2012 Arizona Cardinals season

The  Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise's 93rd season in the National Football League and the 25th in Arizona. After a surprising 4–0 start, the Cardinals lost 11 of their final 12 games, and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season, resulting in the firing of head coach Ken Whisenhunt after six seasons.

2012 draft class
The Cardinals did not have a second round pick.


 * NOTES
 * undefined The team traded its second-round selection and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for QB Kevin Kolb.
 * undefined The team acquired this sixth-round selection (#177 overall) and DE Vonnie Holliday in a trade that sent RB Tim Hightower to the Washington Redskins.

Preseason
The Cardinals' 2012 preseason began when they faced the New Orleans Saints in the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, August 5, 2012 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The game aired on the NFL Network, and it marked the fourth time for the Cardinals and the fifth time for the Saints playing in the Hall of Fame Game. The remainder of the Cardinals' preseason schedule was announced on April 4, 2012. In the third game against the Oakland Raiders, a fight broke out in the University of Phoenix Stadium parking lot in the third quarter, which later led to a man being "accidentally shot", according to police.

Regular season

 * LEGEND
 * undefined The state of Arizona lies entirely within the Mountain Time Zone, but does not observe Daylight saving time (excluding the Navajo Nation), so it is effectively the same as Pacific Daylight Time from mid-March until the first Sunday of November. Therefore, all game times during the preseason and from Weeks 1–8 during the regular season are listed as Pacific time, while game times from Weeks 9–17 are listed as Mountain time.
 * undefined Simulcast locally on KPHO-TV.
 * undefined Simulcast locally on KTVK.
 * Bold indicates division opponents.

Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals began their season at home against their divisional rival Seahawks with QB John Skelton at the starting helm. The team started their season 1-0 despite Skelton finishing the game 14/28 for 149 yards and an interception. Kevin Kolb later on made his Cards debut going 6/8 for 66 yards and a touchdown pass.

Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the tough loss, the Cardinals fell to 4-2 and also with the Seahawks' win over the Patriots and the 49ers' loss to the Giants, the team remains in a tie for first place in the NFC West.

Week 9: at Green Bay Packers
Losing their fifth straight game of the season by remaining winless at Lambeau Field (0-7), the Cardinals head into their bye week at 4-5.

Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks
With that loss, the Cardinals were not only eliminated from postseason contention, but the 58-point loss was the worst in the Cardinals' franchise history.