AZ Cards biggest upsets

[Duckjake]

Mulli's comment about the Titans-49ers game gave me the idea.

My five ranked in chronological order:

2012 Cards 13.5 dogs beat NE in Foxboro breaking a 10 year streak of home opener wins by the Pats

2008 Cards go on the road and demolish Carolina in round two of the playoffs.

2003 Cards knock the Vikings out of the playoffs with amazing last second win.

2000 Cards have the worst team in Arizona Cardinal history. Yet the 2-6 Cards beat the 6-3 Redskins 16-15. A game highlighted by Aeneas Williams 103 yard fumble return.

1998 Cards beat Cowboys in Dallas in first round of playoffs.

 

[TJ]

In 2003, the same year the team beat Minny to end their playoff hopes, it also beat the Packers who were 8 point favorites. I remember Darren Sharper's post game interview bitching about how they lost to an inferior team.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Was the Cards win against the Eagles in the NFC championship game an upset? I wouldn't know any way to look it up, but it felt like an upset to me because I was scared from the opening kick.

 

[TJ]

Was the Cards win against the Eagles in the NFC championship game an upset? I wouldn't know any way to look it up, but it felt like an upset to me because I was scared from the opening kick.

Eagles were 3.5 point favorites

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200901180crd.htm

 

[Cheesebeef]

has to either be the Carolina game or the Pats game.

probably the Pats game. We looked like we were one of the worst teams in football in pre-season, going on the road to one of the NFL's greatest dynasty's, where they are absolute beasts at home...and we win? that was truly stunning.

beating Carolina was surprising, but what was really surprising wasn't the win, it was the DOMINATION that happened in the win.

 

[gmabel830]

If I recall correctly, I was at the redskins game with the long fumble return. One of only like two or three games I ever went to at SDS.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[BigRedFan]

1988 comeback win over 49ers. The 49ers were one of the best teams of 1987, and won the superbowl in 1988. It was also one of the best comebacks, after trailing 23-0 in the 3rd Q.

 

[Cards Czar]

November 16 1970. Monday Night Football in Dallas.

St Louis Cardinals V Dallas Cowboys-- 38- 0.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Eagles were 3.5 point favorites

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200901180crd.htm

100% true but does not tell the whole story.

BELOW TELLS THE WHOLE STORY!

Note: Not surprised I cannot find the actual photo that was posted by Sports Illustrated a week before the NFC CHampionship game.

The Cardinals beating the Eagles was a HUGE upset in the eyes of the national media. EVERYONE had them penned in as the NFC representatives for the Super Bowl.


This should have the tag line of "Hello? Tampa?"

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Duckjake]

November 16 1970. Monday Night Football in Dallas.

St Louis Cardinals V Dallas Cowboys-- 38- 0.

The score maybe but that 1970 team was very good. They were 6-2 going into the game and had rung up back to back shut outs the previous two weeks.

In the 4 games from 11-1-70 to 11-22-70 the Cards Defense allowed a total of SIX points!

Back in the days when the Cards would be 9-5 one year 4-9-1 the next year and then 9-5 the following year.

Note to Mulli: 4-9-1 was the father of the current 5-11.

 

[PACardsFan]

has to either be the Carolina game or the Pats game.

probably the Pats game. We looked like we were one of the worst teams in football in pre-season, going on the road to one of the NFL's greatest dynasty's, where they are absolute beasts at home...and we win? that was truly stunning.

beating Carolina was surprising, but what was really surprising wasn't the win, it was the DOMINATION that happened in the win.

Because of the manner in which we won the Carolina game (complete domination) and the fact it was a playoff game on the road, I have to give it the nod. Hell, we were up by 4 td's in the 4th quarter & the announcers were still talking about "Carolina can still come back folks". Warner could do whatever he wanted in that game.

 

[Mulli]

has to either be the Carolina game or the Pats game.

probably the Pats game. We looked like we were one of the worst teams in football in pre-season, going on the road to one of the NFL's greatest dynasty's, where they are absolute beasts at home...and we win? that was truly stunning.

beating Carolina was surprising, but what was really surprising wasn't the win, it was the DOMINATION that happened in the win.

