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1997 Arizona Cardinals season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

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

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Arizona Cardinals

| year = 1997

| record = 4–12

| division_place = 5th NFC East

| coach = Vince Tobin

| owner = Bill Bidwill

| stadium = Sun Devil Stadium

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro_bowlers = WR Rob Moore
CB Aeneas Williams

| shortnavlink = Cardinals seasons

}}

The {{nfly|1997}} Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise's 99th season, 78th season in the National Football League and the 10th in Arizona. The team was unable to match their previous output of 7–9, instead winning only four games.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/1997.htm 1997 Arizona Cardinals] The Cardinals failed to qualify to the playoffs for the fifteenth consecutive season.

In week 2, the Cardinals ended a 13-game losing streak to the Dallas Cowboys.

Offseason

= NFL draft =

{{main|1997 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1997

| teamname = Arizona Cardinals

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 9

| player = Tom Knight

| position = Cornerback

| college = Iowa

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 42

| player = Jake Plummer

| position = Quarterback

| college = Arizona State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| hof = no

}}

= Undrafted free agents =

class="wikitable"

|+ 1997 Undrafted free agents of note

!Player

!Position

!College

Michael Comer

|Linebacker

|UTEP

Personnel

= Staff =

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1997

| team = Arizona Cardinals

| front_office =

| head_coach =

| offensive =

| defensive =

| special_teams =

  • Special teams – Al Everest

| strength =

  • Strength and conditioning – Bob Rogucki

}}

{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/8009361df20a445337861130604c33dc |title=Team official promoted to vice president-player personnel |date=February 4, 1997 |work=APNewsArchive.com |agency=Associated Press |access-date=December 28, 2013 }}

= Roster =

{{NFL final roster

|Year=1997

|TeamName=Arizona Cardinals

|BC1=#870619

|FC1=white

|BDC1=black

|Active=

|Inactive=

|PS=

|Quarterbacks=

{{NFLplayer|15|Stoney Case}}

{{NFLplayer|11|Kent Graham}}

{{NFLplayer|16|Jake Plummer|rookie=y}}

|Running Backs=

{{NFLplayer|37|Larry Centers|FB}}

{{NFLplayer|32|LeShon Johnson}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Leeland McElroy}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Ronald Moore|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|45|Cedric Smith|d=American football|FB}}

|Wide Receivers=

{{NFLplayer|89|Fred Brock}}

{{NFLplayer|83|Anthony Edwards|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Rob Moore|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Frank Sanders|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Kevin Williams|d=wide receiver, born 1971}}

|Tight Ends=

{{NFLplayer|80|Pat Carter}}

{{NFLplayer|84|Chris Gedney}}

{{NFLplayer|87|Johnny McWilliams}}

|Offensive Linemen=

{{NFLplayer|75|Lomas Brown|T}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Jerome Daniels|rookie=y|G/T}}

{{NFLplayer|62|Mike Devlin|d=American football|C}}

{{NFLplayer|64|James Dexter|T}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Chris Dishman|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Aaron Graham|C}}

{{NFLplayer|71|Thomas Guynes|rookie=y|T}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Matt Joyce|d=American football|G}}

{{NFLplayer|60|Anthony Redmon|G}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Rob Selby|G}}

|Defensive Linemen=

{{NFLplayer|63|Michael Bankston|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|90|Mark Campbell|d=defensive tackle|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|96|Brad Ottis|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|97|Simeon Rice|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|93|Mark Smith|d=American football|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|91|Rashod Swinger|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|94|Bernard Wilson|d=American football|DT}}

|Linebackers=

{{NFLplayer|52|Mike Caldwell|d=linebacker|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|58|Eric Hill|d=American football|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|56|Terry Irving|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Lyron Cobbins|rookie=y|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Tony McCombs|rookie=y|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Ronald McKinnon|d=American football|MLB/OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|95|Jamir Miller|OLB}}

