The 2008 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 89th in the National Football League (NFL), their 21st season in Arizona, and their second under head coach Ken Whisenhunt. The season marked the Cardinals' first, and so far, only Super Bowl appearance, coming as a result of their victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. The Cardinals slogan for the season was "Shock The World!" Benefiting from franchise quarterback Kurt Warner, who had gone from being a backup for the St. Louis Rams in 1999, to leading the Greatest Show on Turf to a Super Bowl XXXIV victory, franchise strong safety Adrian Wilson, and franchise wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the Cardinals performed extremely well in the playoffs. Despite having won just one playoff game in the last sixty years, Warner once again led the team to their first winning record in 10 years, and the first franchise Super Bowl ever.
The Cardinals began their season by compiling a 7–3 record by Week 11. Although they went 2–4 the rest of the way, Arizona still finished with a 9–7 record (their first winning season in 10 years), which was good enough to win the NFC West. The Cardinals also swept their division for the first time in franchise history, and for the first time since 1947, hosted a playoff game. In that wild card game, the Cardinals defeated the Atlanta Falcons. The next week, for the Divisional round of the playoffs, the Cardinals traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they upset the number 2 seeded Carolina Panthers. Then, because the Philadelphia Eagles also achieved an upset the same week (against the top-seeded New York Giants), the number-four seed Cardinals hosted the NFC Championship game, where they defeated the Eagles and qualified for the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. In Super Bowl XLIII, the Cardinals' winning streak ended. Though they led the Pittsburgh Steelers with less than a minute left to play in the game, they lost, 27–23.
The 2008 Cardinals were the second 9–7 team to reach the Super Bowl, joining the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV, who also lost to the Steelers; however, the Rams had to win only two playoff games, rather than three, to reach the Super Bowl. Three years later in Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants would become the first 9–7 team to win, overshadowing the Cardinals' achievement. In 2014, Athlon Sports ranked the 2008 Cardinals as the fourth-worst team to ever make the Super Bowl.
Coaching staff 2008 Arizona Cardinals staff Front office Owner/Chairman – Bill Bidwill President – Michael Bidwill Vice-president – Bill Bidwill, Jr. General Manager/Vice President of football operations – Rod Graves Personnel Executive – Jason Licht Director of football administration – Reggie Terry Director of player personnel – Steve Keim
Head coaches Head Coach – Ken Whisenhunt Assistant head coach/offensive line – Russ Grimm
Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator – Todd Haley Quarterbacks – Jeff Rutledge Running backs – Maurice Carthon Wide receivers – Mike Miller Tight Ends – Freddie Kitchens Offensive quality control – Dedric Ward Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Clancy Pendergast Defensive Line – Ron Aiken Linebackers – Billy Davis Defensive Backs – Teryl Austin Assistant Defensive Backs – Rick Courtright Defensive assistant – Matt Raich
Special teams coaches Special Teams – Kevin Spencer
Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – John Lott Strength and Conditioning Assistant – Pete Alosi
→ Coaching Staff → Management → More NFL staffs
2008 NFL Draft selections Round Pick Player name Position College1 16 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Cornerback Tennessee State University2 50 Calais Campbell Defensive end University of Miami3 81 Early Doucet Wide receiver Louisiana State University4 116Kenny Iwebema Defensive end University of Iowa5 149Tim Hightower Running back University of Richmond6 185Chris Harrington Defensive end Texas A&M University7 225Brandon Keith Offensive tackle University of Northern Iowa
Roster Arizona Cardinals 2008 final roster Quarterbacks Matt Leinart Brian St. Pierre Kurt Warner
Running backs J.J. Arrington KR Tim Castille Tim Hightower Edgerrin James Terrelle Smith FB
Wide receivers Anquan Boldin Steve Breaston RS Early Doucet Larry Fitzgerald Sean Morey ST Jerheme Urban
Tight ends Ben Patrick Leonard Pope Stephen Spach Offensive linemen Elton Brown G Levi Brown T Mike Gandy T Brandon Keith G/T Deuce Lutui G Pat Ross C/G Lyle Sendlein C Elliot Vallejo T Reggie Wells G
Defensive linemen Bertrand Berry DE Alan Branch DT Calais Campbell DE/DT Darnell Dockett DT Kenny Iwebema DE Travis LaBoy DE Bryan Robinson DT Antonio Smith DE Gabe Watson DT Linebackers Monty Beisel MLB Karlos Dansby OLB Gerald Hayes MLB Victor Hobson OLB Chike Okeafor OLB Pago Togafau OLB
Defensive backs Michael Adams CB Ralph Brown CB Aaron Francisco SS Eric Green CB Roderick Hood CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Antrel Rolle FS Matt Ware FS Adrian Wilson SS
Special teams Ben Graham P Nathan Hodel LS Neil Rackers K Reserve lists Clark Haggans LB (IR) Ali Highsmith LB (IR) Scott Peters C/G (IR)
Practice squad Eduardo Castañeda LB Int'l Keilen Dykes DE Wilrey Fontenot CB Onrea Jones WR Dennis Keyes FS Lance Long WR Enoka Lucas C/G Kelly Poppinga LB Alex Shor TE
rookies in italics
53 active, 3 inactive, 9 practice squad
