The 2007 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 88th in the National Football League (NFL), their 20th in Arizona and their first under head coach Ken Whisenhunt. They improved upon their 5–11 record in 2006 after finishing last place in the NFC West, by finishing 8–8, but the failure of the Cardinals to qualify for the Super Bowl marked the 23rd consecutive year in which the Super Bowl did not include the team in whose region the game was being played in; Super Bowl XIV and Super Bowl XIX were the only postseasons with such an occurrence before 2007.
Two losses to the San Francisco 49ers, who won only five games that season, came back to haunt them in the end, as they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the ninth straight season. Nonetheless, Pro Football Reference argues that the 2007 Cardinals had the easiest schedule of any team that did not make the playoffs since the 1965 Eagles:Pro Football Reference; 2007 Arizona Cardinals they never opposed any team with a better record than 10–6 in any of their sixteen games.
Offseason
Free agents heading into the 2007 season Position Player Free agencytagRFA: Restricted free-agent, UFA: Unrestricted free-agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent Date signed 2007 team LB Monty Beisel UFA March 14 Arizona Cardinals S Jack Brewer UFA Unsigned DE Chris Cooper UFA March 24 Arizona Cardinals LB James Darling UFA Unsigned OT Leonard Davis UFA March 5 Dallas Cowboys S Robert Griffith UFA Retired MLB Orlando Huff UFA June 22 Atlanta Falcons C Nick Leckey RFAThe Cardinals will receive a second round pick in the 2007 draft if Leckey signs with another team. April 13 Arizona Cardinals OG Chris Liwienski UFA March 22 Miami Dolphins CB David Macklin UFA April 5 Washington Redskins S Hanik Milligan UFA March 3 Arizona Cardinals QB John Navarre RFA March 13 Indianapolis Colts RB Marcel Shipp UFA March 3 Arizona Cardinals DE Antonio Smith ERFA April 4 Arizona Cardinals C Alex Stepanovich RFA March 16 Cincinnati Bengals CB Robert Tate UFA Unsigned OT/TE Fred Wakefield UFA March 10 Oakland Raiders WR Troy Walters UFA June 1 Detroit Lions
Free agents signed for 2007 season Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2006 team contract years C Al Johnson UFA March 4 Dallas Cowboys 4 years CB Roderick Hood UFA March 10 Philadelphia Eagles 5 years WR Sean Morey UFA March 15 Pittsburgh Steelers 3 years FB Terrelle Smith UFA March 23 Cleveland Browns 2 years OT Mike Gandy UFA April 3 Buffalo Bills 3 years DT Ross Kolodziej UFA April 12 Minnesota Vikings 1 year DE Rodney Bailey UFA April 12 Minnesota Vikings 1 year DT Joe Tafoya UFA April 12 Minnesota Vikings 1 year CB Ralph Brown UFA April 12 Minnesota Vikings 1 year WR Ahmad Merritt UFA May 4 Chicago Bears 1 year TE Tim Euhus UFA May 29 Pittsburgh Steelers 1 year S Oliver Celestin UFA Aug 2 Seattle Seahawks 1 year G Brad Badger UFA Aug 15 Oakland Raiders 1 year C Chukky Okobi UFA Sep 12 Pittsburgh Steelers 1 year
Draft
Head coach Head coach Ken Whisenhunt entered his first year of his term with the Cardinals. He was previously the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whisenhunt signed a contract with the Cardinals on January 14, 2007 after the Cardinals released former head coach Dennis Green.
Roster Arizona Cardinals 2007 final roster Quarterbacks Tim Hasselbeck Tim Rattay Kurt Warner
Running backs J. J. Arrington KR Tim Castille FB Edgerrin James Marcel Shipp Terrelle Smith FB
Wide receivers Anquan Boldin Steve Breaston KR/PR Larry Fitzgerald Bryant Johnson Sean Morey Jamaica Rector Jerheme Urban
Tight ends Troy Bienemann Tim Euhus Ben PatrickOffensive linemen Elton Brown T Levi Brown T Mike Gandy T Al Johnson C Deuce Lutui G Lyle Sendlein C Keydrick Vincent G Reggie Wells G
Defensive linemen Rodney Bailey DE Alan Branch DT Chris Cooper DE/DT Darnell Dockett DT Bo Schobel DE Antonio Smith DE Joe Tafoya DE Gabe Watson DT Linebackers Monty Beisel MLB/OLB Darryl Blackstock OLB Karlos Dansby OLB Gerald Hayes MLB David Holloway OLB Brandon Johnson OLB Calvin Pace OLB
Defensive backs Michael Adams CB Ralph Brown CB Oliver Celestin SS Aaron Francisco SS Bhawoh Jue FS Terrence Holt FS Roderick Hood CB Antrel Rolle CB Matt Ware FS
Special teams Mitch Berger P Nathan Hodel LS Neil Rackers K Reserve lists Bertrand Berry DE (IR) Eric Green CB (IR) Ross Kolodziej DT (IR) Matt Leinart QB (IR) Ahmad Merritt WR (IR) Chike Okeafor DE (IR) Leonard Pope TE (IR) Oliver Ross T (IR) Adrian Wilson S (IR)
Practice squad Travarous Bain CB Steve Baylark RB Jemalle Cornelius WR DeMario Minter CB Scott Peters C/G Alex Shor TE Brandon Torrey T Elliot Vallejo T
rookies in italics
53 active, 9 inactive, 8 practice squad
Staff Arizona Cardinals 2007 coaching staff Front office Chairman/President – William V. Bidwill Vice president/general counsel – Michael J. Bidwill Vice-president – William V. Bidwill, Jr. Vice President, Football Operations – Rod Graves
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 Assistant strength and conditioning – Keith Vulgamott