|Defensive Backs=

{{NFLplayer|46|Brent Alexander|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|28|Tommy Bennett|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Matt Darby|d=American football|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|38|Kenny Harris|d=American football|rookie=y|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|29|Ty Howard|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Tom Knight|d=American football|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|42|Kwamie Lassiter|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|44|J. J. McCleskey|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|35|Aeneas Williams|CB}}

|Special Teams=

{{NFLplayer|10|Jeff Feagles|P}}

{{NFLplayer| 6|Joe Nedney|K}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Trey Junkin|LS}}

|Reserve Lists=

{{NFLplayer|76|Jerry Drake|d=American football|DT|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|66|Eric Jonassen|G/T|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Dell McGee|CB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|31|Derrick Moore|RB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|98|Eric Swann|DT|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Joe Wolf|d=American football|T|IR}}

|Practice Squad=

{{NFLplayer|31|Rod Brown|d=fullback|rookie=y|FB}}

{{NFLplayer|12|Chad Carpenter|d=American football|rookie=y|WR}}

{{NFLplayer|69|Allen DeGraffenreid|d=offensive lineman|rookie=y|T}}

52 active, 6 inactive, 3 practice squad

}}

Regular season

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| August 31

| at Cincinnati Bengals

| L 21–24

| 0–1

| Cinergy Field

| 50,298

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 7

| Dallas Cowboys

| W 25–22 {{small|(OT)}}

| 1–1

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 71,578

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| September 14

| at Washington Redskins

| L 13–19

| 1–2

| Jack Kent Cooke Stadium

| 78,270

4

|colspan="7"| Bye

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| September 28

| at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| L 18–19

| 1–3

| Houlihan's Stadium

| 53,804

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 5

| Minnesota Vikings

| L 19–20

| 1–4

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 45,550

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| October 12

| New York Giants

| L 13–27

| 1–5

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 38,959

style="background:#fcc"

! 8

| October 19

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| L 10–13

| 1–6

| Veterans Stadium

| 66,860

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| October 26

| Tennessee Oilers

| L 14–41

| 1–7

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 44,030

style="background:#cfc"

! 10

| November 2

| Philadelphia Eagles

| W 31–21

| 2–7

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 39,549

style="background:#fcc"

! 11

| November 9

| at Dallas Cowboys

| L 6–24

| 2–8

| Texas Stadium

| 64,302

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| November 16

| at New York Giants

| L 10–19

| 2–9

| Giants Stadium

| 68,316

style="background:#cfc"

! 13

| November 23

| at Baltimore Ravens

| W 16–13

| 3–9

| Memorial Stadium

| 53,976

style="background:#fcc"

! 14

| November 30

| Pittsburgh Steelers

| L 20–26

| 3–10

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 66,341

style="background:#fcc"

! 15

| December 7

| Washington Redskins

| L 28–38

| 3–11

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 41,537

style="background:#fcc"

! 16

| December 14

| at New Orleans Saints

| L 10–27

| 3–12

| Louisiana Superdome

| 45,517

style="background:#cfc"

! 17

| December 21

| Atlanta Falcons

| W 29–26

| 4–12

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 32,003

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}}"

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

= Game summaries =

==Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary

|date=August 31

|time=1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

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

|home=Bengals

|H1=0|H2=3|H3=0|H4=21

|stadium=Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio

|attendance=53,644

|weather={{convert|71|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199708310cin.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • CIN – Doug Pelfrey 38-yard field goal. Cardinals 7–3.
  • ARI – Cedric Smith 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 14–3.

Third quarter

  • ARI – Larry Centers 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 21–3.

