The 1988 Phoenix Cardinals season was the franchise's 69th season in the National Football League and the first season in Phoenix. The Cardinals would match their 7–8 record from 1987, but finished with one more loss, going 7–9, as 1987 was a one-game strike shortened season, and 1988 was a full 16 game season. The Cardinals move to Phoenix marked the first time an NFL team called a place in Arizona home.
Season tickets for the Cardinals' 1988 inaugural season in Arizona.
1988 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
Special teams – Marv Braden Strength and conditioning
Strength and conditioning – LeBaron Caruthers
1988 Phoenix Cardinals final roster Quarterbacks Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen Defensive linemen
Linebackers Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Rookies in italics 47 active, 9 inactive
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 4 at Cincinnati Bengals L 14–210–1 Riverfront Stadium 50,404 Recap 2 Dallas Cowboys L 14–170–2 Sun Devil Stadium 67,139 Recap 3 September 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 30–241–2 Tampa Stadium 35,034 Recap 4 September 25 Washington Redskins W 30–212–2 Sun Devil Stadium 61,973 Recap 5 October 2 at Los Angeles Rams W 41–273–2 Anaheim Stadium 49,830 Recap 6 October 9 Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–144–2 Sun Devils Stadium 53,278 Recap 7 October 16 at Washington Redskins L 17–334–3 RFK Stadium 54,402 Recap 8 October 23 Cleveland Browns L 21–294–4 Sun Devil Stadium 61,261 Recap 9 October 30 at Dallas Cowboys W 16–105–4 Texas Stadium 42,196 Recap 10 November 6 San Francisco 49ers W 24–236–4 Sun Devil Stadium 64,544 Recap 11 November 13 New York Giants W 24–177–4 Sun Devil Stadium 65,324 Recap 12 November 20 at Houston Oilers L 20–387–5 Houston Astrodome 43,843 Recap 13 November 27 at Philadelphia Eagles L 21–317–6 Veterans Stadium 57,918 Recap 14 December 4 at New York Giants L 7–447–7 Giants Stadium 73,438 Recap 15 Philadelphia Eagles L 17–237–8 Sun Devil Stadium 54,832 Recap 16 December 18 Green Bay Packers L 17–267–9 Sun Devil Stadium 44,586 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals edit Week 1: Phoenix Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 7 7 0 14 Bengals 0 7 7 7 21
at Riverfront Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio
Date : September 4Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : 68 °F (20 °C)Game attendance : 50,404Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
PHO – Roy Green 29-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 14–7. CIN – Eddie Brown 61-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick). Tied 14–14. Fourth quarter
CIN – Eddie Brown 61-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick). Bengals 21–14. Top passers
PHO – Neil Lomax – 21/31, 227 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT CIN – Boomer Esiason – 17/26, 271 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers
PHO – Stump Mitchell – 22 rushes, 110 yards CIN – James Brooks – 9 rushes, 75 yards Top receivers
PHO – J. T. Smith – 7 receptions, 98 yards CIN – Eddie Brown – 6 receptions, 143 yards, TD
Week 2: vs. Dallas Cowboys edit Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
DAL – Steve Pelluer 1-yard run (Luis Zendejas kick), 5:23. Cowboys 17–7. PHO – Jay Novacek 23-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick), 3:52. Cowboys 17–14. Top passers
DAL – Steve Pelluer – 12/24, 162 yards, INT PHO – Neil Lomax – 20/34, 266 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
DAL – Herschel Walker – 29 rushes, 149 yards, TD PHO – Earl Ferrell – 11 rushes, 65 yards Top receivers
DAL – Kelvin Martin – 5 receptions, 72 yards PHO – Jay Novacek – 4 receptions, 178 yards, TD
Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers edit Week 3: Phoenix Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 13 7 3 7 30 Buccaneers 0 3 7 14 24
at Tampa Stadium , Tampa, Florida
Date : September 18Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : 81 °F (27 °C)Game attendance : 35,034Box Score
Game information First quarter
PHO – Al Del Greco 47-yard field goal. Cardinals 3–0. PHO – Stump Mitchell 6-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 10–0. PHO – Al Del Greco 37-yard field goal. Cardinals 13–0. Second quarter
Third quarter
TB – Bruce Hill 23-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Donald Igwebuike kick). Cardinals 20–10. PHO – Al Del Greco 23-yard field goal. Cardinals 23–10. Fourth quarter
