Arizona Cardinals’ season opener history

2013: Rams 27, Cardinals 24

Quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns — both to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald – and took a 24-13 lead into the fourth quarter. But tight end Jared Cook’s one-yard TD reception from QB Sam Bradford, followed by a pair of Greg Zuerlein field goals – including the game-winner with 40 seconds to play – gave the Rams the win at home.

2012: Cardinals 20, Seahawks 16

Arizona QBs Kevin Kolb and John Skelton combined for 215 passing yards and a touchdown, and the Cards’ defense held the Seahawks to 254 total yards and executed a goal-line stand in the final minute to preserve the win in Glendale. Seattle rookie QB Russell Wilson completed 18 of 34 passes for 153 yards in his first regular-season NFL game.

2011: Cardinals 28, Panthers 21

Aided by Kolb’s 309 passing yards and two TDs at University of Phoenix Stadium, the Cards overcame rookie QB Cam Newton’s 422-yard performance in his regular-season debut. A 70-yard TD reception by Early Doucet and an 89-yard punt return for at TD by rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson in the fourth quarter allowed Arizona to pull ahead.

2010: Cardinals 17, Rams 13

The Cardinals intercepted Bradford three times in his first career start, as Arizona won its first game following QB Kurt Warner’s retirement. QB Derek Anderson’s 21-yard TD toss to Fitzgerald with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter put the Cards ahead for good in St. Louis.

2009: 49ers 20, Cardinals 16

Warner threw for 288 yards and a TD, but he also committed three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble), while running back Frank Gore scored twice, including a 3-yard reception from QB Shaun Hill with 7:26 left in the fourth quarter, to give the 49ers the victory in Glendale. The Cardinals held San Francisco to 203 total yards, including 21 rushing yards on 25 carries.

2008: Cardinals 23, 49ers 13

Warner threw for 197 yards and a TD to Fitzgerald, and WR Anquan Boldin caught eight passes for 82 yards in San Francisco. The Cardinals dominated time of possession, holding the ball for over 37 minutes, and caused five 49er turnovers.

2007: 49ers 20, Cardinals 17

Arizona RB Edgerrin James rushed for 92 yards and a score, but quarterback Matt Leinart managed just 102 passing yards and threw a pair of picks. San Francisco wideout Arnaz Battle scored on a 1-yard run with 22 seconds to play to put the Niners over the top in San Francisco.

2006: Cardinals 34, 49ers 27

Warner threw for 301 yards and three TDs, and Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 133 yards. Following a made field goal, the 49ers recovered an onside kick with 31 seconds left, but a would-be game-tying 36-yard pass from QB Alex Smith fell short as time expired at UOP Stadium.

2005: Giants 42, Cardinals 19

The Cardinals surrendered 35 points in the second half, and they allowed a kickoff return, punt return and interception return for a TD at Giants Stadium. Fitzgerald had 13 grabs for 155 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort.

2004: Rams 17, Cardinals 10

Arizona RB Emmitt Smith rushed for 87 yards and the team’s only touchdown in St. Louis. The Cards gave up 448 yards of total offense, as Rams RB Marshall Faulk rushed for 128 yards on 22 carries and WR Isaac Bruce caught nine passes for 112 yards and a TD.

2003: Lions 42, Cardinals 24

The Cards yielded a 57-yard punt return and 48-yard interception for touchdown in the second half in Detroit. Arizona quarterback Jeff Blake threw for 358 yards and three touchdowns, and Boldin racked up 217 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.

2002: Redskins 31, Cardinals 23

QB Jake Plummer completed just 14 of 36 passes for 187 yards and threw an interception on the Cardinals’ final possession in Washington. WR David Boston caught seven passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. Redskins QB Shane Matthews threw for over 300 yards and three TDs.

2001: Broncos 38, Cardinals 17

Denver wideout Rod Smith had 162 receiving yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos cruised in Tempe. Boston caught eight passes for 145 yards, but the Cardinals lost the turnover battle by a 3-0 margin.

2000: Giants 21, Cardinals 16

Plummer threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns but also gave up three INTs at Giants Stadium. Trailing 21-3 in the fourth quarter, Arizona scored twice in the final two minutes – both on TD passes from Plummer to Boston – but failed to recover an onside kick with 32 seconds to play.