Fourth quarter

  • CIN – Ki-Jana Carter 2-yard run (Doug Pelfrey kick). Cardinals 21–10.
  • CIN – Ki-Jana Carter 1-yard run (Doug Pelfrey kick). Cardinals 21–17.
  • CIN – Carl Pickens 7-yard pass from Jeff Blake (Doug Pelfrey kick). Bengals 24–21.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Kent Graham – 20/36, 248 yards, INT
  • CIN – Jeff Blake – 24/35, 252 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

  • ARI – Leeland McElroy – 17 rushes, 52 yards, TD
  • CIN – Ki-Jana Carter – 19 rushes, 76 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

  • ARI – Frank Sanders – 6 receptions, 105 yards
  • CIN – Carl Pickens – 8 receptions, 79 yards, TD

}}

==Week 2: vs. Dallas Cowboys==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 2: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=September 7

|time=6:00 p.m. MST

|road=Cowboys

|R1=6|R2=13|R3=3|R4=0|R5=0

|home=Cardinals

|H1=0|H2=7|H3=7|H4=8|H5=3

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=71,578

|weather={{convert|89|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199709070crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • DAL – Richie Cunningham 24-yard field goal. Cowboys 3–0.
  • DAL – Richie Cunningham 47-yard field goal. Cowboys 6–0.

Second quarter

  • ARI – Leeland McElroy 10-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Cardinals 7–6.
  • DAL – Richie Cunningham 37-yard field goal. Cowboys 9–7.
  • DAL – Chad Hennings 4-yard fumble return (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 16–7.
  • DAL – Richie Cunningham 34-yard field goal. Cowboys 19–7.

Third quarter

  • DAL – Richie Cunningham 28-yard field goal. Cowboys 22–7.
  • ARI – Frank Sanders 7-yard pass from Kent Graham (Kevin Butler kick). Cowboys 22–14.

Fourth quarter

Overtime

  • ARI – Kevin Butler 20-yard field goal. Cardinals 25–22.

|stats=

Top passers

  • DAL – Troy Aikman – 21/40, 171 yards
  • ARI – Kent Graham – 26/47, 249 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

  • DAL – Emmitt Smith – 19 rushes, 132 yards
  • ARI – Leeland McElroy – 16 rushes, 53 yards, TD

Top receivers

}}

==Week 3: at Washington Redskins==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 3: Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins – Game summary

|date=September 14

|time=1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

|R1=7|R2=0|R3=3|R4=3|R5=0

|home=Redskins

|H1=3|H2=7|H3=0|H4=3|H5=6

|stadium=Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Maryland

|attendance=78,270

|weather={{convert|71|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199709140was.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • WAS – Scott Blanton 19-yard field goal. Redskins 13–10.
  • ARI – Kevin Butler 47-yard field goal. Tied 13–13.

Overtime

  • WAS – Michael Westbrook 40-yard pass from Gus Frerotte. Redskins 19–13.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Kent Graham – 17/40, 132 yards
  • WAS – Gus Frerotte – 19/36, 265 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 5: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 5: Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary

|date=September 28

|time=1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

|R1=0|R2=7|R3=11|R4=0

|home=Buccaneers

|H1=6|H2=6|H3=0|H4=7

|stadium=Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa, Florida

|attendance=53,804

|weather={{convert|81|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199709280tam.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ARI – Kevin Butler 37-yard field goal. Buccaneers 12–10.
  • ARI – Aeneas Williams 42-yard interception return (Kent Graham–Frank Sanders pass). Cardinals 18–12.

Fourth quarter

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Kent Graham – 31/52, 339 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • TB – Trent Dilfer – 12/24, 110 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ARI – Rob Moore – 8 receptions, 147 yards, TD
  • TB – Reidel Anthony – 5 receptions, 49 yards, TD

}}

==Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 6: Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=October 5

|time=2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Vikings

|R1=7|R2=3|R3=0|R4=10

|home=Cardinals

|H1=3|H2=10|H3=3|H4=3

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=45,550

|weather={{convert|86|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710050crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • MIN – Eddie Murray 49-yard field goal. Vikings 10–3.
  • ARI – Chris Gedney 33-yard pass from Kent Graham (Kevin Butler kick). Tied 10–10.
  • ARI – Kevin Butler 23-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–10.

Third quarter

  • ARI – Kevin Butler 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–10.