TB – James Wilder 5-yard run (Donald Igwebuike kick). Cardinals 23–17. TB – Lars Tate 47-yard run (Donald Igwebuike kick). Buccaneers 24–23. PHO – Jay Novacek 42-yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 24–23. Top passers
PHO – Cliff Stoudt – 9/19, 149 yards, TD TB – Vinny Testaverde – 16/28, 211 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
PHO – Stump Mitchell – 18 rushes, 110 yards, TD TB – Lars Tate – 4 rushes, 54 yards, TD Top receivers
PHO – J. T. Smith – 6 receptions, 103 yards TB – Bruce Hill – 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD
Week 4: vs. Washington Redskins edit Week 4: Washington Redskins at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Redskins 7 7 0 7 21 Cardinals 2 7 7 14 30
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : September 25Game time : 4:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 84 °F (29 °C)Game attendance : 61,973Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
PHO – Tony Jordan 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 16–14. Fourth quarter
PHO – Roy Green 27-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 23–14. DAL – Anthony Allen 2-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Cardinals 23-21. PHO – Cedric Mack 45-yard fumble return (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 30–21. Top passers
WAS – Mark Rypien – 26/41, 303 yards, 3 TD, INT PHO – Neil Lomax – 8/17, 159 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
Top receivers
WAS – Art Monk – 6 receptions, 92 yards, TD PHO – Roy Green – 2 receptions, 79 yards, TD
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams edit Week 5: Phoenix Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 10 14 3 14 41 Rams 7 7 6 7 27
at Anaheim Stadium , Anaheim, California
Date : October 2Game time : 1:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 64 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 49,830Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
LA – Greg Bell 34-yard 5-yard run (Mike Lansford kick). Rams 14–10. PHO – Jay Novacek 8-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 17–14. PHO – Rod Saddler 16-yard fumble return (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 24–14. Third quarter
PHO – Al Del Greco 51-yard field goal. Cardinals 27–14. LA – Damone Johnson 9-yard pass from Jim Everett (kick failed). Cardinals 27–20. Fourth quarter
PHO – Earl Ferrell 7-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 34–20. PHO – Stump Mitchell 35-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 41–20. LA – Greg Bell 1-yard run (Mike Lansford kick). Cardinals 41–27. Top passers
PHO – Neil Lomax – 28/43, 342 yards, 2 TD, INT LA – Jim Everett – 25/33, 300 yards, TD Top rushers
PHO – Earl Ferrell – 16 rushes, 97 yards, TD LA – Greg Bell – 18 rushes, 82 yards, 3 TD Top receivers
PHO – Jay Novacek – 9 receptions, 92 yards, TD LA – Henry Ellard – 6 receptions, 96 yards
Week 6: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers edit Week 6: Pittsburgh Steelers at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 7 0 0 7 14 Cardinals 7 17 7 0 31
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : October 9Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 84 °F (29 °C)Game attendance : 53,278Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
PHO – Al Del Greco 19-yard field goak. Cardinals 10–7. PHO – Tony Jordan 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 17–7. PHO – J. T. Smith 3-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 24–7. Third quarter
PHO – J. T. Smith 13-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 31–7. Fourth quarter
Top passers
PIT – Todd Blackledge – 8/20, 114 yards PHO – Neil Lomax – 17/26, 291 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers
PIT – Merril Hoge – 5 rushes, 34 yards PHO – Earl Ferrell – 17 rushes, 39 yards Top receivers
Week 7: at Washington Redskins edit Game information First quarter
Second quarter
PHO – Al Del Greco 38-yard field goal. Cardinals 10–9. WAS – Gary Clark 19-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 16–10. WAS – Art Monk 46-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 23–10. Third quarter
WAS – Gary Clark 60-yard pass from Mark Rypien (Chip Lohmiller kick). Redskins 30–10. Fourth quarter
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 20-yard field goal. Redskins 33–10. PHO – Jay Novacek 41-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Redskins 33–17. Top passers
PHO – Neil Lomax – 26/44, 332 yards, 2 TD, INT WAS – Mark Rypien – 15/27, 303 yards, 4 TD, INT Top rushers
Top receivers
PHO – Roy Green – 5 receptions, 85 yards, TD WAS – Art Monk – 4 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TD
Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns edit Week 8: Cleveland Browns at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Browns 7 10 3 9 29 Cardinals 0 14 0 7 21
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : October 23Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 80 °F (27 °C)Game attendance : 61,261Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
CLE – Matt Bahr 23-yard field goal. Browns 20–14. Fourth quarter
PHO – Robert Awalt 21-yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 21–20. CLE – Reggie Langhorne 25-yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick). Browns 27–21. CLE – Team safety. Browns 29-21. Top passers
CLE – Bernie Kosar – 25/43, 314 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT PHO – Neil Lomax – 11/19, 120 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
CLE – Tim Manoa – 15 rushes, 65 yards PHO – Earl Ferrell – 18 rushes, 110 yards, TD Top receivers
CLE – Reggie Langhorne – 5 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TD PHO – Roy Green – 5 receptions, 69 yards
Week 9: at Dallas Cowboys edit Week 9: Phoenix Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 0 3 13 16 Cowboys 0 0 10 0 10
at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas
Date : October 30Game time : 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : 57 °F (14 °C)Game attendance : 42,196Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
PHO – Earl Ferrell 14-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Tied 10–10. PHO – Earl Ferrell 1-yard run (kick failed). Cardinals 16–10. Top passers
PHO – Neil Lomax – 13/32, 175 yards, TD DAL – Steve Pelluer – 9/31, 132 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
PHO – Earl Ferrell – 19 rushes, 110 yards, TD DAL – Herschel Walker – 17 rushes, 87 yards Top receivers
PHO – Earl Ferrell – 4 receptions, 51 yards, TD DAL – Ray Alexander – 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers edit Week 10: San Francisco 49ers at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total 49ers 3 13 7 0 23 Cardinals 0 0 7 17 24
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : November 6Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 75 °F (24 °C)Game attendance : 64,544Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
SF – Roger Craig 3-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 10–0. SF – Mike Cofer 27-yard field goal. 49ers 13–0. SF – Mike Cofer 30-yard field goal. 49ers 16–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
PHO – Al Del Greco 24-yard field goal. 49ers 23–10. PHO – Ernie Jones 5-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). 49ers 23–17. PHO – Roy Green 9-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 24–23. Top passers
SF – Steve Young – 14/27, 145 yards, TD PHO – Neil Lomax – 25/41, 323 yards, 3 TD Top rushers
SF – Roger Craig – 26 rushes, 162 yards, TD PHO – Earl Ferrell – 12 rushes, 54 yards Top receivers
SF – Tom Rathman – 4 receptions, 45 yards PHO – Roy Green – 6 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TD
Week 11: vs. New York Giants edit Week 11: New York Giants at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Giants 0 7 0 10 17 Cardinals 14 0 0 10 24
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : November 13Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 68 °F (20 °C)Game attendance : 65,324Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
PHO – Roy Green 44-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 21–7. NYG – Ottis Anderson 1-yard run (Paul McFadden kick). Cardinals 21–14. PHO – Al Del Greco 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 24–14. NYG – Paul McFadden 40-yard field goal. Cardinals 24–17. Top passers
NYG – Phil Simms – 20/45, 195 yards, TD PHO – Neil Lomax – 23/35, 353 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers
Top receivers
NYG – George Adams – 7 receptions, 47 yards PHO – Roy Green – 9 receptions, 176 yards, TD
Week 12: at Houston Oilers edit Week 12: Phoenix Cardinals at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 7 7 6 20 Oilers 7 17 7 7 38
at Houston Astrodome , Houston, Texas
Date : November 20Game time : 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : None (Indoor stadium)Game attendance : 43,843Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
PHO – J. T. Smith 4-yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 24–14. HOU – Ernest Givens 30-yard pass from Warren Moon (Tony Zendejas kick). Oilers 31–14. Fourth quarter
