2006 Arizona Cardinals season
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The 2006 Arizona Cardinals season began with the team trying to improve on their 5-11 record in 2005. They also moved into the Cardinals Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (one of the western suburbs of Phoenix). The stadium was christened University of Phoenix Stadium on September 26.
Offseason
On March 12, 2006, the Cardinals acquired former Colts RB Edgerrin James through free agency, by signing him to a four-year, $30 million contract.
The Cardinals then selected the 2004 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart with the 10th pick of the 2006 NFL Draft. Leinart played for the University of Southern California and won 1 1/2 national championships with the team in 2003 and 2004.
Leinart missed the first two weeks of the 2006 Cardinals training camp (and the opening game of the preseason) due to prolonged contract negotiations, but on August 15, the Arizona Republic, KTAR radio and ESPN reported that Leinart agreed to a six-year contract that could earn him a maximum of $51 million, according to his agent, Tom Condon. The contract reportedly contains $14 million in guaranteed money, and likely involves "escalator" clauses that could increase Leinart's salary in the later years of the deal should he meet certain playing-time incentives. [1]
Also in the 2006 draft, the Cardinals would select another USC alum, Guard Taitusi "Deuce" Latui in the 3rd round, followed by Georgia TE Leonard Pope, Michigan DT Gabriel Watson, Louisville LB Brandon Johnson, Virginia Tech DT Jonathan Lewis, and Brigham Young WR Todd Watkins. This as well as the dynamic duo that is Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald at WR could make the Cardinals a serious threat in the NFC West.
Regular season
Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| Cardinals | 21 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
The Cardinals opened the regular season at home against the San Francisco 49ers on September 10. This game would be the inagural regular season game played at the University of Phoenix Stadium. In the first quarter, Niners QB Alex Smith and TE Vernon Davis scored the inagural regular season TD in the new Stadium as they connected on a 31-yard pass. Fortunately, the Cardinals would respond, as QB Kurt Warner threw the very first TD pass by a Cardinals player in the new stadium on a 2-yard strike to WR Troy Walters. Newly-acquired RB Edgerrin James provided the very first rushing touchdown in their new stadium as he ran the ball into the end zone on a 1-yard strike. Afterwards, Warner threw another TD pass, this time to WR Anquan Boldin. In the second quarter, Niners RB Frank Gore helped San Francisco get closer as he ran on a 4-yard TD play. Fortunately, Kicker Neil Rackers helped improve the Cardinals' lead, as he kicked a 36-yard field goal. In the third quarter, both sides each got a touchdown. S.F.'s Gore scored on a 2-yard run, while Arizona's Warner threw a 7-yard TD to TE Adam Bergen. In the fourth quarter, it was all field goals to end the game, as Niners kicker Joe Nedney kicked a 22-yard field goal. Then, Rackers helped Arizona on a 30-yard field goal. Even though Nedney would kick one more field goal for San Francisco (a 44-yard field goal), the Cardinals were the better team as they won their very first home-opener in their new stadium.
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Seahawks | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
For Week 2, the Cardinals flew to the Northwest to take on the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. From the get-go, the Cardinals trailed, as they opposing RB Shaun Alexander to score a TD on a 2-yard run. Then, Arizona allowed opposing QB Matt Hasselbeck to complete a 49-yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson. There wouldn't be anymore scoring by either team for the remainder of the half. In the third quarter, the Cardinals finally got on the border with kicker Neil Rackers nailing a 43-yard field goal. However, Seattle managed to put the game away with FB Mack Strong's 3-yard TD run. The Cardinals would get a TD, with QB Kurt Warner completing a 40-yard pass to WR Bryant Johnson, but in the end, the Seahawks were the better team in this fight.
