1998 Arizona Cardinals season

Last updated

1998 Arizona Cardinals season
Owner Bill Bidwill
Head coach Vince Tobin
Home field Sun Devil Stadium
Results
Record9–7
Division place2nd NFC East
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(at Cowboys) 20–7
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Vikings) 21–41
Pro Bowlers DB Aeneas Williams

The 1998 Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise's 100th season, 79th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 11th in Arizona. The club posted its first winning record since 1984, appeared in the postseason for the first time since 1982, its first postseason appearance in a non-strike season since 1975, and won its first postseason game since 1947 (it was also their first ever playoff win on the road). It was the Cardinals' first playoff appearance in the franchise's tenure in Arizona. After shocking the 10–6 Dallas Cowboys in the opening round in which the Cardinals won 20–7, Arizona ended up losing to the 15–1 Minnesota Vikings, 41–21 in the Divisional round. Over the next ten seasons, the Cardinals fell out of contention. They returned to the playoffs following the 2008 season, including a Super Bowl appearance despite a similarly mediocre 9–7 record.

Contents

Statistics site Football Outsiders states that the 1998 Arizona Cardinals are the third-worst team behind the 2004 Rams and 2010 Seahawks to qualify for the NFL playoffs since they began calculating ratings. [1] Ironically, all three of those teams won their first playoff games before falling in the divisional round.

The season also marked the Cardinals' first game in St. Louis since re-locating to Arizona after the 1987 season. The Cardinals defeated the St. Louis Rams 20–17. Prior to the 2002 season, the Cardinals would be realigned to the NFC West, thus becoming divisional rivals to the Rams, and from then would play a regular season game in their former city every year until the Rams' return to the Los Angeles metropolitan area after the 2015 season.

Offseason

NFL Draft

1998 Arizona Cardinals draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
13 Andre Wadsworth   Defensive end Florida State
233 Corey Chavous  *  Defensive back Vanderbilt
236 Anthony Clement   Offensive tackle Louisiana–Lafayette
495 Michael Pittman   Running back Fresno State
5125 Terry Hardy   Tight end Southern Miss
6158 Zack Walz   Linebacker Dartmouth
7193Phil Savoy  Wide receiver Colorado
7209Jomo Cousins Defensive end Florida A&M
7226 Pat Tillman  Defensive back Arizona State
7233Ron Janes Running back Missouri
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Undrafted free agents

1998 Undrafted Free Agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Cory Sauter Quarterback Minnesota
Cory WedelKicker Wyoming

Personnel

Staff

1998 Arizona Cardinals staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Al Everest

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki


Roster

1998 Arizona Cardinals roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 9 reserve, 4 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueTVAttendance
1September 6at Dallas Cowboys L 10–380–1 Texas Stadium FOX63,602
2September 13at Seattle Seahawks L 14–330–2 Kingdome FOX57,678
3September 20 Philadelphia Eagles W 17–31–2 Sun Devil Stadium ESPN39,782
4September 27at St. Louis Rams W 20–172–2 Trans World Dome FOX55,832
5October 4 Oakland Raiders L 20–232–3Sun Devil StadiumCBS53,240
6October 11 Chicago Bears W 20–73–3Sun Devil StadiumFOX50,495
7October 18at New York Giants L 7–343–4 Giants Stadium FOX70,456
8 Bye
9November 1at Detroit Lions W 17–154–4 Pontiac Silverdome FOX66,087
10November 8 Washington Redskins W 29–275–4Sun Devil StadiumFOX45,950
11November 15 Dallas Cowboys L 28–355–5Sun Devil StadiumFOX71,670
12November 22at Washington Redskins W 45–426–5 Jack Kent Cooke Stadium FOX63,435
13November 29at Kansas City Chiefs L 24–346–6 Arrowhead Stadium FOX69,613
14December 6 New York Giants L 19–236–7Sun Devil StadiumFOX46,128
15December 13at Philadelphia Eagles W 20–17 (OT)7–7 Veterans Stadium FOX62,176
16December 20 New Orleans Saints W 19–178–7Sun Devil StadiumFOX51,617
17December 27 San Diego Chargers W 16–139–7Sun Devil StadiumCBS71,670
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals0010010
Cowboys01471738