1999: Cardinals 25, Eagles 24

Cards kicker Chris Jacke connected on a pair of fourth-quarter field goals, including a game-winning 31-yard kick as time expired in Philadelphia, as Arizona rallied from a 24-6 second-half deficit. The Cardinals’ defense held the Eagles to 67 passing yards and overcame Plummer’s three interceptions.

1998: Cowboys 38, Cardinals 10

The Cardinals gave up 444 yards of total offense to the Cowboys, including 256 passing yards and two TDs to QB Troy Aikman, in Dallas. Aikman also rushed for 43 yards and two scores. Plummer completed just 14 of 33 passes for 166 yards.

1997: Bengals 24, Cardinals 21

Trailing 21-3 going into the fourth quarter, Bengals RB Ki-Jana Carter rushed for two TDs, and Blake connected on a 7-yard TD pass to WR Carl Pickens to complete Cincinnati’s comeback at home. Arizona quarterback Kent Graham went 20-of-36 for 248 yards, and wide receiver Frank Sanders hauled in six catches for 105 yards.

1996: Colts 20, Cardinals 13

Cardinals quarterback Boomer Esiason threw for 237 yards and rushed for a fourth-quarter score, but a pair of TD tosses by Colts QB Jim Harbaugh put Indianapolis over the top at home. Arizona RB Larry Centers caught 11 passes for 108 yards.

1995: Redskins 27, Cardinals 7

Washington outgained Arizona 456-197, including 259-109 on the ground, as QB Gus Frerotte completed 9-of-15 passes for 157 yards and two TDs, and RB Terry Allen rushed for 131 yards on 26 carries. Cards RB Garrison Hearst was the lone bright spot on offense with 97 yards on 17 rushes.

1994: Rams 14, Cardinals 12

In a game in which the Rams and Cardinals combined for just 386 yards of total offense in Los Angeles, the difference was three Arizona turnovers. Rams RB Jerome Bettis scored from a yard out in the third quarter. The Cards responded a few minutes later on a 3-yard TD pass from QB Steve Beuerlein to Centers, but the two-point conversion attempt failed.

1993: Eagles 23, Cardinals 17

The Eagles outgained the Phoenix Cardinals 359-231 at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium. Eagles QB Randall Cunningham threw for 192 yards and rushed for 49 yards and a TD. Beuerlein and Chris Chandler combined to go just 15-of-39 for 189 yards and a TD for the Cards.

1992: Buccaneers 23, Cardinals 7

The Cardinals managed just 181 yards of total offense and committed three turnovers at Tampa Bay. Chandler, along with QBs Timm Rosenbach and Tony Sacca, managed just 120 passing yards. Tampa Bay quarterback Vinny Testaverde was an efficient 14-of-25 for 167 yards, one TD and no turnovers.

1991: Cardinals 24, Rams 14

Buoyed by seven Rams turnovers, Phoenix overcame a near 2-to-1 disadvantage in total offense in L.A. The play of the game: an 85-yard fumble return for a score in the first quarter by Cards linebacker Eric Hill. Phoenix WR Ricky Proehl caught five passes for 69 yards.

1990: Redskins 31, Cardinals 0

Rosenbach threw four interceptions and Washington quarterback Mark Rypien threw three touchdowns at RFK Stadium. Phoenix RB Johnny Johnson rushed for 54 yards and caught six passes for 99 yards.

1989: Cardinals 16, Lions 13

Phoenix quarterback Gary Hogeboom completed 21-of-35 passes for 264 yards and a 15-yard fourth-quarter TD pass to wideout Roy Green to give the Cardinals a 13-10 lead in Detroit. Kicker Al Del Greco’s 33-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter was the difference. Phoenix WR J.T. Smith had 10 catches for 121 yards. Lions RB Barry Sanders had 71 yards and a TD on just nine carries in a losing effort.

1988: Bengals 21, Cardinals 14

Phoenix quarterback Neil Lomax (21-of-31, 227 yards, two TDs) lost a duel with Cincinnati’s Boomer Esiason (17-of-26, 271 yards, three TDs). Cardinals RB Stump Mitchell rushed for 110 yards and had a 4-yard TD reception in the second quarter. Cincinnati WR Mike Martin’s 15-yard TD grab in the fourth quarter gave the Bengals the victory.

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