2009 Arizona Cardinals season

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2009 Arizona Cardinals season
University of Phoenix Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place1st NFC West
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Packers) 51–45 (OT)
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Saints) 14–45
Pro Bowlers5
SS Adrian Wilson
WR Larry Fitzgerald
DE Darnell Dockett
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
DB Antrel Rolle
AP All-ProsAdrian Wilson (1st team)
Larry Fitzgerald (2nd team)
Darnell Dockett (2nd team)
Uniform

The 2009 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 90th in the National Football League (NFL), their 22nd in Arizona and their third under head coach Ken Whisenhunt.

The Cardinals finished the season with a 10–6 record, an improvement from their 9–7 previous season record and the first time the team has won 10 games since

NFC
divisional round. This game would be the final game of quarterback Kurt Warner's career, and this was the only playoff game in thirteen total appearances in which he failed to throw a touchdown pass.

The 2009 season was the team's first to secure back-to-back postseason appearances since its move to Arizona, and the first time the team did so since 1975.

Offseason

Staff changes

Signings

Released

Free agents

Pos. Player Tag Result
CB Michael Adams ERFA
RB J. J. Arrington UFA Signed with Broncos[10]
DE Jason Banks ERFA Re-signed with Cardinals[11]
LB Monty Beisel UFA Signed with Kansas City Chiefs
DE Bertrand Berry UFA Re-signed with Cardinals[12]
T/G Elton Brown UFA Re-signed with Cardinals[13]
CB Ralph Brown UFA Re-signed with Cardinals[14]
FB Tim Castille ERFA
LB Karlos Dansby UFA Franchised tagged by Cardinals[15]
DE Keilen Dykes Re-signed with Cardinals[3]
CB Wilrey Fontenot Re-signed with Cardinals[3]
P
Ben Graham
 UFA Re-signed with Cardinals[6]
CB Eric Green UFA Signed with Dolphins[16]
LB Clark Haggans UFA Re-signed with Cardinals[17]
WR Onrea Jones Re-signed with Cardinals[3]
S Dennis Keyes Re-signed with Cardinals[3]
WR Lance Long Re-signed with Cardinals[3]
TE Ben Patrick ERFA
C Scott Peters UFA
TE Leonard Pope RFA
C/G Pat Ross UFA
C Lyle Sendlein ERFA
TE Alex Shor ERFA Re-signed with Cardinals[11]
DE Antonio Smith UFA Signed with Texans[18]
FB Terrelle Smith UFA
TE Stephen Spach ERFA
QB Brian St. Pierre UFA Re-signed with Cardinals[6]
LB Matt Stewart UFA Signed with Cowboys[19]
LB Pago Togafau ERFA
TE Jerame Tuman UFA
OT Elliot Vallejo ERFA
RB Chris Vincent ERFA Re-signed with Cardinals[11]
QB Kurt Warner UFA Re-signed with Cardinals[20]
DT Gabe Watson RFA
UFA: Unrestricted free agent; RFA: Restricted free agent; ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent

2009 NFL Draft

Main article:
2009 NFL Draft

As

NFC champion and having lost Super Bowl XLIII
, the Cardinals had the second-to-last pick in the first round (31st overall).

2009 Arizona Cardinals Draft Selections
Draft order Player Position Height Weight College
Round Choice
1 31 Chris "Beanie" Wells RB 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 237 lb (108 kg) Ohio State
2 63 Cody Brown DE 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 248 lb (112 kg)
Connecticut
3 95 Rashad Johnson
S
 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 203 lb (92 kg) Alabama
4 131 Greg Toler CB 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 182 lb (83 kg)
Saint Paul's College
5 167 Herman Johnson
G
 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 382 lb (173 kg) LSU
6 204 Will Davis DE 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 268 lb (122 kg) Illinois
7 240 LaRod Stephens-Howling HB 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Pitt
7 254 Trevor Canfield
G
 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 305 lb (138 kg) Cincinnati

Coaching staff

Arizona Cardinals 2009 staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator –
    Kevin Spencer

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning –
    John Lott

Final roster

2009 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, 5 inactive, 7 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 13 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–20 0–1
Heinz Field
 Recap
2 August 22 San Diego Chargers L 6–17 0–2
University of Phoenix Stadium
 Recap
3 August 28 Green Bay Packers L 37–44 0–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
4 September 3 at Denver Broncos L 0–19 0–4
Invesco Field at Mile High
 Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 13 San Francisco 49ers L 16–20 0–1
University of Phoenix Stadium
 Recap
2 September 20 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 31–17 1–1
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
 Recap
3 September 27 Indianapolis Colts L 10–31 1–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
4 Bye
5 October 11 Houston Texans W 28–21 2–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
6 October 18 at Seattle Seahawks W 27–3 3–2
Qwest Field
 Recap
7 October 25 at New York Giants W 24–17 4–2 Giants Stadium Recap
8 November 1 Carolina Panthers L 21–34 4–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
9 November 8 at Chicago Bears W 41–21 5–3 Soldier Field Recap
10 November 15 Seattle Seahawks W 31–20 6–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
11 November 22 at St. Louis Rams W 21–13 7–3
Edward Jones Dome
 Recap
12 November 29 at Tennessee Titans L 17–20 7–4
LP Field
 Recap
13 December 6 Minnesota Vikings W 30–17 8–4 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
14 December 14 at San Francisco 49ers L 9–24 8–5 Candlestick Park Recap
15 December 20 at Detroit Lions W 31–24 9–5 Ford Field Recap
16 December 27 St. Louis Rams W 31–10 10–5 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
17 January 3 Green Bay Packers L 7–33 10–6 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap

