2005 Arizona Cardinals season

The 2005 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 86th in the National Football League (NFL), their 107th overall and their 18th in Arizona. The team was unable to improve upon their 6–10 record from the previous season, and failed to make the playoffs for the seventh year in a row.[1]

2005 Arizona Cardinals season
OwnerBill Bidwill
General managerRod Graves
Head coachDennis Green
Home fieldSun Devil Stadium
Results
Record5–11
Division place3rd NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersWR Larry Fitzgerald
K Neil Rackers
Uniform

The October 2 game was the first regular season game to be played outside the United States, and was known as NFL Futbol Americano. The game was a Cardinals home game, and the Cardinals defeated their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, 31–14.

The Cardinals, as a team, had a paltry 1,138 rushing yards in 2005, only 71.1 yards per game.[2] Remarkably, the Cardinals only had one 100-yard rushing game, when they ran for 129 yards in the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts.[3] Arizona's season total is the fifth-fewest rushing yards by a team in a 16-game season.[4]

The Cardinals passing offense, however, led the league, with 4,437 yards. Kurt Warner's 271.3 passing yards per game were third in the NFL, and his 24.2 pass completions per-game led the league.[5] Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald tied for the league lead in receptions, with 103,[note 1] edging out his teammate Anquan Boldin, who had 102 (tied for third in the NFL)[note 2] Fitzgerald's 1,409 yards, and Boldin’s 1,402 yards receiving were fourth and fifth in the NFL, respectively, in 2005. Boldin’s 100.1 receiving yards per game led the NFL.

The season also saw the Cardinals change their logo and uniforms, which remained until 2023. It was also their final season playing at Sun Devil Stadium.

Offseason edit

NFL Draft edit

2005 Arizona Cardinals draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
18Antrel Rolle Defensive backMiami (FL)
244J.J. Arrington Running backCalifornia
375Eric Green Defensive BackVirginia Tech
395Darryl Blackstock LinebackerVirginia
4111Elton Brown GuardVirginia
5168Lance Mitchell LinebackerOklahoma
7226LeRon McCoy Wide ReceiverIndiana (PA)
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel edit

Staff edit

2005 Arizona Cardinals staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Clancy Pendergast
  • Defensive line – Deek Pollard
  • Linebackers – Frank Bush
  • Defensive backs – Richard Solomon
  • Defensive quality control – Rick Courtright

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Ryan Capretta
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

Roster edit

2005 Arizona Cardinals final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 16 inactive, 7 practice squad

Regular season edit

Schedule edit

In the 2005 regular season, the Cardinals’ non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the NFC East, although they also played the Carolina Panthers from the NFC South, and the Detroit Lions from the NFC North. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC South.

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 11at New York GiantsL 19–420–1Giants Stadium78,387
2September 18St. Louis RamsL 12–170–2Sun Devil Stadium45,160
3September 25at Seattle SeahawksL 12–370–3Qwest Field64,843
4October 2San Francisco 49ersW 31–141–3 Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)103,467
5October 9Carolina PanthersL 20–241–4Sun Devil Stadium38,809
6Bye
7October 23Tennessee TitansW 20–102–4Sun Devil Stadium39,482
8October 30at Dallas CowboysL 13–342–5Texas Stadium62,068
9November 6Seattle SeahawksL 19–332–6Sun Devil Stadium43,542
10November 13at Detroit LionsL 21–292–7Ford Field61,091
11November 20at St. Louis RamsW 38–283–7Edward Jones Dome65,750
12November 27Jacksonville JaguarsL 17–243–8Sun Devil Stadium39,198
13December 4at San Francisco 49ersW 17–104–8Monster Park60,439
14December 11Washington RedskinsL 13–174–9Sun Devil Stadium46,654
15December 18at Houston TexansL 19–304–10Reliant Stadium70,024
16December 24Philadelphia EaglesW 27–215–10Sun Devil Stadium44,723
17January 1, 2006at Indianapolis ColtsL 13–175–11RCA Dome57,211

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary edit

Week 1: at New York Giants edit

Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals0136019
Giants70211442

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: September 11
  • Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST/2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C)
  • Game attendance: 78,387
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 2: vs. St. Louis Rams edit

Week 2: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
Rams737017
Cardinals333312

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: September 18
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 94 °F (34 °C)
  • Game attendance: 45,160
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks edit

Week 3: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals363012
Seahawks73141337

at Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST/2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 64,843
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers edit

Fútbol Americano

Week 4: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
49ers1400014
Cardinals01261331

at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico

  • Date: October 2
  • Game time: 7:35 p.m. CST/6:35 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 103,467
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers edit

Week 5: Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
Panthers3701424
Cardinals0173020

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 9
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 38,809
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 7: vs. Tennessee Titans edit

Week 7: Tennessee Titans at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans1000010
Cardinals0103720

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 39,482
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 8: at Dallas Cowboys edit

Week 8: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals373013
Cowboys10143734

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: October 30
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,068
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 9: vs. Seattle Seahawks edit

Week 9: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
Seahawks31410633
Cardinals3310319

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 43,542
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 10: at Detroit Lions edit

Week 10: Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals0381021
Lions9107329

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: November 13
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. EST/11:05 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 61,091
  • Referee: Scott Green
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 11: at St. Louis Rams edit

Week 11: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals31032238
Rams3771128

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 65,750
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 12: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars edit

Week 12: Jacksonville Jaguars at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
Jaguars737724
Cardinals0031417

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 27
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 39,198
  • Referee: Tom White
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 13: at San Francisco 49ers edit

Week 13: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals306817
49ers073010

at Monster Park, San Francisco, California

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST/2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,439
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 14: vs. Washington Redskins edit

Week 14: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
Redskins0314017
Cardinals0103013

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 46,654
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 15: at Houston Texans edit

Week 15: Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals370919
Texans0243330

at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: December 18
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,024
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 16: vs. Philadelphia Eagles edit

Week 16: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period1234Total
Eagles0701421
Cardinals677727

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,723
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 17: at Indianapolis Colts edit

Week 17: Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals037313
Colts737017

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: January 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 57,211
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • Box Score
Game information

Standings edit

NFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(1) Seattle Seahawks1330.8136–010–2454271L1
St. Louis Rams6100.3751–53–9363429W1
Arizona Cardinals5110.3133–34–8311387L1
San Francisco 49ers4120.2502–43–9239428W2

Notes edit

  1. ^ Tied with the Carolina PanthersSteve Smith
  2. ^ Tied with the St. Louis Rams' Torry Holt.

References edit