Flying High in the Desert - Cardinals Look to Build on Last Year's Success

NFL 2009 | Larry Fitzgerald One of the Cardinals Big Weapons
Larry Fitzgerald

Last year, the Arizona Cardinals had one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, winning the NFC West for the first time, earning their first home playoff victory in 61 years and almost winning Super Bowl XLIII in their first Super Bowl appearance.

How close to winning? As close as one could imagine. Remember, if not for Cardinals defensive back Aaron Francisco losing his footing -- which allowed Steelers' receiver Santonio Holmes to advance the ball an additional 40-yards to the Cardinals 6-yard line with 48 seconds remaining -- and Holmes' unbelievable TD catch, we'd be talking about the defending champion Cardinals instead of the 6-time Super Bowl Champion Steelers. And this is not an attempt to rob the Steelers of well-earned victory.

"We're a winning football team and that's what we've been trying to build here -- a championship-caliber team," says Cardinals president MICHAEL BIDWILL.

Arizona finished the regular season with a 9-7 record as the club earned its first division title since 1975 when the team was a member of the NFC East. The Cardinals finished a perfect 6-0 against NFC West opponents and either shared the division lead or held it outright every week of the 2008 season. It marked just the third time in franchise history that the Cardinals spent every week of the season in first place (1947, 1974).

"It was a very exciting season," says head coach KEN WHISENHUNT.

"I'm very happy for a lot of the guys, especially some of the veterans who have been with the team for a long time. When you work hard for a number of years and finally have great success, especially winning games at the end of the year, it's very fulfilling and very exciting."

The Cardinals won three playoff games to advance to Super Bowl XLIII, including a 32-25 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game in front of a sellout crowd of 70,650 at University of Phoenix Stadium. The team's three postseason victories last year were more than the combined number of playoff wins the Cardinals had in franchise history.

The Cardinals had five players selected to the Pro Bowl last season, including four starters. Quarterback KURT WARNER, wide receivers ANQUAN BOLDIN and LARRY FITZGERALD, safety ADRIAN WILSON and special teamer SEAN MOREY were all chosen to represent the NFC in the league's annual All-Star game. The total represented the most Pro Bowl selections for the Cardinals since 1977.

Warner became the sixth quarterback in team history to be chosen as an All-Star as he earned the fourth selection of his career. He passed for 4,583 yards and set club records with 30 touchdown passes and a 96.9 passer rating.

Boldin earned his third trip to Hawaii and finished second in the NFC with 89 receptions, totaling 1,038 yards. He added a career high 11 touchdowns, tied for the third-most by a receiver in the NFL.

Fitzgerald was also selected to his third Pro Bowl and became the first Cardinal since AENEAS WILLIAMS (1998-99) to earn consecutive trips to the All-Star game. He led the NFC with 96 catches, 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns and set NFL postseason records with 30 catches, 546 yards and seven touchdowns. He capped off his remarkable season by being named the Pro Bowl MVP.

Wilson, the longest-tenured player on the Cardinals (eight seasons), earned his second Pro Bowl selection and became the fourth safety in team history with multiple All-Star appearances. He finished with 84 tackles, two interceptions, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Morey, a special teams co-captain, was selected for the first time. The former Brown University standout led the Cardinals with 22 special teams tackles and blocked a punt against Dallas in overtime that resulted in the game-winning touchdown.

PLAYOFF VICTORIES IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

Date Game Result
Source: National Football League
December 28, 1947NFL Championship vs. PhiladelphiaWon, 28-21
January 2, 1999NFC Wild Card at DallasWon, 20-7
January 3, 2009NFC Wild Card vs. AtlantaWon, 30-24
January 10, 2009NFC Divisional at CarolinaWon, 33-13
January 18, 2009NFC Championship vs. PhiladelphiaWon, 32-25

 

NFL 2009 Preview | Flying High in the Desert - Cardinals Look to Build on Last Year's Success