Schedule In the 2007 regular season, the Cardinals’ non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the NFC South, although they also played the Washington Redskins from the NFC East, and the Detroit Lions from the NFC North. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC North. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 September 10 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–20 0–1 Monster Park 2 September 16 Seattle Seahawks W 23–20 1–1 University of Phoenix Stadium 3 September 23 at Baltimore Ravens L 23–26 1–2 M&T Bank Stadium 4 September 30 Pittsburgh Steelers W 21–14 2–2 University of Phoenix Stadium 5 October 7 at St. Louis Rams W 34–31 3–2 Edward Jones Dome 6 October 14 Carolina Panthers L 10–25 3–3 University of Phoenix Stadium 7 October 21 at Washington Redskins L 19–21 3–4 FedExField 8 Bye 9 November 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 10–17 3–5 Raymond James Stadium 10 November 11 Detroit Lions W 31–21 4–5 University of Phoenix Stadium 11 November 18 at Cincinnati Bengals W 35–27 5–5 Paul Brown Stadium 12 November 25 San Francisco 49ers L 31–37 (OT) 5–6 University of Phoenix Stadium 13 December 2 Cleveland Browns W 27–21 6–6 University of Phoenix Stadium 14 December 9 at Seattle Seahawks L 21–42 6–7 Qwest Field 15 December 16 at New Orleans Saints L 24–31 6–8 Louisiana Superdome 16 December 23 Atlanta Falcons W 30–27 (OT) 7–8 University of Phoenix Stadium 17 December 30 St. Louis Rams W 48–19 8–8 University of Phoenix Stadium Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers
The Cardinals began their 2007 campaign on the road against their NFC West foe, the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, Arizona trailed early as 49ers RB Frank Gore got a 6-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Cardinals took the lead with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 35-yard field goal, while RB Edgerrin James got a 7-yard TD run. San Francisco would tie the game with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 33-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the 49ers regained the lead with Nedney kicking a 30-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals retook the lead with QB Matt Leinart completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin. However, late in the game, the Cards' defense failed to hold off San Francisco's ensuing drive, which ended with WR Arnaz Battle getting a 1-yard TD run. With just over :20 seconds left in the game, Arizona had one final chance to save the game. Leinart's pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald was intercepted by 49ers CB Shawntae Spencer.
With the heartbreaking loss, the Cardinals began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Hoping to rebound from their tough divisional road loss to the 49ers, the Cardinals played their Week 2 homeopener against another NFC West foe, the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Cards took to the skies first with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 28-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, Arizona continued to pound away with QB Matt Leinart completing a 30-yard TD pass to TE Leonard Pope, along RB Edgerrin James getting a 17-yard TD run. The Seahawks would get their only score of the half with QB Matt Hasselbeck completing a 24-yard TD pass to WR Nate Burleson.
In the third quarter, the Cardinals' lead was gone with Seattle RB Shaun Alexander getting a 16-yard TD run and kicker Josh Brown getting a 28-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Cards trailed as Brown got another 28-yard field goal. Arizona responded with Rackers kicking a 52-yard field goal. Late in the game, the Cards defense managed to recover a Seahawk fumble. It would eventually turn into Rackers' 4th career game-winning field goal as made it from 42 yards out as time ran out.
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens
Coming off their divisional home win over the Seahawks, the Cardinals flew to M&T Bank Stadium for an intraconference "bird" battle with the Baltimore Ravens. In the first quarter, the Ravens flew first with kicker Matt Stover getting a 21-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Ravens increased their lead with Stover's 28-yard field goal. Arizona would manage to get on the board with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 48-yard field goal, yet Baltimore managed to put more and more distance from the Cards with QB Steve McNair completing a 13-yard TD pass to WR Derrick Mason, along with WR/PR Yamon Figurs returning a punt 75 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Cardinals managed to get a 40-yard field goal from Rackers, yet the Ravens continued its domination with Stover getting a 43-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, with QB Matt Leinart being ineffective, back-up QB Kurt Warner came in and ignited the Cards' offense with a 5-yard TD pass and a 32-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin. Afterwards, Arizona tied the game with Rackers getting a 41-yard field goal. The Ravens got a last-second win with Stover nailing a 46-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 1–2.
Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Trying to rebound from their road loss to the Ravens, the Cardinals went home for another interconference fight, as they would face the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first quarter, Arizona trailed as Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed a 43-yard TD pass to WR Santonio Holmes for the only score of the quarter. However, in the third quarter, the Cards started to fight back. As starting QB Matt Leinart struggled, back-up QB Kurt Warner came in and completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Jerheme Urban for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Leinart was put back in and the Cardinals didn't miss a beat as rookie WR Steve Breaston returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown, along with RB Edgerrin James getting a 2-yard TD pass. However, Pittsburgh retaliated as Roethlisberger and Holmes hooked up with each other again on a 7-yard TD pass. Afterwards, Arizona held off an attempt to tie the game and won. Both teams would eventually meet again in Super Bowl XLIII.
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 2–2.
Week 5: at St. Louis Rams