Login
Login

1974 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)

| teamdisplay = St. Louis Cardinals

| year = 1974

| record = 10–4

| division_place = 1st NFC East

| coach = Don Coryell

| owner = Bill Bidwill

| stadium = Busch Memorial Stadium

| playoffs = Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Vikings) 14–30

| pro_bowlers = T Dan Dierdorf
QB Jim Hart
RB Terry Metcalf
WR Mel Gray
CB Roger Wehrli

| shortnavlink = Cardinals seasons

}}

The 1974 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 55th year with the National Football League and the 15th season in St. Louis. The Cardinals scored 285 points while the defense gave up 218 points, en route to the NFC East Championship.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 299

The 10–4 Cardinals qualified for the postseason for the first time since 1948 when the franchise was based in Chicago. It was the team's first winning season since 1970 when the Cardinals went 8–5–1. Although the Cardinals and the Washington Redskins finished with identical 10–4 records, the Cardinals won the NFC East title, because of their two victories over Washington that season.

The Cardinals won their first seven games, and were at least tied for first place from Week One to the end of the regular season.

The Cardinals would not start a season with a 7–0 record again until 2021. By then, they would be based in Arizona.

Offseason

=NFL draft=

{{main article|1974 NFL Draft}}

{{NFL team draft start|year=1974|teamname=St. Louis Cardinals}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=1|pick=7|player=J. V. Cain|position=Tight end|college=Colorado|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=33|player=Greg Kindle|position=Guard|college=Tennessee State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=60|player=Steve George|position=Defensive tackle|college=Houston|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=85|player=Durwood Keeton|position=Defensive back|college=Oklahoma|notes=Signed with Southern California Sun (WFL)}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=91|player=Ike Harris|position=Wide receiver|college=Iowa State|notes=Played with Cardinals 75–77}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=111|player=Steve Neils|position=Linebacker|college=Minnesota|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=8|pick=189|player=Sergio Albert|position=Kicker|college=U.S. International|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=9|pick=215|player=Reggie Harrison|position=Running back|college=Cincinnati|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=10|pick=251|player=Greg Hartle|position=Linebacker|college=Newberry|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=12|pick=293|player=Roger Wallace|position=Wide receiver|college=Bowling Green|notes=Signed with Memphis Grizzlies (WFL)}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=13|pick=319|player=Jimmy Poulos|position=Running back|college=Georgia|notes=Signed with Jacksonville Express (WFL)}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=14|pick=345|player=Charles Smith|position=Running back|college=Yankton|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=15|pick=371|player=Vincent Ancell|position=Defensive back|college=Arkansas State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=16|pick=397|player=Alonzo Emery|position=Running back|college=Arizona State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=17|pick=423|player=John Moseley|position=Defensive back|college=Missouri|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft end|hof=no|probowl=no}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/1974_draft.htm|title=1974 St. Louis Cardinals Draftees|publisher=Pro Football Reference|access-date=February 13, 2022}}

Roster

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="9" style="background-color: #870619; color: white; text-align: center;"|St. Louis Cardinals roster
style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Quarterbacks

{{NFLplayer|17|Jim Hart|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|12|Gary Keithley}}

{{NFLplayer|11|Dennis Shaw}}

Running backs

{{NFLplayer|44|Donny Anderson}}

{{NFLplayer|33|Willie Belton}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Gary Hammond}}

{{NFLplayer|34|Steve Jones|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|21|Terry Metcalf}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Eddie Moss}}

{{NFLplayer|35|Jim Otis|FB}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Ken Willard}}

Wide receivers

{{NFLplayer|85|Mel Gray|d=wide receiver}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Earl Thomas|d=wide receiver}}

Tight ends

{{NFLplayer|88|J. V. Cain|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Jim McFarland}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Jackie Smith}}

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |Offensive linemen

{{NFLplayer|54|Tom Banks|d=American football|C}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Tom Brahaney|C}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Dan Dierdorf|T}}

{{NFLplayer|60|Conrad Dobler|G}}

{{NFLplayer|60|Roger Finnie|G}}

{{NFLplayer|69|Greg Kindle|rookie=y|T}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Ernie McMillan|T}}

{{NFLplayer|64|Bob Young|d=offensive lineman|G}}

Defensive linemen

{{NFLplayer|79|Bob Bell|d=American football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Leo Brooks|d=American football|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Bob Crum|rookie=y|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Bob Rowe|d=American football|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Council Rudolph|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Ron Yankowski|DE}}

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Linebackers

{{NFLplayer|57|Mark Arneson}}

{{NFLplayer|59|Pete Barnes}}

{{NFLplayer|52|Jack LeVeck}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Steve Neils}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Larry Stallings}}

Defensive backs

{{NFLplayer|26|Dwayne Crump|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|41|Clarence Duren|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|36|Ken Reaves|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|28|Scott Stringer|d=American football|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Norm Thompson|d=American football|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|45|Jim Tolbert|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Roger Wehrli|CB}}

Special teams

{{NFLplayer|18|Sergio Albert|rookie=y|K}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Jim Bakken|K}}