I am not buying the Pats game. The shady holding call, the ridiculous fumble and the missed field goal combined with how the rest of the year. Reads fluke more than upset.


And Go Pats!!

 

[PACardsFan]

November 16 1970. Monday Night Football in Dallas.

St Louis Cardinals V Dallas Cowboys-- 38- 0.

I was 12 & normally my parents would only let me stay up until halftime. I remember my Dad overruling my Mom & letting me watch the whole game. Still one of my favorite sports moments. Dandy Don was singing "Turn off the lights, the party is over". The fact that we choked that year & lost our last 3 games to miss the playoffs tarnishes that game some. Because of the significance of the game, I'll still take the playoff road win against Carolina!

 

[PACardsFan]

I am not buying the Pats game. The shady holding call, the ridiculous fumble and the missed field goal combined with how the rest of the year. Reads fluke more than upset.


And Go Pats!!

I agree 100%

 

[Mulli]

I was 12 & normally my parents would only let me stay up until halftime. I remember my Dad overruling my Mom & letting me watch the whole game. Still one of my favorite sports moments. Dandy Don was singing "Turn off the lights, the party is over". The fact that we choked that year & lost our last 3 games to miss the playoffs tarnishes that game some. Because of the significance of the game, I'll still take the playoff road win against Carolina!

I was so sure the Cards were still going to blow the Carolina game that I was tense the whole time. My wife just recently forgave me for getting mad at her for jinxing the game.

 

[cardncubfan]

I am not buying the Pats game. The shady holding call, the ridiculous fumble and the missed field goal combined with how the rest of the year. Reads fluke more than upset.


And Go Pats!!

Nice avatar Mulli.

 

[Mulli]

Nice avatar Mulli.

Cheers! I live so close to Wrigley that I am trying to adopt them.

 

[NJCardFan]

1988 comeback win over 49ers. The 49ers were one of the best teams of 1987, and won the superbowl in 1988. It was also one of the best comebacks, after trailing 23-0 in the 3rd Q.

A comeback doesn't equate to an upset and that team was actually a contender(until the wheels fell off after Lomax hurt his knee). I think in AZ(anything prior to 1988 shouldn't count per the title of the thread), th biggest upset(s) were all 3 playoff games during the Super Bowl run. All we heard was that this team was the worst playoff team in history(leaving out the fact that that season's Eagles couldn't even beat the Bengals and who needed all of the planets to align in week 16 just to make the playoffs) and how the Falcons, then the Panthers, then the Eagles and even the Steelers were going to steamroll us and all 3 games and up to 45 seconds left in the Super Bowl, we pretty much fed the entire football world crow. This is one aspect as to why I was so upset not to win the Super Bowl but as we all saw the league wasn't going to have that.

And speaking of the Panthers game, the thought we would lose was warranted because of our east coast record up to then. Then they strike first, Moose Johnson declared the game over. He made me sick that game. It wouldn't have surprised me to see him wearing a Panther jersey in the booth. He was flat out rooting for them.

 

[Catfish]

Jake, I agree with your ranking of the top five wins. Of those, the most satisfying to me was the '98 playoff win over Dallas on the road. Being a Plummer fan, I felt that this game proved that he belonged as QB of the Cardinals. I often wonder how he would have fared in the NFL, (if he had played for a coach like Bill Walsh). His career might have been much more 'Montana' like.

 

[Cards Czar]

The score maybe but that 1970 team was very good. They were 6-2 going into the game and had rung up back to back shut outs the previous two weeks.

In the 4 games from 11-1-70 to 11-22-70 the Cards Defense allowed a total of SIX points!

Back in the days when the Cards would be 9-5 one year 4-9-1 the next year and then 9-5 the following year.

Note to Mulli: 4-9-1 was the father of the current 5-11.

I was 12 & normally my parents would only let me stay up until halftime. I remember my Dad overruling my Mom & letting me watch the whole game. Still one of my favorite sports moments. Dandy Don was singing "Turn off the lights, the party is over". The fact that we choked that year & lost our last 3 games to miss the playoffs tarnishes that game some. Because of the significance of the game, I'll still take the playoff road win against Carolina!

