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1998 Arizona Cardinals season

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1998 Arizona Cardinals season
OwnerBill Bidwill
Head coachVince Tobin
Home fieldSun Devil Stadium
Results
Record9–7
Division place2nd NFC East
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(at Cowboys) 20–7
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Vikings) 21–41
Pro BowlersDB Aeneas Williams

The 1998 Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise's 100th season, 79th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 11th in Arizona. The club posted its first winning record since 1984, appeared in the postseason for the first time since 1982, its first postseason appearance in a non-strike season since 1975, and won its first postseason game since 1947 (it was also their first ever playoff win on the road). It was the Cardinals' first playoff appearance in its tenure in Arizona. After shocking the 10–6 Dallas Cowboys in the opening round in which the Cardinals won 20–7, Arizona ended up losing to the 15–1 Minnesota Vikings, 41–21 in the Divisional round. Over the next ten seasons, the Cardinals fell out of contention. They returned to the playoffs following the 2008 season, including a Super Bowl appearance despite a similarly mediocre 9–7 record.

Statistics site Football Outsiders states that the 1998 Arizona Cardinals are the third-worst team behind the 2004 Rams and 2010 Seahawks to qualify for the NFL playoffs since they began calculating ratings.[1] Ironically, all three of those teams won their first playoff games, before falling in the divisional round.

The season also marked the Cardinals' first game in St. Louis since re-locating to Arizona after the 1987 season. The Cardinals defeated the St. Louis Rams 20–17. Prior to the 2002 season, the Cardinals would be realigned to the NFC West, thus becoming divisional rivals to the Rams, and from then would play a regular season game in their former city every year until the Rams' return to the Los Angeles metropolitan area after the 2015 season.

Offseason

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NFL Draft

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1998 Arizona Cardinals draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 3 Andre Wadsworth  Defensive end Florida State
2 33 Corey Chavous *  Defensive back Vanderbilt
2 36 Anthony Clement  Offensive tackle Louisiana–Lafayette
4 95 Michael Pittman  Running back Fresno State
5 125 Terry Hardy  Tight end Southern Miss
6 158 Zack Walz  Linebacker Dartmouth
7 193 Phil Savoy  Wide receiver Colorado
7 209 Jomo Cousins  Defensive end Florida A&M
7 226 Pat Tillman  Defensive back Arizona State
7 233 Ron Janes  Running back Missouri
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Undrafted free agents

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1998 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Cory Sauter Quarterback Minnesota
Cory Wedel Kicker Wyoming

Personnel

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Staff

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1998 Arizona Cardinals staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Al Everest

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki

Roster

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1998 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, 9 inactive, 4 practice squad

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue TV Attendance
1 September 6 at Dallas Cowboys L 10–38 0–1 Texas Stadium FOX 63,602
2 September 13 at Seattle Seahawks L 14–33 0–2 Kingdome FOX 57,678
3 September 20 Philadelphia Eagles W 17–3 1–2 Sun Devil Stadium ESPN 39,782
4 September 27 at St. Louis Rams W 20–17 2–2 Trans World Dome FOX 55,832
5 October 4 Oakland Raiders L 20–23 2–3 Sun Devil Stadium CBS 53,240
6 October 11 Chicago Bears W 20–7 3–3 Sun Devil Stadium FOX 50,495
7 October 18 at New York Giants L 7–34 3–4 Giants Stadium FOX 70,456
8 Bye
9 November 1 at Detroit Lions W 17–15 4–4 Pontiac Silverdome FOX 66,087
10 November 8 Washington Redskins W 29–27 5–4 Sun Devil Stadium FOX 45,950
11 November 15 Dallas Cowboys L 28–35 5–5 Sun Devil Stadium FOX 71,670
12 November 22 at Washington Redskins W 45–42 6–5 Jack Kent Cooke Stadium FOX 63,435
13 November 29 at Kansas City Chiefs L 24–34 6–6 Arrowhead Stadium FOX 69,613
14 December 6 New York Giants L 19–23 6–7 Sun Devil Stadium FOX 46,128
15 December 13 at Philadelphia Eagles W 20–17 (OT) 7–7 Veterans Stadium FOX 62,176
16 December 20 New Orleans Saints W 19–17 8–7 Sun Devil Stadium FOX 51,617
17 December 27 San Diego Chargers W 16–13 9–7 Sun Devil Stadium CBS 71,670
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys

[edit]
Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 10010
Cowboys 0 14 71738

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 88 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,602
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks

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Week 2: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 0 7714
Seahawks 10 10 01333

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST/2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 57,678
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

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Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 0 033
Cardinals 0 0 01717

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 6:20 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 36,717
  • TV: ESPN
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 4: at St. Louis Rams

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Week 4: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 17 0320
Rams 7 3 0717

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 55,832
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders

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Week 5: Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 6 17 0023
Cardinals 7 7 0620

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,178
  • TV: CBS
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears

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Week 6: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 0 077
Cardinals 3 14 0320

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,860
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 7: at New York Giants

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Week 7: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 007
Giants 7 10 10734

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,456
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 9: at Detroit Lions

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Week 9: Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 7317
Lions 0 6 3615

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 66,087
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins

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Week 10: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 3 14 01027
Cardinals 0 7 71529

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 43,159
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys

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Week 11: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 14 14 7035
Cardinals 0 7 14728

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,923
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 12: at Washington Redskins

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Week 12: Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 17 14 7745
Redskins 0 6 211542

at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Maryland

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,435
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 13: at Kansas City Chiefs

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Week 13: Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 10 7724
Chiefs 7 7 101034

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 29
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,613
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 14: vs. New York Giants

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Week 14: New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 3 10323
Cardinals 14 3 0219

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 46,128
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
Week 15: Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Cardinals 10 0 07320
Eagles 0 10 07017

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,176
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints

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Week 16: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 10 0717
Cardinals 3 3 7619

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 51,617
  • TV: Fox
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 17: vs. San Diego Chargers

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Week 17: San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 01013
Cardinals 7 3 3316

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: December 27
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 71,670
  • TV: CBS
  • Box Score
Game information

Standings

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NFC East
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(3) Dallas Cowboys 10 6 0 .625 381 275 W2
(6) Arizona Cardinals 9 7 0 .563 325 378 W3
New York Giants 8 8 0 .500 287 309 W4
Washington Redskins 6 10 0 .375 319 421 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 3 13 0 .188 161 344 L3

Postseason

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Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue
Wild Card January 2, 1999 at Dallas Cowboys (3) W 20–7 1–0 Texas Stadium
Divisional January 10, 1999 at Minnesota Vikings (1) L 21–41 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

NFC Wild Card Round: at (3) Dallas Cowboys

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NFC Wild Card Round: (6) Arizona Cardinals at (3) Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 3 7320
Cowboys 0 0 077

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

Quarterback Jake Plummer passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Cardinals to their first playoff victory since 1947.[3]

NFC Divisional Round: at (1) Minnesota Vikings

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NFC Divisional Round: (6) Arizona Cardinals at (1) Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 7721
Vikings 7 17 10741

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Awards and records

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  • Kwamie Lassiter, NFC Leader in Interceptions, 8 [4]
  • Kwamie Lassiter, Tied NFL Record, Most Interceptions in One Game, 4 (Achieved on December 27) [5]
  • Frank Sanders, Led NFC in Receptions, 89 [6]

References

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  1. ^ Football Outsiders: Final 2010 DVOA Ratings “The Seahawks do pass the 1998 Cardinals as the second-worst playoff team in DVOA history.”
  2. ^ "1998 Arizona Cardinals Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  3. ^ Arizona Cardinals (1988–Present)
  4. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 452
  5. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 94
  6. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 451