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result RecordVenueRecap 1 New Orleans Saints L 10–24 0–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 at Kansas City Chiefs W 27–17 1–1 Arrowhead StadiumRecap 3 at Oakland Raiders W 24–0 2–1 McAfee ColiseumRecap 4 Denver Broncos L 14–28 2–2 University of Phoenix StadiumRecap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 at San Francisco 49ers W 23–13 1–0 Candlestick Park Recap 2 September 14 Miami Dolphins W 31–10 2–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 3 September 21 at Washington Redskins L 17–24 2–1 FedExField Recap 4 September 28 at New York Jets L 35–56 2–2 Giants Stadium Recap 5 October 5 Buffalo Bills W 41–17 3–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 6 October 12 Dallas Cowboys W 30–24 4–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 7 Bye 8 October 26 at Carolina Panthers L 23–27 4–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 9 November 2 at St. Louis Rams W 34–13 5–3 Edward Jones Dome Recap 10 San Francisco 49ers W 29–24 6–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 11 November 16 at Seattle Seahawks W 26–20 7–3 Qwest Field Recap 12 November 23 New York Giants L 29–37 7–4 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 13 November 27 at Philadelphia Eagles L 20–48 7–5 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 14 December 7 St. Louis Rams W 34–10 8–5 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 15 December 14 Minnesota Vikings L 14–35 8–6 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at New England Patriots L 7–47 8–7 Gillette Stadium Recap 17 December 28 Seattle Seahawks W 34–21 9–7 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers
The Cardinals began their 2008 campaign on the road against their NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, Arizona took a lead, as kicker Neil Rackers converted a 25-yard field goal. The 49ers responded with Running back Frank Gore's 41-yard Touchdown run. In the second quarter, the Cardinals responded with Quarterback Kurt Warner completing a one-yard Touchdown pass to Receiver Larry Fitzgerald. San Francisco tied the game with kicker Joe Nedney's 39-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Cardinals took back the lead, as Rackers kicked a 31-yard field goal, along with rookie Running Back Tim Hightower scoring a touchdown on a two-yard rush. In the fourth quarter, the 49ers tried to respond, with Nedney kicking a 30-yard field goal. Rackers' 30-yard field goal ultimately sealed the victory for Arizona.
With the win, the Cardinals began their season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
Coming off their divisional road win over the 49ers, the Cardinals played their Week 2 home opener against the Miami Dolphins. In the first quarter, the Cardinals scored first as Kurt Warner threw 2 touchdown passes (one for 79 yard pass and another for 3 yard) to Anquan Boldin. In the second quarter, Arizona increased their lead with a 45-yard field goal by Neil Rackers. In the third quarter, the Cardinals increased its lead to 24–0 with rookie Tim Hightower scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run. The Dolphins finally scored when kicker Dan Carpenter converted a 32-yard field goal. The Cardinals responded with Warner throwing Boldin an 8 yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, Miami tried to rally as running back Ronnie Brown rushed for a 1 yard Touchdown, but Arizona held on for a large win.
With the win, the Cardinals improved to its first 2–0 start since 1991. This game was also one of three times that Kurt Warner finished a game with a perfect passer rating.
Week 3: at Washington Redskins
Coming off their home win over the Dolphins, the Cardinals flew to FedExField for a Week 3 game with the Washington Redskins. In the first quarter, Arizona trailed early as Redskins Clinton Portis scored a touchdown on a 3 yard run. In the second quarter, the Cardinals continued to trail as Washington kicker Shaun Suisham converted a 48-yard field goal. The Cardinals would end the half with Kurt Warner completing a 4 yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin. In the third quarter, the Cardinals tied the game on kicker Neil Rackers' 26-yard field goal. Washington responded with Jason Campbell throwing a 2 yard touchdown pass to Todd Yoder. Afterwards, Arizona responded with Warner throwing a deep 62-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. However, in the fourth quarter, the Redskins took a lead, and ultimately the game, on a Campbell 17-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 2–1.
Week 4: at New York Jets
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Redskins, the Cardinals flew to The Meadowlands for a Week 4 interconference duel with the New York Jets. After a scoreless first quarter, Arizona started to trail big in the second quarter. The Jets took flight with QB Brett Favre completing a 12-yard TD pass to WR Laveranues Coles, CB Darrelle Revis returning an interception 32 yards for a touchdown, Favre completing a 34-yard TD pass to Coles, kicker Jay Feely getting 20-yard field goal, Favre completing a two-yard TD pass to Coles, and Feely kicking a 30-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Cardinals responded with RB Edgerrin James getting a four-yard and a two-yard TD run, along with rookie RB Tim Hightower getting a one-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, New York answered with Favre's 17-yard TD pass to WR Jerricho Cotchery. The Cardinals would reply with QB Kurt Warner completing an eight-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin, yet the Jets continued their victory march with Favre's 40-yard TD pass to Cotchery. Arizona tried to rally as Warner completed a 14-yard TD pass to WR Jerheme Urban, but New York sealed the win with Favre's 24-yard TD pass to TE Dustin Keller.
The Jets only had 373 yards of total offense compared to the Cardinals' 468, but the Cardinals committed seven turnovers during the game, with Warner throwing three interceptions and losing three fumbles, while Boldin lost another fumble.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills