The 1990 Phoenix Cardinals season was the franchise's 92nd season, 71st season in the National Football League and the 3rd in Arizona. Despite rookie running back Johnny Johnson creating a good enough impression to make the Pro Bowl, the Cardinals did not improve upon their 5–11 record from 1989.
Offseason
NFL draft
[1]
Personnel
Staff
1990 Phoenix Cardinals staff | | Front office - President – Bill Bidwill
- Vice-president and general manager – Larry Wilson
- Director of pro personnel – Erik Widmark
- Director of player personnel – George Boone
Head coaches Offensive coaches | | | Defensive coaches Special teams coaches Strength and conditioning - Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki
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Roster
[2]
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 9 | at Washington Redskins | L 0–31 | 0–1 | RFK Stadium | 52,649 | Recap |
| 2 | September 16 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 23–21 | 1–1 | Veterans Stadium | 64,396 | Recap |
| 3 | September 23 | at New Orleans Saints | L 7–28 | 1–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 61,110 | Recap |
| 4 | September 30 | Washington Redskins | L 10–38 | 1–3 | Sun Devil Stadium | 49,303 | Recap |
| 5 | Bye |
| 6 | October 14 | Dallas Cowboys | W 20–3 | 2–3 | Sun Devil Stadium | 45,235 | Recap |
| 7 | October 21 | at New York Giants | L 19–20 | 2–4 | Giants Stadium | 76,518 | Recap |
| 8 | October 28 | Chicago Bears | L 21–31 | 2–5 | Sun Devil Stadium | 71,233 | Recap |
| 9 | November 4 | at Miami Dolphins | L 3–23 | 2–6 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 54,294 | Recap |
| 10 | November 11 | at Buffalo Bills | L 14–45 | 2–7 | Rich Stadium | 74,904 | Recap |
| 11 | November 18 | Green Bay Packers | L 21–24 | 2–8 | Sun Devil Stadium | 46,878 | Recap |
| 12 | November 25 | New England Patriots | W 34–14 | 3–8 | Sun Devil Stadium | 30,110 | Recap |
| 13 | December 2 | Indianapolis Colts | W 20–17 | 4–8 | Sun Devil Stadium | 31,885 | Recap |
| 14 | December 9 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 24–13 | 5–8 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 36,222 | Recap |
| 15 | December 16 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 10–41 | 5–9 | Texas Stadium | 60,190 | Recap |
| 16 | December 23 | New York Giants | L 21–24 | 5–10 | Sun Devil Stadium | 41,212 | Recap |
| 17 | | Philadelphia Eagles | L 21–23 | 5–11 | Sun Devil Stadium | 31,796 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 1: at Washington Redskins
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - WAS – Earnest Byner 4-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 14–0.
Third quarter - WAS – Gary Clark 43-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 21–0.
Fourth quarter - WAS – Alvin Walton 57-yard interception return (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 28–0.
- WAS – Chip Lohmiller 29-yard field goal. Redskins 31–0.
| Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 20/39, 228 yards, 4 INT
- WAS – Mark Rypien – 17/31, 240 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers - PHO – Johnny Johnson – 14 rushes, 54 yards
- WAS – Earnest Byner – 17 rushes, 63 yards
Top receivers - PHO – Johnny Johnson – 6 receptions, 99 yards
- WAS – Ricky Sanders – 6 receptions, 90 yards, TD
| |
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - PHO – Anthony Thompson 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Tied 14–14.
- PHI – Heath Sherman 2-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 21–14.
Fourth quarter - PHO – Al Del Greco 25-yard field goal. Eagles 21–17.
- PHO – Al Del Greco 50-yard field goal. Eagles 21–20.
- PHO – Al Del Greco 42-yard field goal. Cardinals 23–20.
| Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 11/19, 116 yards, INT
- PHI – Randall Cunningham – 17/24, 252 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers - PHO – Johnny Johnson – 22 rushes, 88 yards, TD
- PHI – Randall Cunningham – 6 rushes, 34 yards, TD
Top receivers | |
Week 3: at New Orleans Saints
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - NO – Rueben Mayes 4-yard run (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 21–7.
- NO – Rueben Mayes 14-yard run (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 28–7.
| Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 14/26, 191 yards, TD, INT
- NO – John Fourcade – 11/23, 151 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers - PHO – Johnny Johnson – 22 rushes, 68 yards
- NO – Rueben Mayes – 16 rushes, 99 yards, 3 TD
Top receivers - PHO – Ricky Proehl – 5 receptions, 62 yards, TD
- NO – Floyd Turner – 2 receptions, 55 yards
| |
Week 4: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 4: Washington Redskins at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 49,303
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - WAS – Chip Lohmiller 26-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
- WAS – Gary Clark 42-yard pass from Stan Humphries (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 17–10.
Fourth quarter - WAS – Stan Humphries 1-yard run (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 24–10.
- WAS – Gary Clark 42-yard pass from Stan Humphries (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 31–10.
- WAS – Earnest Byner 1-yard run (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 38–10.
| Top passers - WAS – Stan Humphries – 20/25, 257 yards, 2 TD
- PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 11/23, 91 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers - WAS – Gerald Riggs – 19 rushes, 95 yards, TD
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 16 rushes, 93 yards
Top receivers - WAS – Gary Clark – 8 receptions, 162 yards, 2 TD
- PHO – Roy Green – 4 receptions, 56 yards, TD
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Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 6: Dallas Cowboys at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,235
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - PHO – Al Del Greco 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 10–0.
Third quarter - DAL – Ken Willis 37-yard field goal. Cardinals 10–3.
Fourth quarter - PHO – Al Del Greco 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–3.
- PHO – Johnny Johnson 9-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 20–3
| Top passers Top rushers - DAL – Emmitt Smith – 12 rushes, 48 yards
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 19 rushes, 120 yards, TD
Top receivers | |
Week 7: at New York Giants
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - NYG – Matt Bahr 34-yard field goal. Giants 10–3.
- PHO – Luis Sharpe 1-yard pass from Timm Rosenbach (Al Del Greco kick). Tied 10–10.
Third quarter - PHO – Al Del Greco 18-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–10.
- PHO – Al Del Greco 34-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–10.
- PHO – Al Del Greco 45-yard field goal. Cardinals 19–10.
Fourth quarter - NYG – Stephen Baker 38-yard pass from Jeff Hostetler (Matt Bahr kick). Cardinals 19–17.
- NYG – Matt Bahr 42-yard field goal. Giants 20–19.
| Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 11/20, 102 yards, TD
- NYG – Jeff Hostetler – 11/21, 180 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers - PHO – Johnny Johnson – 30 rushes, 108 yards
- NYG – Ottis Anderson – 11 rushes, 88 yards, TD
Top receivers - PHO – Ricky Proehl – 2 receptions, 33 yards
- NYG – Stephen Baker – 3 receptions, 65 yards, TD
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Week 8: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 8: Chicago Bears at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,233
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - CHI – Kevin Butler 33-yard field goal. Bears 31–14
- PHO – Roy Green 40-yard pass from Timm Rosenbach (Al Del Greco kick). Bears 31–21.
| Top passers - CHI – Jim Harbaugh – 9/14, 166 yards, TD, INT
- PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 18/30, 256 yards, TD
Top rushers - CHI – Brad Muster – 12 rushes, 99 yards
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 16 rushes, 74 yards, TD
Top receivers - CHI – Ron Morris – 3 receptions, 93 yards, TD
- PHO – Roy Green – 5 receptions, 89 yards, TD
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Week 9: at Miami Dolphins
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - MIA – Tony Paige 17-yard pass from Dan Marino (Pete Stoyanovich kick). Dolphins 10–0.
- MIA – Pete Stoyanovich 21-yard field goal. Dolphins 13–0.
- PHO – Al Del Greco 44-yard field goal. Dolphins 13–3.
Third quarter - MIA – Mark Clayton 7-yard pass from Dan Marino (Pete Stoyanovich kick). Dolphins 20–3.
- MIA – Pete Stoyanovich 19-yard field goal. Dolphins 23–3.
Fourth quarter | Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 13/25, 172 yards
- MIA – Dan Marino – 18/25, 205 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 6 rushes, 32 yards
- MIA – Marc Logan – 14 rushes, 62 yards
Top receivers | |
Week 10: at Buffalo Bills
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - BUF – Scott Norwood 25-yard field goal. Bills 24–14.
- BUF – Don Beebe 11-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick). Bills 31–14.
- BUF – Jamie Mueller 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick). Bills 38–14.
- BUF – Kenneth Davis 13-yard run (Scott Norwood kick). Bills 45–14.
| Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 5/10, 74 yards, TD, INT
- BUF – Jim Kelly – 11/16, 165 yards, 4 TD, INT
Top rushers - PHO – Johnny Johnson – 20 rushes, 66 yards, TD
- BUF – Thurman Thomas – 26 rushes, 112 yards
Top receivers - PHO – Ernie Jones – 2 receptions, 38 yards, TD
- BUF – Don Beebe – 2 receptions, 60 yards, TD
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Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 46,878
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - PHO – Roy Green 27-yard pass from Timm Rosenbach (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 14–10.
Fourth quarter - PHO – Ernie Jones 25-yard pass from Timm Rosenbach (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 21–10.
- GB – Clarence Weathers 15-yard pass from Anthony Dilweg (Chris Jacke kick). Cardinals 21–17.
