2004 Arizona Cardinals season

Summary

The 2004 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 85th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 106th overall and their 17th in Arizona. The team finished with a 6–10 record, an improvement on their 4–12 record from the previous season, and finished in third place in the NFC West, failing to make the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Season lows for the Cardinals included losing two games to the San Francisco 49ers, the only two games the 49ers won in 2004. The Cardinals, during Week 9, also defeated the Miami Dolphins for the first time in franchise history.

2004 Arizona Cardinals season
OwnerBill Bidwill
General managerRod Graves
Head coachDennis Green
Home fieldSun Devil Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place3rd NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersDE Bertrand Berry

The season was notable for drafting wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald with the third overall pick of the draft. At the end of the season, Emmitt Smith retired after 15 years in the league.

Offseason edit

NFL Draft edit

Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
1 3 Larry Fitzgerald Wide receiver University of Pittsburgh
2 33 Karlos Dansby Linebacker Auburn University
3 64 Darnell Dockett Defensive tackle Florida State University
4 100 Alex Stepanovich Center Ohio State University
5 135 Antonio Smith Defensive end Oklahoma State University
6 167 Nick Leckey Center Kansas State University
7 202 John Navarre Quarterback University of Michigan

[1]

Pat Tillman edit

On April 22, 2004, former Cardinals safety Pat Tillman was killed in a friendly fire incident while on patrol. Tillman was the first professional football player to be killed in combat since the death of Bob Kalsu of the Buffalo Bills, who died in the Vietnam War in 1970. Tillman was posthumously laterally promoted from Specialist to Corporal. He also received posthumous Silver Star and Purple Heart medals. On Sunday, September 19, 2004, all teams of the NFL wore a memorial decal on their helmets in Tillman's honor. The Cardinals continued to wear this decal throughout the 2004 season.

Personnel edit

2004 Arizona Cardinals staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Clancy Pendergast
  • Defensive line – Deek Pollard
  • Linebackers – Frank Bush
  • Defensive backs – Richard Solomon
  • Defensive quality control – Rick Courtright

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Ryan Capretta
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

Roster edit

2004 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, 7 inactive, 8 practice squad

Regular season edit

Schedule edit

In the 2004 regular season, the Cardinals' non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the NFC South, although they also played the New York Giants from the NFC East, and the Detroit Lions from the NFC North. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC East.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 12 at St. Louis Rams L 10–17 0–1 Edward Jones Dome 65,538
2 September 19 New England Patriots L 12–23 0–2 Sun Devil Stadium 51,557
3 September 26 at Atlanta Falcons L 3–6 0–3 Georgia Dome 70,534
4 October 3 New Orleans Saints W 34–10 1–3 Sun Devil Stadium 28,109
5 October 10 at San Francisco 49ers L 28–31 (OT) 1–4 Monster Park 62,836
6 Bye
7 October 24 Seattle Seahawks W 25–17 2–4 Sun Devil Stadium 35,695
8 October 31 at Buffalo Bills L 14–38 2–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium 65,887
9 November 7 at Miami Dolphins W 24–23 3–5 Pro Player Stadium 72,612
10 November 14 New York Giants W 17–14 4–5 Sun Devil Stadium 42,297
11 November 21 at Carolina Panthers L 10–35 4–6 Bank of America Stadium 72,796
12 November 28 New York Jets L 3–13 4–7 Sun Devil Stadium 35,820
13 December 5 at Detroit Lions L 12–26 4–8 Ford Field 62,262
14 December 12 San Francisco 49ers L 28–31 (OT) 4–9 Sun Devil Stadium 35,069
15 December 19 St. Louis Rams W 31–7 5–9 Sun Devil Stadium 40,070
16 December 26 at Seattle Seahawks L 21–24 5–10 Qwest Field 65,825
17 January 2, 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 12–7 6–10 Sun Devil Stadium 31,650
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries edit

Week 1: at St. Louis Rams edit

Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 3 7010
Rams 0 6 3817

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: September 12
  • Game time: 12:05 p.m. CST/11:05 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 65,538
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 2: vs. New England Patriots edit

Week 2: New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 7 3623
Cardinals 0 6 6012

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 51,557
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons edit

Week 3: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 033
Falcons 3 3 006

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: September 26
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. EST/11:05 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,534
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints edit