HOU – Ernest Givens 13-yard pass from Warren Moon (Tony Zendejas kick). Oilers 38–14. PHO – Ernie Jones 14-yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (kick failed). Oilers 38–20. Top passers
PHO – Cliff Stoudt – 19/29, 249 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT HOU – Warren Moon – 17/31, 266 yards, 3 TD Top rushers
PHO – Stump Mitchell – 5 rushes, 34 yards HOU – Alonzo Highsmith – 10 rushes, 38 yards, TD Top receivers
PHO – J. T. Smith – 10 receptions, 114 yards, TD HOU – Ernest Givens – 5 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD
Week 13: at Philadelphia Eagles edit Week 13: Phoenix Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 7 7 0 7 21 Eagles 7 0 17 7 31
at Veterans Stadium , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date : November 27Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : 55 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 57,918Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
PHO – Earl Ferrell 17-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 14–7 Third quarter
PHI – Luis Zendejas 28-yard field goal. Cardinals 14–10.' PHI – Cris Carter 8-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Luis Zendejas kick). Eagles 17–14. PHI – Ron Johnson 9-yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (Luis Zendejas kick). Eagles 24–14. Fourth quarter
PHO – Earl Ferrell 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Eagles 24–21. PHI – Keith Byars 4-yard run (Luis Zendejas kick). Eagles 31–21. Top passers
PHO – Cliff Stoudt – 24/43, 228 yards, TD, 4 INT PHI – Randall Cunningham – 17/35, 214 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
PHO – Earl Ferrell – 18 rushes, 94 yards, 2 TD PHI – Keith Byars – 9 rushes, 42 yards, TD Top receivers
PHO – J. T. Smith – 9 receptions, 90 yards, TD PHI – Cris Carter – 3 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Week 14: at New York Giants edit Week 14: Phoenix Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 7 0 0 7 Giants 10 7 7 20 44
at Giants Stadium , East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : December 4Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MSTGame weather : 42 °F (6 °C)Game attendance : 73,438Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NYG – Ottis Anderson 1-yard run (Paul McFadden kick). Giants 31–7. NYG – Joe Morris 4-yard run (Paul McFadden kick). Giants 38–7. NYG – Ottis Anderson 1-yard run (kick failed). Giants 44–7. Top passers
PHO – Neil Lomax – 9/25, 103 yards, 2 INT NYG – Phil Simms – 11/20, 149 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
PHO – Stump Mitchell – 8 rushes, 45 yards NYG – Joe Morris – 32 rushes, 122 yards, TD Top receivers
PHO – Ernie Jones – 1 reception, 45 yards NYG – Stacy Robinson – 3 receptions, 48 yards, 2 TD
Week 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles edit Week 15: Philadelphia Eagles at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 21 0 0 2 23 Cardinals 0 7 7 3 17
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : December 10Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 58 °F (14 °C)Game attendance : 54,832Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
PHO – E.J. Junior 36-yard fumble return (Al Del Greco kick). Eagles 21–14 Fourth quarter
PHO – Al Del Greco 40-yard field goal. Eagles 21–17. PHI – Team safety. Eagles 23–17. Top passers
PHI – Randall Cunningham – 10/26, 169 yards, TD, INT PHO – Neil Lomax – 29/50, 384 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
PHI – Keith Byars – 12 rushes, 86 yards, TD PHO – Stump Mitchell – 11 rushes, 24 yards Top receivers
PHI – Keith Byars – 5 receptions, 54 yards PHO – Ernie Jones – 6 receptions, 166 yards, TD
Week 16: vs. Green Bay Packers edit Week 16: Green Bay Packers at Phoenix Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 13 7 6 0 26 Cardinals 7 10 0 0 17
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date : December 18Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 60 °F (16 °C)Game attendance : 44,586Box Score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
PHO – Al Del Greco 20-yard field goal. Packers 13–10. PHO – Stump Mitchell 12-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Cardinals 17–13. GB – Larry Mason 10-yard pass from Don Majkowski (Curtis Burrow kick). Packers 20–17 Third quarter
GB – Clint Didier 2-yard pass from Don Majkowski (kick failed). Packers 26–17 Fourth quarter
Top passers
GB – Don Majkowski – 18/36, 255 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT PHO – Neil Lomax – 15/33, 172 yards Top rushers
GB – Larry Mason – 18 rushes, 57 yards PHO – Stump Mitchell – 12 rushes, 75 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
