| Team: | Arizona Cardinals |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Record: | 7–8–1 |
| Division Place: | 2nd NFC West |
| Coach: | Bruce Arians |
| Owner: | Bill Bidwill |
| General Manager: | Steve Keim |
| Stadium: | University of Phoenix Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Uniform: | File:Arizona Cardinals Uniforms 2010-2016.png |
| Shortnavlink: | Cardinals seasons |
The 2016 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 97th in the National Football League (NFL), their 118th overall, their 29th in Arizona, their 11th at University of Phoenix Stadium and their fourth under head coach Bruce Arians.
In free agency, they signed veteran defensive back Tyvon Branch and veteran lineman Evan Mathis, while re-signing several key players. They traded for Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots, sending Jonathan Cooper and a late second-round pick to New England.
The Cardinals came into the 2016 season with expectations of improving on their 2015 campaign and reaching the Super Bowl. However, after a 1–3 start, they suffered injuries to quarterback Carson Palmer and most of the offensive line. On October 23, the Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks played out a 6–6 tie; this was the Cardinals' first tie since 1986 when they were the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also the lowest-scoring NFL tie since overtime was introduced in 1974. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2013 in Week 15 after a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Despite winning their final two games, the Cardinals ended the season with a losing record at 7–8–1. Because the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, their first title in 108 years, the Cardinals also finished the season with the longest active championship drought in the four major American professional sports, with their last championship in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals.
| Position | Player | 2016 Team | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| ERFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | ARI | two-year deal | ||
| RFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | ARI | two-year deal | ||
| UFA | --- | retired | ||
| UFA | CHI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | --- | retired | ||
| UFA | CHI | three-year deal | ||
| UFA | TB | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | SEA | one-year deal | ||
| RFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| RFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | TEN | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | BAL | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | BUF | one-year deal | ||
| RFA | DEN | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | ATL | one-year deal | ||
| ERFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | TBA | |||
| UFA | ATL | one-year deal | ||
| ERFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| UFA | ARI | one-year deal | ||
| Player re-signed by the Cardinals |
See main article: article and 2016 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | DE | Ole Miss | |||
| 3 | 92 | Texas A&M | |||
| 4 | 128 | Missouri | |||
| 5 | 167 | Midwestern State | |||
| 5 | 170 | Harvard | |||
| 6 | 205 | Harlan Miller | Southeastern Louisiana |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland Raiders | L 10–31 | 0–1 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | ||
| 2 | at San Diego Chargers | L 3–19 | 0–2 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap | ||
| 3 | at Houston Texans | L 24–34 | 0–3 | NRG Stadium | Recap | ||
| 4 | Denver Broncos | W 38–17 | 1–3 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 11 | New England Patriots | L 21–23 | 0–1 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 2 | September 18 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 40–7 | 1–1 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 3 | September 25 | at Buffalo Bills | L 18–33 | 1–2 | New Era Field | Recap | |
| 4 | October 2 | Los Angeles Rams | L 13–17 | 1–3 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 5 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 33–21 | 2–3 | Levi's Stadium | Recap | ||
| 6 | New York Jets | W 28–3 | 3–3 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | ||
| 7 | October 23 | Seattle Seahawks | T 6–6 | 3–3–1 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 8 | October 30 | at Carolina Panthers | L 20–30 | 3–4–1 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap | |
| 9 | Bye | ||||||
| 10 | November 13 | San Francisco 49ers | W 23–20 | 4–4–1 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 11 | November 20 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 24–30 | 4–5–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Recap | |
| 12 | November 27 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 19–38 | 4–6–1 | Georgia Dome | Recap | |
| 13 | December 4 | Washington Redskins | W 31–23 | 5–6–1 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 14 | December 11 | at Miami Dolphins | L 23–26 | 5–7–1 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap | |
| 15 | December 18 | New Orleans Saints | L 41–48 | 5–8–1 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 16 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 34–31 | 6–8–1 | CenturyLink Field | Recap | ||
| 17 | January 1 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 44–6 | 7–8–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap | |
With Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suspended and Jimmy Garoppolo starting, the Cardinals were huge favorites to win. The game was close, but was lost last minute, with a missed game-winning Cardinals field goal.[1]
This was the Cardinals' first win over the Jets since 1975, when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis, Missouri.
Cardinals placekicker Chandler Catanzaro and Seahawks placekicker Steven Hauschka each miss game winning field goals as the game finishes in a 6-6 tie and the Cardinals earn their first tie since the 1986 season.
In a rematch of the NFC championship, the Panthers led by as much as 24 points until Arizona ended the game by cutting the lead to 10.
This was the Cardinals' first loss to the Dolphins since 1999.
With the close loss, the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Despite losing running back David Johnson to a knee injury in the first quarter, Arizona still managed to blow out the Rams, 44-6 to finish the year at 7-8-1.