Week 4: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 3 7010
Cardinals 7 7 31734

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 3
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 93 °F (34 °C)
  • Game attendance: 28,109
  • Referee: Tom White
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers edit

Week 5: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Cardinals 0 14 014028
49ers 0 6 616331

at Monster Park, San Francisco, California

  • Date: October 10
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST/2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 93 °F (34 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,836
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks edit

Week 7: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 3 7717
Cardinals 7 6 3925

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 35,695
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (Fox): Spero Dedes, Erik Kramer and Kevin McCabe
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 8: at Buffalo Bills edit

Week 8: Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 0714
Bills 10 7 02138

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,887
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 9: at Miami Dolphins edit

Week 9: Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 0 71424
Dolphins 9 3 01123

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,612
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 10: vs. New York Giants edit

Week 10: New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 7 0014
Cardinals 0 10 7017

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 42,297
  • Referee: Peter Morelli
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 11: at Carolina Panthers edit

Week 11: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 10010
Panthers 14 14 0735

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. EST/11:05 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,796
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 12: vs. New York Jets edit

Week 12: New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 3 10013
Cardinals 0 3 003

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 28
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 35,820
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 13: at Detroit Lions edit

Week 13: Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 9 0012
Lions 7 7 6626

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: December 5
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. EST/11:05 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 62,262
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers edit

Week 14: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
49ers 7 14 70331
Cardinals 0 3 718028

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 35,069
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 15: vs. St. Louis Rams edit

Week 15: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 7 007
Cardinals 10 7 7731

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 19
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 40,070
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks edit

Week 16: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 0 01421
Seahawks 0 10 7724

at Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: December 26
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST/2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,825
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Tim Green and Tony Ventrella
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 17: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers edit

Week 17: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 0 707
Cardinals 3 3 0612

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: January 2
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 31,650
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • Box Score
Game information

Standings edit

NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Seattle Seahawks 9 7 0 .563 3–3 8–4 371 373 W2
(5) St. Louis Rams 8 8 0 .500 5–1 7–5 319 392 W2
Arizona Cardinals 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 284 322 W1
San Francisco 49ers 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 259 452 L3
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Philadelphia Eagles East 13 3 0 .813 6–0 11–1 .453 .409 L2
2 Atlanta Falcons South 11 5 0 .688 4–2 8–4 .420 .432 L2
3 Green Bay Packers North 10 6 0 .625 5–1 9–3 .457 .419 W2
4 Seattle Seahawks West 9 7 0 .563 3–3 8–4 .445 .368 W2
Wild cards
5[a] St. Louis Rams West 8 8 0 .500 5–1 7–5 .488 .438 W2
6[a][b] Minnesota Vikings North 8 8 0 .500 3–3 5–7 .480 .406 L2
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[a][b] New Orleans Saints South 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 .465 .427 W4
8 Carolina Panthers South 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .496 .366 L1
9[c] Detroit Lions North 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .496 .417 L2
10[c] Arizona Cardinals West 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .461 .417 W1
11[c][d] New York Giants East 6 10 0 .375 3–3 5–7 .516 .417 W1
12[c][d][e] Dallas Cowboys East 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .516 .375 L1
13[c][d][e] Washington Redskins East 6 10 0 .375 1–5 6–6 .477 .333 W1
14[f] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 .477 .413 L4
15[f] Chicago Bears North 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 .465 .388 L4
16 San Francisco 49ers West 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 .488 .375 L3
Tiebreakers[g]
  1. ^ a b c St. Louis clinched the NFC #5 seed instead of Minnesota or New Orleans based on better conference record (7–5 to Minnesota’s 5–7 to New Orleans’ 6–6).
  2. ^ a b Minnesota clinched the NFC #6 seed instead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
  3. ^ a b c d e Detroit finished ahead of Arizona and New York Giants based upon head-to-head record (2–0 versus Arizona’s 1–1 and New York Giants’ 0–2). Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Dallas and Washington.
  4. ^ a b c New York Giants finished ahead of Dallas and Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (3–1 to Dallas‘ 2–2 to Washington’s 1–3).
  5. ^ a b Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on head-to-head sweep.
  6. ^ a b Tampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based upon head-to-head victory.
  7. ^ 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 edit

  1. ^ "2004 Arizona Cardinals Draftees".
  2. ^ "2004 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.