Week 3: vs. St. Louis Rams
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 0 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| Cardinals | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
The Cardinals returned home to face their third NFC West opponent, the St. Louis Rams. QB Kurt Warner drew first blood against his former team, as completed a 12-yard TD strike to WR Larry Fitzgerald for the only score of the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, it was all St. Louis. Kicker Jeff Wilkins got a 26-yard field goal, QB Marc Bulger completed a 9-yard pass to WR Torry Holt, and Wilkens got a 47-yard field goal as time ran out on the first half. In the third quarter, Wilkens helped the Rams increase their lead with a 21-yard field, which would be the only score of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, even a valient effort for a comeback, the only score that Arizona could muster was a 6-yard TD run by RB Edgerrin James. Adding to the fact that Warner had 3 interceptions during the game, the Cardinals would get their very first loss in their new stadium as they fell to 1-2. A few days after the game, ESPN reported that rookie QB Matt Leinart would be starting the next game. The next day, Arizona's head coach annouced that the club would be sticking with the veteran Warner.
Week 4: vs. Atlanta Falcons
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Falcons | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 32 |
Hoping to recover from a two-game skid, the Cardinals flew to the Georgia Dome for a Week 4 match-up with the Atlanta Falcons. From the get-go, the Cardinals trailed, as Falcons kicker Morten Andersen completed a 34-yard and a 40-yard field goal in the opening period. The Cardinals would respond with a 29-yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers. In the second quarter, Arizona continued to trail, as Koenan belted a 51-yard field goal for Atlanta. The Cardinals would strike back with SS Adrian Wilson returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown, but that would be the only time that the Cardinals saw the lead, as Andersen got a 36-yard field goal to give the Falcons the lead at halftime. In the second half, the Cardinals got shot down and shut-out, as Atlanta scored 20 unanswered points (Andersen's 26-yard field goal & CB DeAngelo Hall's 37-yard field goal in the third quarter and rookie RB Jerious Norwood's 78-yard TD run & Andersen's 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter). Not even QB Matt Leinart, who replaced QB Kurt Warner in the fourth quarter, could save Arizona from dropping three-straight games, as the Cardinals fell to 1-3. The game showed just how much the Cardinals must improve their offensive line, as they were whipped for the whole game by the Falcons defensive line.
Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
| Cardinals | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
The Cardinals hosted a close contest with the Kansas City Chiefs. The game was the first at the newly-christened University of Phoenix Stadium, which signed its naming rights deal with the Cardinals two days after Arizona's last home game vs. St. Louis.
The Cards started off hot as Matt Leinart, making his first NFL start, threw two touchdowns in the first quarter to his two top targets, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. The Chiefs responded early in the second quarter with a 45-yard field goal by kicker Lawrence Tynes, and a touchdown pass from quarterback Damon Huard to running back Larry Johnson. Cards kicker Neil Rackers added a 41-yard field at the end of the first half.
Another Rackers field goal, this time from 45 yards, accounted for the only score in the third quarter. The Chiefs then scored 13 unanswered points to win the game, with a touchdown pass from Huard to Samie Parker, and two field goals by Tynes (40, 19). Tynes' last field goal was set up by a 78-yard screen pass from Huard to Johnson. Johnson suffered a sprained neck at the end of the play on a violent face mask tackle by Cards' cornerback Antrel Rolle, who was fined $12,500 for the penalty.
A last second 51-yard field goal attempt by Rackers to send the game to overtime failed, giving the Cards their fourth straight loss. Larry Fitzgerald pulled a hamstring, and will be out the next 2-5 weeks.
Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 24 |
| Cardinals | 14 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
The Cards lost their fifth straight game to the undefeated Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
The Cards came out smoking early as QB Matt Leinart for the second straight week threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, connecting with WR's Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin. Cards K Neil Rackers converted field goals of 41 and 28 yards respectively to give the Cards a seemingly insurmountable 20-0 halftime lead. The Cards held Bears QB Rex Grossman in check, forcing him into six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles). Bears K Robbie Gould drilled a 23 yard field goal midway through the third quarter for the Bears only offensive points of the night. Cards K Rackers responded with a 29 yard field goal of his own to extend the lead to 23-3. The Bears went on to score 21 unanswered points on defense and special teams, two fumble recoveries by Mike Brown and Charles Tillman respectively, and an 82 yard punt return touchdown by rookie Devin Hester. Cards K Rackers was set up to win the game with a 40 yard field goal in the waning minutes, but the kick sailed wide left and they dropped to 1-5 on the season.