Standings

NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Arizona Cardinals 10 6 0 .625 4–2 8–4 375 325 L1
San Francisco 49ers 8 8 0 .500 5–1 7–5 330 281 W2
Seattle Seahawks 5 11 0 .313 3–3 4–8 280 390 L4
St. Louis Rams 1 15 0 .063 0–6 1–11 175 436 L8

Regular season results

Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers

With their NFC title on the line, the Cardinals began their season at home in a Week 1 divisional duel with their NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, Arizona trailed early as Niners kicker Joe Nedney got a 37-yard and a 50-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Cardinals got on the board as kicker Neil Rackers made a 44-yard field goal. San Francisco answered with running back Frank Gore getting a 6-yard touchdown run, while Arizona closed out the half with Rackers kicking a 29-yard field goal.

The Cardinals would tie the game in the third quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. In the fourth quarter, Arizona took the lead as Rackers nailed a 43-yard field goal. However, the 49ers regained their lead as quarterback Shaun Hill completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Gore. San Francisco's defense would then prevent the Cards' offense from rallying.

With the loss, the Cardinals began their season at 0–1.

Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 10 14 7031
Jaguars 3 0 7717

at

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Hoping to rebound from their loss to the 49ers, the Cardinals traveled to

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 2 interconference duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Cardinals scored on their first drive with a 1-yard run by running back Tim Hightower. The Jaguars also scored on their first possession with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Josh Scobee. Arizona then answered with a 45-yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers. In the second quarter, trailing 10–3, the Jaguars lined up for another Scobee field goal only to have it blocked by backup defensive end Calais Campbell and returned by free safety Antrel Rolle for an 83-yard touchdown. The Cardinals would extend their lead by halftime as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to running back Jason Wright
.

Warner would find wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the third quarter for a 22-yard touchdown pass that increased the Cardinal lead to 28. Jacksonville would attempt to mount a comeback with quarterback David Garrard completing a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis in the third quarter and a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker in the fourth quarter, but Arizona held on for the victory.

With the win, the Cardinals improved to 1–1.

Warner's performance (24/26, 243 yards, 2 TDs) would become the new NFL record for a single-game completion percentage (92.3%), snapping Vinny Testaverde's old record set in 1993 (91.3%).

Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts

Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 21 7331
Cardinals 3 0 7010

at

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information
First quarter
  • ARI – Neil Rackers 38-yard field goal, 2.46. Cardinals 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 3:16.

Second quarter

  • IND – Reggie Wayne 20-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Adam Vinatieri kick), 9:04. Colts 7–3. Drive: 11 plays, 95 yards, 5:09.
  • IND – Dallas Clark 10-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick), 5:49. Colts 14–3. Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 2:24.
  • IND – Pierre Garçon 53-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick), 1:52. Colts 21–3. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:54.

Third quarter

  • ARI – Anquan Boldin 10-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Rackers kick), 10:50. Colts 21–10. Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 4:10.
  • IND – Joseph Addai 3-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick), 2:26. Colts 28–10. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 2:07.

Fourth quarter

  • IND – Adam Vinatieri 26-yard field goal, 11:31. Colts 31–10. Drive: 6 plays, 32 yards, 3:22.

Coming off their Week 2 road win over the Jaguars, the Cardinals went home for a Week 3 Sunday night interconference duel with the Indianapolis Colts. Arizona took flight in the first quarter with kicker Neil Rackers' 38-yard field goal. However, the Colts took a monster lead in the second quarter as quarterback Peyton Manning completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne, a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Clark, and a 53-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Pierre Garçon.

The Cardinals tried to fight back in the third quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner hooked up with wide receiver Anquan Boldin on a 10-yard touchdown pass, but Indianapolis replied with Manning's 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Joseph Addai. Afterwards, the Colts closed out the game in the fourth quarter with kicker Adam Vinatieri's 26-yard field goal.

With the loss, Arizona entered its bye week at 1–2.

Week 4: BYE

Week 5: vs. Houston Texans

Period 1 2 34Total
Texans 0 0 71421
Cardinals 7 14 0728

at

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Coming off their bye week, the Cardinals stayed at home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Houston Texans. Arizona would get off to a very fast start as running back Tim Hightower got a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, followed by quarterback Kurt Warner completing a 9-yard and a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the second.

However, the Texans gained steam in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back

Chris Brown. Afterwards, Houston would tie the game in the fourth quarter with quarterback Matt Schaub completing an 11-yard and a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson. However, the Cardinals went back to work with two crucial defensive moments. First, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
would return an interception 49 yards for a touchdown. Second, even when the Texans' offense got down to Arizona's 1-yard line on a 1st down play inside of the two-minute warning, the defense withstood three tries and held on for the victory.

With the win, the Cardinals improved to 2–2.

Week 6: at Seattle Seahawks