I was so sure the Cards were still going to blow the Carolina game that I was tense the whole time. My wife just recently forgave me for getting mad at her for jinxing the game.

Dallas went on to win 8 straight games after being blown out at home by the cardinals.

 

[HeavyB3]

I was so sure the Cards were still going to blow the Carolina game that I was tense the whole time. My wife just recently forgave me for getting mad at her for jinxing the game.

I sat and watched that game alone at home rather than watch it with my friends because I knew that we'd lose and I'd be pissed/depressed. Never happier to be wrong.

I did think things were going to go downhill fast after they drove the ball down our throats and scored that quick and easy touchdown.

 

[Duckjake]

A comeback doesn't equate to an upset and that team was actually a contender(until the wheels fell off after Lomax hurt his knee). I think in AZ(anything prior to 1988 shouldn't count per the title of the thread), th biggest upset(s) were all 3 playoff games during the Super Bowl run. All we heard was that this team was the worst playoff team in history(leaving out the fact that that season's Eagles couldn't even beat the Bengals and who needed all of the planets to align in week 16 just to make the playoffs) and how the Falcons, then the Panthers, then the Eagles and even the Steelers were going to steamroll us and all 3 games and up to 45 seconds left in the Super Bowl, we pretty much fed the entire football world crow. This is one aspect as to why I was so upset not to win the Super Bowl but as we all saw the league wasn't going to have that.

And speaking of the Panthers game, the thought we would lose was warranted because of our east coast record up to then. Then they strike first, Moose Johnson declared the game over. He made me sick that game. It wouldn't have surprised me to see him wearing a Panther jersey in the booth. He was flat out rooting for them.

I disagree to an extent. Most of the write ups I've seen prior to the Eagles game were along these lines: "The Cards can win "if" but I'm picking Philadelphia." Not really any blow out predictions that I remember but there may have been. Heck even some of the Eagles fans were predicting Philly would lose.

To me it's not a huge upset if the teams are close or considered to be.

I thought about the 2003 Green Bay game as well but it wasn't as big as the Vikings because of the attendance at the Minny game. Ironic that the Cards upset Green Bay then turn around and shock the Vikings putting the Packers back into the playoffs.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I disagree to an extent. Most of the write ups I've seen prior to the Eagles game were along these lines: "The Cards can win "if" but I'm picking Philadelphia." Not really any blow out predictions that I remember but there may have been. Heck even some of the Eagles fans were predicting Philly would lose.

To me it's not a huge upset if the teams are close or considered to be.

agreed. by that point, we were on a freaking roll and playing at home. Hell, i (the notorious pessimist/realist on this board) came on here and not only guaranteed victory, but right after the Eagles beat the Giants and set the matchup, I went online and bought 4 tickets on Southwest to Tampa because I knew we were going to the Super Bowl.

I was never more confident of anything (winning-wise) for the Cardinals in my life then I was that Eagles game.

 

[BigRedFan]

A comeback doesn't equate to an upset

Note that I made the point that the 49ers were an offensive juggernaut in 1987-1988 (ranked in the top 2 in offense), not to mention winning the superbowl that very year. I stated that it was also a comeback, and a great one at that, making it all the more impressive. The last 3 years in St Louis were mostly poor, and despite some improvement in early 1988, the 23-0 lead was looking like the same old Cards showing their true selves against an elite team.

and that team was actually a contender

But the Cardinals were arguably more of a contender in 2008. They did get pummelled in 2 games after they had clinched their division title, but Kurt Warner and the offense also had a very strong year. Add to that they played Atlanta at home and so an upset wasn't all that unlikely. Was the Carolina game an upset? Yes, although not as much so after the Atlanta game. Also, Atlanta and Carolina's offense were not elite offenses as the 49ers in 87 and 88.

(leaving out the fact that that season's Eagles couldn't even beat the Bengals and who needed all of the planets to align in week 16 just to make the playoffs)

The statement about the Eagles actually undermines your argument. That and by the time they played the eagles, they were on a roll (as mentioned elsewhere) and playing at home, I was not all that surprised at a win.

 

[Phrazbit]

Its gotta be the shocking death of the Cowboy dynasty in 1998.