The loss marked the first time in history that a team blew a 20 point lead to an opponent who did not score any offensive touchdowns. At the post-game press conference, coach Dennis Green erupted at reporters. "The Bears are who we thought they were! You want to crown them, crown their asses! They're who we thought they were and we let them off the hook!" He then smacked the microphone before storming out of the room. The clip quickly became a highlight of sports shows and popular online.
Week 7: at Oakland Raiders
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Raiders | 14 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 22 |
Hoping to end their horrendous five-game skid, the Cardinals traveled to McAfee Coliseum to face the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders came into the game at 0-5, the only winless team in the NFL. This would be the Cardinals' first game under new offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek, who replaced the fired Keith Rowen in the wake of Arizona's meltdown in the fourth quarter of the game against Chicago.
Arizona has visited Oakland only once before. The Cardinals won 34-31 on an overtime field goal by Bill Grammatica on December 2, 2001. The Raiders won the last meeting with the Cardinals, 41-20 at Sun Devil Stadium on November 24, 2002.
In the first quarter, the Cards string of bad luck continued to haunt them, as Raiders RB ReShard Lee got a 1-yard TD run, while QB Andrew Walter threw a 32-yard TD pass to WR Randy Moss. In the second quarter, both teams swapped field goals. Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 31-yard field goal, while Arizona kicker Neil Rackers nailed a 29-yard try. In the third quarter, the Raiders continued to pour on the points, as Janikowski got a 35-yard field goal, while rookie Strong Safety Michael Huff sacked Cardinals QB Matt Leinart in the endzone for a safety. The only response Arizona could bring up was Rackers kicking a 45-yard field goal. He would kick one more in the fourth quarter (38-yarder), but that would be all that the Cardinals could produce as they now dropped six-straight games. After the game Coach Green said "Chris Byker sucks alot of dick and he as a huge cave pussy!"
Week 8: at Green Bay Packers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Packers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
The Cards visit Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin to take on the Packers. Arizona has not visited Lambeau Field since a 49-24 loss in the final game of the 1999 season on January 2, 2000. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 20-13 in the last meeting between the teams on September 21, 2003 at Sun Devil Stadium. Unfortnately, their 2003 victory stayed as a memory, as the Cardinals dropped their seventh-straight game, heading into their Bye Week.
In the wake of this loss, concern for the remainder of the once-promising season was so strong, DE Bertrand Berry led a players-only meeting at the Cardinals HQ in Tempe on November 7. [2] Some days earlier, Berry openly questioned his teammates' commitment to success during an interview on a local radio program.
Week 10: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Cards host their former division rival Dallas Cowboys. Arizona won five of the final six meetings with Dallas at Sun Devil Stadium, but lost 34-13 at Texas Stadium in the last meeting between the clubs in 2005.
Week 11: vs. Detroit Lions
The Cards welcome the Detroit Lions to town. Detroit has won three straight games over Arizona, but all three of those games were played at Ford Field. The Cardinals have not hosted the Lions since 2001.
Week 12: at Minnesota Vikings
The Cards travel to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to face the Vikings. The teams have not played since the final game of the 2003 season, when Josh McCown threw a touchdown pass to Nate Poole on the game's final play to give the Cardinals an 18-17 victory at Sun Devil Stadium and knock the Vikings out of the playoffs. The game is expected to mark the return of Coach Green to Minnesota where he coached from 1992 to 2001.
Week 13: at St. Louis Rams
The Cards visit the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis (the team's former home) to take on the Rams.
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Cards welcome the division rival Seattle Seahawks. "The Cardinals will most likely win this game"
Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos
The Cards host the Denver Broncos in their final home contest of the regular season. Denver won the last meeting between the clubs, 37-7 at Invesco Field on December 29, 2002. Bronco quarterback Jake Plummer is expected to return to Arizona to face his old team whom he lead to their only playoff appearance during the franchise's time in the Phoenix area. The approval of financing in 2000 by area voters to build University of Phoenix Stadium can be said to have been strongly influenced by the efforts of Plummer and the Cardinals leading up to the vote.
Week 16: at San Francisco 49ers
The Cards travel to Monster Park in San Francisco to take on the division rival 49ers on Christmas Eve.
Week 17: at San Diego Chargers
The Cards travel to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego to face the Chargers on New Year's Eve to conclude the regular season.