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 88 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,602
  • TV announcers (Fox): Tim Ryan, Bill Maas, Ronnie Lott, & Mike Doocy
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 2: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals007714
Seahawks101001333

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST/2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 57,678
  • TV announcers (Fox): Steve Buckhantz & Trevor Matich
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Eagles00033
Cardinals0001717

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 6:20 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 36,717
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire, & Solomon Wilcots
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 4: at St. Louis Rams

Week 4: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals0170320
Rams730717

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 55,832
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert & Tim Green
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 5: Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Raiders6170023
Cardinals770620

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,178
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist, Randy Cross, & Michele Tafoya
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 6: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears00077
Cardinals3140320

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,860
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley & Ron Pitts
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 7: at New York Giants

Week 7: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals07007
Giants71010734

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,456
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley & Ron Pitts
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 9: at Detroit Lions

Week 9: Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals077317
Lions063615

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 66,087
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley & Ron Pitts
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins

Week 10: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Redskins31401027
Cardinals0771529

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 43,159
  • TV announcers (Fox): Tim Ryan, Bill Maas, & Ronnie Lott
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 11: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cowboys14147035
Cardinals0714728

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,923
  • TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, John Madden, & Kevin McCabe
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 12: at Washington Redskins

Week 12: Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals17147745
Redskins06211542

at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Maryland

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,435
  • TV announcers (Fox): Tim Ryan, Bill Maas, & Ronnie Lott
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 13: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 13: Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals0107724
Chiefs77101034

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 29
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,613
  • TV announcers (Fox): Tim Ryan, Bill Maas, Ronnie Lott, & Kevin McCabe
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 14: vs. New York Giants

Week 14: New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Giants7310323
Cardinals1430219

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 46,128
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen & Jerry Glanville
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 15: Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Cardinals10007320
Eagles01007017

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,176
  • TV announcers (Fox): Tim Ryan, Bill Maas, & Ronnie Lott
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 16: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Saints0100717
Cardinals337619

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 51,617
  • TV announcers (Fox): Tim Ryan, Bill Maas, Ronnie Lott, & Kevin McCabe
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 17: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 17: San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chargers0301013
Cardinals733316

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 27
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 71,670
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui & Beasley Reece
  • Box Score
Game information

Standings

NFC East
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(3) Dallas Cowboys 1060.625381275W2
(6) Arizona Cardinals 970.563325378W3
New York Giants 880.500287309W4
Washington Redskins 6100.375319421L1
Philadelphia Eagles 3130.188161344L3

Postseason

RoundDateOpponent (seed)ResultRecordVenue
Wild CardJanuary 2, 1999at Dallas Cowboys (3)W 20–71–0 Texas Stadium
DivisionalJanuary 10, 1999at Minnesota Vikings (1)L 21–411–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

NFC Wild Card Round: at (3) Dallas Cowboys

NFC Wild Card Round: (6) Arizona Cardinals at (3) Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals737320
Cowboys00077

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

Quarterback Jake Plummer passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Cardinals to their first playoff victory since 1947. [3]

NFC Divisional Round: at (1) Minnesota Vikings

NFC Divisional Round: (6) Arizona Cardinals at (1) Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals077721
Vikings71710741

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Awards and records

References

  1. Football Outsiders: Final 2010 DVOA Ratings “The Seahawks do pass the 1998 Cardinals as the second-worst playoff team in DVOA history.”
  2. "1998 Arizona Cardinals Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  3. Arizona Cardinals (1988–Present)
  4. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 452
  5. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 94
  6. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 451