Fourth quarter

  • ARI – Kevin Butler 49-yard field goal. Cardinals 19–10.
  • MIN – Cris Carter 1-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Eddie Murray kick). Cardinals 19–17.
  • MIN – Eddie Murray 38-yard field goal. Vikings 20–19.

|stats=

Top passers

  • MIN – Brad Johnson – 25/39, 292 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • ARI – Kent Graham – 22/38, 293 yards, TD

Top rushers

  • MIN – Robert Smith – 17 rushes, 60 yards
  • ARI – Leeland McElroy – 15 rushes, 87 yards

Top receivers

  • MIN – Andrew Glover – 6 receptions, 86 yards, TD
  • ARI – Rob Moore – 8 receptions, 108 yards

}}

==Week 7: vs. New York Giants==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 7: New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=October 12

|time=2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Giants

|R1=3|R2=3|R3=7|R4=14

|home=Cardinals

|H1=0|H2=6|H3=0|H4=7

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=38,959

|weather={{convert|64|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710120crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • NYG – Brad Daluiso 48-yard field goal. Giants 6–0.
  • ARI – Aeneas Williams 30-yard interception return (kick failed). Tied 6–6.

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

|stats=

Top passers

  • NYG – Danny Kanell – 13/28, 198 yards, TD, INT
  • ARI – Stoney Case – 18/33, 222 yards, 2 INT

Top rushers

  • NYG – Tyrone Wheatley – 22 rushes, 103 yards, TD
  • ARI – LeShon Johnson – 2 rushes, 14 yards

Top receivers

  • NYG – David Patten – 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
  • ARI – Rob Moore – 4 receptions, 87 yards

}}

==Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 8: Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary

|date=October 19

|time=1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

|R1=0|R2=0|R3=3|R4=7|R5=0

|home=Eagles

|H1=0|H2=7|H3=0|H4=3|H5=3

|stadium=Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

|attendance=66,860

|weather={{convert|55|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710190phi.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

No scoring plays

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ARI – Joe Nedney 23-yard field goal. Eagles 7–3.

Fourth quarter

  • ARI – Kevin Williams 31-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Cardinals 10–7.
  • PHI – Chris Boniol 38-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.

Overtime

  • PHI – Chris Boniol 24-yard field goal. Eagles 13–10.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 5/9, 98 yards, TD
  • PHI – Rodney Peete – 23/36, 298 yards, 2 INT

Top rushers

  • ARI – Larry Centers – 11 rushes, 37 yards
  • PHI – Ricky Watters – 24 rushes, 83 yards, TD

Top receivers

}}

==Week 9: vs. Tennessee Oilers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 9: Tennessee Oilers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=October 26

|time=2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Oilers

|R1=3|R2=14|R3=17|R4=7

|home=Cardinals

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

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=44,030

|weather={{convert|62|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710260crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • TEN – Denard Walker 39-yard interception return (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 10–0.
  • TEN – Al Del Greco 42-yard field goal. Oilers 13–0.
  • TEN – Steve McNair 35-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 20–0.

Third quarter

  • TEN – Steve McNair 2-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 27–0.
  • ARI – Rob Moore 12-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Oilers 27–7.
  • TEN – Chris Sanders 55-yard pass from Steve McNair (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 34–7.

Fourth quarter

  • TEN – Chris Sanders 20-yard pass from Steve McNair (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 41–7.
  • ARI – Rob Moore 2-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Oilers 41–14.

|stats=

Top passers

  • TEN – Steve McNair – 9/17, 146 yards, 2 TD
  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 21/40, 195 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • TEN – Chris Sanders – 2 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TD
  • ARI – Frank Sanders – 10 receptions, 98 yards

}}

==Week 10: vs. Philadelphia Eagles==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 10: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=November 2

|time=2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Eagles

|R1=7|R2=0|R3=14|R4=0

|home=Cardinals

|H1=7|H2=3|H3=7|H4=14

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=39,549

|weather={{convert|73|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710260crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • ARI – Joe Nedney 45-yard field goal. Cardinals 10–7.