- GB – Ed West 1-yard pass from Anthony Dilweg (Chris Jacke kick). Packers 24–21.
| Top passers - GB – Don Majkowski – 9/13, 143 yards, TD, INT
- PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 17/35, 285 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers - GB – Anthony Dilweg – 5 rushes, 50 yards
- PHO – Johnny Johnson – 15 rushes, 103 yards
Top receivers - GB – Sterling Sharpe – 10 receptions, 157 yards, TD
- PHO – Ernie Jones – 7 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD
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Week 12: vs. New England Patriots
Week 12: New England Patriots at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: November 25
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 30,110
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - PHO – Timm Rosenbach 2-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 14–7.
- NE – Marv Cook 22-yard pass from Tom Hodson (Jason Staurovsky kick). Tied 14–14.
Third quarter - PHO – Al Del Greco 29-yard field goal. Cardinals 17–14.
- PHO – Timm Rosenbach 6-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 24–14.
Fourth quarter - PHO – Terrence Flagler 29-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 31–14.
- PHO – Al Del Greco 50-yard field goal. Cardinals 34–14.
| Top passers - NE – Tom Hodson – 17/29, 182 yards, 2 TD
- PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 15/26, 188 yards
Top rushers - NE – John Stephens – 11 rushes, 54 yards
- PHO – Anthony Thompson – 28 rushes, 136 yards, TD
Top receivers | |
Week 13: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 13: Indianapolis Colts at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 31,885
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - PHO – Al Del Greco 32-yard field goal. Colts 10–3.
- PHO – Al Del Greco 39-yard field goal. Colts 10–6.
Third quarter - IND – Jessie Hester 6-yard pass from Jeff George (Dean Biasucci kick). Colts 17–6.
Fourth quarter - PHO – Timm Rosenbach 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Colts 17–13.
- PHO – Marcus Turner 21-yard interception return (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 20–17.
| Top passers - IND – Jeff George – 13/28, 168 yards, 2 TD, INT
- PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 12/26, 164 yards
Top rushers Top receivers - IND – Jessie Hester – 4 receptions, 89 yards, TD
- PHO – Ernie Jones – 4 receptions, 67 yards
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Week 14: at Atlanta Falcons
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - ATL – Greg Davis 24-yard field goal. Cardinals 17–13.
- PHO – Marcus Turner 47-yard interception return (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 24–13.
| Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 15/29, 227 yards, TD, INT
- ATL – Scott Campbell – 13/30, 198 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers - PHO – Anthony Thompson – 26 rushes, 96 yards, TD
- ATL – Mike Rozier – 10 rushes, 54 yards
Top receivers - PHO – Ricky Proehl – 6 receptions, 102 yards, TD
- ATL – Andre Rison – 3 receptions, 65 yards
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Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 15: Phoenix Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,190
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter - PHO – Al Del Greco 38-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.
- DAL – Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (kick failed). Cowboys 6–3.
- DAL – Emmitt Smith 11-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 13–3.
Second quarter Third quarter - DAL – Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 27–3.
Fourth quarter - DAL – Emmitt Smith 6-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 34–3.
- PHO – Johnny Johnson 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cowboys 34–10.
- DAL – Daryl Johnston 6-yard run (Ken Willis kick). Cowboys 41–10.
| Top passers - PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 14/35, 151 yards, 3 INT
- DAL – Troy Aikman – 12/18, 164 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers - PHO – Johnny Johnson – 13 rushes, 22 yards, TD
- DAL – Emmitt Smith – 24 rushes, 103 yards, 4 TD
Top receivers - PHO – Ernie Jones – 4 receptions, 57 yards
- DAL – Michael Irvin – 4 receptions, 91 yards, TD
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Week 17: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 17: Philadelphia Eagles at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 29
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 31,796
- Box Score
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - PHI – Fred Barnett 3-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Roger Ruzek kick). Eagles 20–7.
Fourth quarter - PHI – Roger Ruzek 44-yard field goak. Eagles 23–7.
- PHO – Ricky Proehl 38-yard pass from Timm Rosenbach (Al Del Greco kick). Eagles 23–14.
- PHO – J. T. Smith 45-yard pass from Timm Rosenbach (Al Del Greco kick). Eagles 23–21.
| Top passers - PHI – Randall Cunningham – 13/19, 172 yards, 3 TD, INT
- PHO – Timm Rosenbach – 19/31, 301 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers Top receivers - PHI – Fred Barnett – 5 receptions, 76 yards, 2 TD
- PHO – Ricky Proehl – 7 receptions, 132 yards, TD
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Standings
References
External links
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| Franchise | |
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| Stadiums | |
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| Culture | |
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| Lore | |
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| Rivalries | |
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| Division championships (7) | |
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| Conference championships (1) | |
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| League championships (2) | |
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| Retired numbers | |
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| Current league affiliations | |
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Played in Chicago (1920–1959), St. Louis (1960–1987), and formerly the Phoenix Cardinals (1988–1993) |
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