{{NFLplayer|14|Hal Roberts|d=American football|rookie=y|P}}

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Reserve lists

Practice squad

rookies in italics

Hall of Fame Game

  • St. Louis Cardinals 21, Buffalo Bills 13

NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 369

Regular season

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| September 15

| Philadelphia Eagles

| W 7–3

| 1–0

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 40,322

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409150crd.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 22

| at Washington Redskins

| W 17–10

| 2–0

| RFK Stadium

| 53,888

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409220was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| September 29

| Cleveland Browns

| W 29–7

| 3–0

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 43,472

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409290crd.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| October 6

| at San Francisco 49ers

| W 34–9

| 4–0

| Candlestick Park

| 48,675

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410060sfo.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 5

| October 13

| Dallas Cowboys

| W 31–28

| 5–0

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 49,885

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410130crd.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 6

| October 20

| at Houston Oilers

| W 31–27

| 6–0

| Astrodome

| 26,371

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410200oti.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 7

| October 27

| Washington Redskins

| W 23–20

| 7–0

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 49,410

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410270crd.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 8

| November 3

| at Dallas Cowboys

| L 14–17

| 7–1

| Texas Stadium

| 64,146

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411030dal.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| {{dow tooltip|November 11, 1974}}

| Minnesota Vikings

| L 24–28

| 7–2

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 50,183

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411110crd.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 10

| November 17

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| W 13–3

| 8–2

| Veterans Stadium

| 61,982

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411170phi.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 24

| at New York Giants

| W 23–21

| 9–2

| Yale Bowl

| 40,615

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411240nyg.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| December 1

| Kansas City Chiefs

| L 13–17

| 9–3

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 41,863

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412010crd.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 13

| December 8

| at New Orleans Saints

| L 0–14

| 9–4

| Tulane Stadium

| 57,152

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412080nor.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 14

| December 15

| New York Giants

| W 26–14

| 10–4

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 47,414

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412150crd.htm Recap]

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

=Game summaries=

==Week 11 at Giants==

{{See also|1974 New York Giants season}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Arizona Cardinals|year=1974|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=St. Louis Cardinals (8–2) at New York Giants (2–8)

|date=November 24

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Cardinals

|R1=6 |R2=0 |R3=7 |R4=10

|home=Giants

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=7 |H4=7

|stadium=Yale Bowl • New Haven, Connecticut

|attendance=40,615{{cite news | title = The Yale Bowl and the Giants | work = Newsday | date = September 5, 2018 | url = https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/the-yale-bowl-and-the-giants-1.20846261 | access-date = January 29, 2019}}

|weather={{Convert|45|F|C}} • Wind {{Convert|9|mph|km/h knot}}

|referee=Bob Frederic

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411240nyg.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|stats=

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

;Cardinals

{{Col-2}}

;Giants

{{Col-end}}

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=STL|HomeName=NYG|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=1

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=36

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| Visitor=3

| Home=0

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=32

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| Visitor=6

| Home=0

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Ron Johnson

| yards=2

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Pete Gogolak

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=6

| Home=7

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Bob Tucker

| QB=Craig Morton

| yards=29

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Pete Gogolak

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=6

| Home=14

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Earl Thomas

| QB=Jim Hart

| yards=16

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=13

| Home=14

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Mel Gray

| QB=Jim Hart

| yards=45

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=20

| Home=14

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Walker Gillette

| QB=Craig Morton

| yards=17

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Pete Gogolak

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=20

| Home=21

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=36

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| Visitor=23

| Home=21

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=23|Home=21}}

==Week 14==

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Giants

|V1=0 |V2=14 |V3=0 |V4=0

|Host=Cardinals

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=20 |H4=6

|Date=December 15

|Location=Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

|StartTime=1:00 p.m.

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather={{convert|41|°F|°C}}, wind {{convert|14|mph|km/h knots}}

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter= 2|Time= |Team=NYG |Event=Ron Johnson 2 yard run (Pete Gogolak kick) |Score= Giants 7–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=NYG |Event=Joe Dawkins 1 yard run (Pete Gogolak kick) |Score= Giants 14–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=STL |Event= Ken Willard 4 yard pass from Jim Hart (kick failed) |Score= Giants 14–6}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=STL |Event=Jackie Smith 28 yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick) |Score= Giants 14–13}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=STL |Event=Terry Metcalf 1 yard run (Jim Bakken kick) |Score= Cardinals 20–14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=STL |Event=Terry Metcalf 16 yard run (kick failed) |Score=Cardinals 26–14 |LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412150crd.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

{{Clear}}

=Standings=

{{1974 NFC East standings}}

Postseason

=NFC Divisional Playoff=

  • Minnesota Vikings 30, St. Louis Cardinals 14 {{Cite web |url=http://www.football.com/nfl/playoffs/1974.html |title=1974 NFL Playoffs – www.football.com |access-date=2008-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512002149/http://www.football.com/nfl/playoffs/1974.html |archive-date=2008-05-12 |url-status=dead }}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Cardinals

|R1=0

|R2=7

|R3=0

|R4=7

|RT=20

|Home=Vikings

|H1=0

|H2=7

|H3=16

|H4=7

|HT=30

}}

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

  • TV: CBS
  • Attendance: 44,626

Awards and records

  • Jim Hart, NFC Leader, Touchdown Passes, 20 Passes NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 451

=Milestones=

  • Terry Metcalf, 2000 Combined Net Yards (718 Rush Yards, 377 Pass Receiving Yards, 340 Punt Return Yards, 623 Kick Return Yards) NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 443

References

{{Reflist}}

  • [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/1974.htm?redir Cardinals on Pro Football Reference]
  • [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1974-stl Cardinals on jt-sw.com]

{{Arizona Cardinals}}

{{Arizona Cardinals seasons}}

{{1974 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1974 St. Louis Cardinals (Nfl) Season}}

St. Louis

Category:Arizona Cardinals seasons

Category:NFC East championship seasons