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • ARI – Kent Graham 1-yard run (Joe Nedney kick). Cardinals 24–21.
  • ARI – Kent Graham 1-yard run (Joe Nedney kick). Cardinals 31–21.

|stats=

Top passers

  • PHI – Ty Detmer – 15/27, 224 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 7/18, 132 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • PHI – Freddie Solomon – 4 receptions, 77 yards, TD
  • ARI – Rob Moore – 3 receptions, 82 yards, TD

}}

==Week 11: at Dallas Cowboys==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 11: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary

|date=November 9

|time=12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

|R1=3|R2=0|R3=3|R4=0

|home=Cowboys

|H1=0|H2=10|H3=14|H4=0

|stadium=Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

|attendance=64,302

|weather={{convert|54|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711090dal.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • ARI – Joe Nedney 42-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ARI – Joe Nedney 39-yard field goal. Cowboys 10–6.
  • DAL – Sherman Williams 1-yard run (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 17–6.
  • DAL – Emmitt Smith 5-yard run (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 24–6.

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring plays

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 13/22, 148 yards
  • DAL – Troy Aikman – 15/22, 216 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 7 rushes, 51 yards
  • DAL – Emmitt Smith – 15 rushes, 64 yards, TD

Top receivers

}}

==Week 12: at New York Giants==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 12: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary

|date=November 16

|time=1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

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

|home=Giants

|H1=0|H2=10|H3=0|H4=9

|stadium=Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

|attendance=68,316

|weather={{convert|38|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711160nyg.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • NYG – Howard Cross 1-yard pass from Danny Kanell (kick failed). Giants 16–10.
  • NYG – Brad Daluiso 35-yard field goal. Giants 19–10.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 22/33, 388 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • NYG – Danny Kanell – 14/21, 182 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ARI – Frank Sanders – 9 receptions, 188 yards, TD
  • NYG – Amani Toomer – 2 receptions, 64 yards, TD

}}

==Week 13: at Baltimore Ravens==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 13: Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary

|date=November 23

|time=1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

|R1=3|R2=0|R3=3|R4=10

|home=Ravens

|H1=0|H2=3|H3=7|H4=3

|stadium=Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

|attendance=53,976

|weather={{convert|48|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711230rav.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • ARI – Joe Nedney 22-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0.

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ARI – Joe Nedney 37-yard field goal. Cardinals 6–3.
  • BAL – Bam Morris 1-yard run (Matt Stover kick). Ravens 10–6.

Fourth quarter

  • ARI – Frank Sanders 4-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Cardinals 13–10.
  • BAL – Matt Stover 34-yard field goal. Tied 13–13.
  • ARI – Joe Nedney 43-yard field goal. Cardinals 16–13.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 19/34, 218 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • BAL – Vinny Testaverde – 21/37, 193 yards

Top rushers

  • ARI – Larry Centers – 8 rushes, 36 yards
  • BAL – Bam Morris – 20 rushes, 88 yards, TD

Top receivers

}}

==Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=November 30

|time=2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Steelers

|R1=7|R2=3|R3=7|R4=3|R5=6

|home=Cardinals

|H1=0|H2=3|H3=14|H4=3|H5=0

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=66,341

|weather={{convert|56|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711300crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • ARI – Joe Nedney 32-yard field goal. Steelers 7–3.
  • PIT – Norm Johnson 40-yard field goal. Steelers 10–3.

Third quarter

  • ARI – Frank Sanders 3-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Tied 10–10.
  • PIT – Jerome Bettis 7-yard run (Norm Johnson kick). Steelers 17–10.
  • ARI – Chris Gedney 11-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Tied 17–17.

Fourth quarter

  • PIT – Norm Johnson 39-yard field goal. Steelers 20–17.
  • ARI – Joe Nedney 19-yard field goal. Tied 20–20.

