14 10031

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

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 Eleven: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 13 3 0319
Falcons 0 16 0723

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 12: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week Twelve: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Rams 0 14 14331
Cardinals 7 10 0017

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,062
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Game information

Week 13: at New York Jets
Week Thirteen: Arizona Cardinals at New York Jets – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 3 036
Jets 0 0 077

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 79,088
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
Game information

Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks
Week Fourteen: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 000
Seahawks 10 28 13758

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: December 9
  • Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), rain
  • Game attendance: 67,685
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan, and Jaime Maggio
Game information

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 Fifteen: Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Lions 0 7 3010
Cardinals 0 21 31438

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 16
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), sunny, clear skies (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 60,483
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
Game information

Week 16: vs. Chicago Bears
Week Sixteen: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bears 7 14 7028
Cardinals 3 3 0713

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 23
  • Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), sunny (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 62,734
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Game information

Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers
Week Seventeen: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 3 0713
49ers 0 7 101027

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

  • Date: December 30
  • Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 69,732
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Charles Davis and Kristina Pink
Game information

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
  1. The Cardinals traded their second-round selection and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Kevin Kolb.
  2. 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
  1. Pro Football Reference; Team Record Finder Query Results: From 1961 to 2017, excluding 1982 and 1987, show the final records of teams that started 4–0

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