Overtime

  • PIT – Jerome Bettis 10-yard run. Steelers 26–20.

|stats=

Top passers

  • PIT – Kordell Stewart – 18/35, 179 yards
  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 15/26, 270 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

  • PIT – Jerome Bettis – 36 rushes, 142 yards, 3 TD
  • ARI – Leeland McElroy – 9 rushes, 33 yards

Top receivers

}}

==Week 15: vs. Washington Redskins==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 15: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=December 7

|time=2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Redskins

|R1=7|R2=10|R3=7|R4=14

|home=Cardinals

|H1=0|H2=14|H3=7|H4=7

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=41,537

|weather={{convert|57|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712070crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • WAS – Larry Bowie 3-yard pass from Jeff Hostetler (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 14–0.
  • WAS – Scott Blanton 40-yard field goal. Redskins 17–0.
  • ARI – Rob Moore 4-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Redskins 17–7.
  • ARI – Rob Moore 29-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Redskins 17–14.

Third quarter

  • WAS – Chris Dishman 21-yard interception return (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 24–14.
  • ARI – Chris Gedney 37-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Redskins 24–21.

Fourth quarter

  • WAS – Henry Ellard 23-yard pass from Jeff Hostetler (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 31–21.
  • ARI – Rob Moore 47-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Redskins 31–28.
  • WAS – Albert Connell 7-yard pass from Jeff Hostetler (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 38–28.

|stats=

Top passers

  • WAS – Jeff Hostetler – 18/34, 226 yards, 3 TD, INT
  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 19/38, 337 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • WAS – Brian Mitchell – 2 receptions, 79 yards
  • ARI – Rob Moore – 5 receptions, 114 yards, 3 TD

}}

==Week 16: at New Orleans Saints==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 16: Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints – Game summary

|date=December 14

|time=3:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Cardinals

|R1=7|R2=3|R3=0|R4=0

|home=Saints

|H1=0|H2=3|H3=7|H4=17

|stadium=Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

|attendance=45,517

|weather=None (Indoor stadium)

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712140nor.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • NO – Doug Brien 20-yard field goal. Cardinals 7–3.
  • ARI – Joe Nedney 30-yard field goal. Cardinals 10–3.

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • NO – Doug Brien 33-yard field goal. Saints 13–10.
  • NO – Eric Guliford 16-yard pass from Billy Joe Hobert (Doug Brien kick). Saints 20–10.
  • NO – John Farquhar 8-yard pass from Billy Joe Hobert (Doug Brien kick). Saints 27–10.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 17/37, 180 yards, 2 INT
  • NO – Billy Joe Hobert – 14/24, 252 yards, 3 TD, INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ARI – Frank Sanders – 4 receptions, 55 yards
  • NO – Randal Hill – 5 receptions, 124 yards, TD

}}

==Week 17: vs. Atlanta Falcons==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Arizona Cardinals|year=1997|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 17: Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

|date=December 21

|time=2:00 p.m. MST

|road=Falcons

|R1=14|R2=3|R3=3|R4=6

|home=Cardinals

|H1=7|H2=7|H3=0|H4=15

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

|attendance=32,003

|weather={{convert|55|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712210crd.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • ATL – Morten Andersen 25-yard field goal. Falcons 17–7.
  • ARI – Jake Plummer 1-yard run (Joe Nedney kick). Falcons 17–14.

Third quarter

  • ATL – Morten Andersen 31-yard field goal. Falcons 20–14.

Fourth quarter

  • ATL – Morten Andersen 20-yard field goal. Falcons 23–14.
  • ATL – Morten Andersen 26-yard field goal. Falcons 26–14.
  • ARI – Rob Moore 21-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Falcons 26–21.
  • ARI – Larry Centers 1-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Joe Nedney kick). Cardinals 28–26.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ATL – Chris Chandler – 13/19, 176 yards, 2 TD
  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 19/39, 237 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ATL – Bert Emanuel – 5 receptions, 75 yards, TD
  • ARI – Rob Moore – 7 receptions, 91 yards, TD

}}

= Standings =

{{1997 NFC East standings}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Arizona Cardinals}}

{{Arizona Cardinals seasons}}

{{1997 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1997 Arizona Cardinals Season}}

Category:Arizona Cardinals seasons

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona