azdad1978
Championship!!!!
REGULAR SEASON GAME #1
ARIZONA CARDINALS at ST. LOUIS RAMS
Sunday, September 12, 2004
10:00 AM (MST) – Edward Jones Dome
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Cardinals kick-off the 2004 campaign and play their first regular season game under new head coach Dennis Green when they take on the Rams this Sunday in St. Louis. Arizona is coming off a 1-3 preseason but recorded a victory in their most-recent contest, a 33-21 win at Denver in the finale. The Rams, who are the NFC West’s defending champs, were also 1-3 in preseason play. The won in game #3 vs. Washington (28-3) but lost vs. Chicago, at Kansas City and at Oakland.
THE SERIES
The Cardinals and Rams have met 50 times in the regular season with the Rams holding a 27-21-2 edge over the Cardinals. The Rams have swept the division match-up for the last two years however Arizona won six of the previous eight contests before the 2002 division realignment. Last season the Rams edged out the Cardinals 30-27 in overtime on November 23rd and also won in St. Louis in week 4 (37-13). The two teams met on the home opener in 1994, with the Rams claiming a 14-12 victory over the Cardinals. The last time the Cardinals won in St. Louis was 1998 with a 20-17 victory over the Rams. The two teams have met six times on the season opener with the Rams holding a 4-2 lead in the series. The results of those opening day meetings is as follows:
Date Site Result
Sept. 4, 1994 @ L.A. Rams Rams, 12-14
Sept. 1, 1991 @ L.A. Rams Cards, 24-14
Sept. 7, 1986 L.A. Rams Rams, 10-16
Sept. 18, 1970 @ L.A. Rams Rams, 13-34
Sept. 16, 1968 L.A. Rams Rams, 13-24
Sept. 23, 1960 @ L.A. Rams Cards, 43-21
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION
Network: FOX
Play-by-Play: Dan Miller
Color Analyst: J.C. Pearson
CARDINALS RADIO NETWORK
Flagship: 1060 KDUS (AM)
KSLX 100.7 (FM)
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Color Analyst: John Mistler
Sideline: Mike Jurecki
CARDINALS SPANISH RADIO
Flagship: KMIA (710 AM)
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo
Color Analyst: Luis Zendejas
Halftime/Analyst: Felipe Coral
The Last Meeting
Rams 30, CARDINALS 27 (OT)
November 23, 2003 – Sun Devil Stadium – (42,089)
St. Louis assumed sole possession of first place in the NFC West with a 30-27 overtime victory at Sun Devil Stadium. The loss marked Arizona’s third consecutive defeat, but its first setback in its past five overtime outcomes. The Cardinals inspired defensive effort against the high-powered Rams included two season bests – five takeaways (four interceptions, one fumble recovery) and four quarterback sacks. The Cardinals, however, were unable to protect their 27-24 lead when St. Louis ran the game’s final 24 plays to kick tying (24-yards with 0:00 remaining in the fourth quarter) and winning (49-yards in overtime) field goals to conclude a pair of long drives. The Cardinals battled uphill early after spotting St. Louis a 14-0 first quarter lead. Cornerback Renaldo Hill and rookie wide receiver Anquan Boldin changed the game’s momentum, Hill with two interceptions and Boldin with two touchdown receptions. Hill returned his first pick 70 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and his second went back 26 yards to the Rams’ 22-yard line at the onset of the fourth quarter to set the table for Boldin’s game-tying three-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Blake. Minutes earlier, on the last play of the third quarter, Blake found Boldin for a 54-yard touchdown. Boldin caught six passes for 123 yards to inch within one yard of becoming the NFL’s 12th 1000-yard rookie. Running backs Marcel Shipp (Cards) and Marshall Faulk (Rams) dueled with nearly identical rushing stats: Shipp with 95 yards on 24 carries; Faulk answered with 100 yards on 24 carries.
CARDINALS ’04 ROSTER FACTS
Youngest Player: Larry Fitzgerald, 21 years, 6 days
Oldest Player: Emmitt Smith, 35 years, 113 days old
Tallest Player: Anthony Clement, 6-8
Shortest Player: Larry Croom/Derek Ross, 5-10
Heaviest Player: Leonard Davis, 381 pounds
Lightest Player: Duane Starks, 174 pounds
Player Breakdown by College Conference
Big Ten: 11
ACC: 9
Big 12: 6
SEC: 5
Big East: 3
Pac 10: 2
Most Games Played in NFL
Emmitt Smith, 211
Ronald McKinnon, 125
Karl Williams, 115
Scott Player, 92
Players from 2003’s final 53-man roster: 26
Players not with team in ’03: 22
Players from ’03 practice squad or reserve lists: 5
CARDINALS-RAMS CONNECTIONS
• Cardinals defensive line coach Deek Pollard was the line coach for the Rams during the 1995-96 seasons.
• Arizona defensive end Bertrand Berry attended training camp with the Rams in 2000, but was released before the regular season.
• Cardinals guard Cameron Spikes was originally selected by the Rams in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 1999 draft. He played three seasons for St. Louis 19 games for the Rams, including a special teams appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI vs. New England.
• Arizona kicker Neil Rackers is a St. Louis native where he earned 11 varsity letters in baseball, soccer, and football at Aquinas-Mercy High School.
• Arizona safety Adrian Wilson and St. Louis wide receiver Torry Holt were college teammates together at N.C. State.
• St. Louis defensive coordinator Larry Marmie was the Cardinals defensive coordinator from midway through the 2000 season until 2003. He was also the Cardinals defensive backs coach from 1996-2000. Marmie also served as head coach for Arizona State from 1988-1991, posting a 22-21-1 record in his time with the Sun Devils
• Rams Head Coach Mike Martz was an offensive coordinator for Arizona State in 1984 and 1988-1991. He assisted Marmie during their time together in Tempe. Martz also was the wide receivers coach for the Sun Devils during the 1983-87 seasons.
• St. Louis safety Aeneas Williams was a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Cardinals from 1991-2000. Originally a third round pick (59th overall) in the 1991 NFL draft out of Southern University, Williams appeared in 160 games (159 starts) during his Cardinals career leading or co-leading the team in interceptions in seven of his 10 seasons (1991, ‘94-97, 99, 2000). Williams also ranks second in club annuals with 653 interception return yards and first with six interceptions for touchdowns.
• Rams safety Adam Archuleta is a Chandler, AZ native (Chandler High School) who starred at Arizona State as a former walk-on linebacker. He ranks fourth in school history with 54 stops behind the line of scrimmage and his 202 solo tackles rank fifth of the Sun Devils career record chart. He was the Pac-10 defensive player of the year as a senior in 2000.
• St. Louis wide receiver and Phoenix native Shaun McDonald was a standout for Arizona State during the 2000-2002 seasons. His 2,867 career receiving yards ranks second in schools history and sixth of the Pac-10’s all-time record list.
• Rams quarterback Chris Chandler played for the Cardinals from 1991-1993. He appeared in 22 games (17 starts) for the Cardinal including starting 13 of 15 games in 1992.
• St. Louis guard Chris Dishman was a fourth round pick (106th overall) by the Cardinals in the 1997 draft appearing in 78 games with 54 starts during his Cardinals tenure.
• St. Louis defensive end Erik Flowers is a former Arizona State Sun Devil (1998-99) where he recorded 68 tackles (18 for loss) and a team leading 10 sacks for 70 yards.
• Rams linebacker Trev Faulk spent the final three weeks of the 2002 regular season on Arizona’s practice squad. He was on the Cardinals practice squad again in 2003 but was signed off it by the Rams on 12/31/03.
• St. Louis safety Jason Shivers is a Phoenix native (South Mountain H.S.) who lettered at Arizona State in 2001-2003. Shivers was the defensive MVP for the Sun Devils in 2003 and recorded 314 tackles (186 solos with two sacks, six interceptions and 10 passes defensed during his three seasons.
• Rams Executive Vice President & General Counsel Bob Wallace was the Cardinals’ legal counsel and chief contract negotiator from 1981-91. as a 14-year old, he also served as a training camp assistant for the Cards.
• St. Louis rookie quarterback Jeff Smoker (Michigan State) and Arizona rookie quarterback John Navarre (Michigan) were college in-state rivals for the past two seasons.
ODDS & ENDS
• Cards running back Emmitt Smith has 76 career 100-yard rushing games but is seeking his first against the Rams. He needs one more to tie Walter Payton (77) for the most 100-yard games in NFL history.
• Arizona tight end Freddie Jones led all NFC tight ends in receptions a year ago with 55 (for 517 yards)and his 359 career catches rank third-most among active NFL TE’s.
• The Cardinals are 27-42-1 all-time on opening day while the Rams are 36-30-0.
• Dennis Green has an opening day record of 6-4 as an NFL head coach. Mike Martz is 2-2.
• The Cardinals were one of just four NFL teams not to throw an interception in the 2004 preseason. The others were Chicago, Kansas City & Oakland.
• Arizona receiver Reggie Newhouse finished the 2004 preseason ranked second in the conference in receiving yards (194) and tied for fifth in the NFC in receptions with 12.
• Cards punt returner Karl Williams finished the preseason ranked fifth in the NFL in kickoff returns with five for 78 yards.
• The last time the Cardinals opened the season on September 12 was in 1999 when they recorded a 25-24 win at Philadelphia.
• The Cards and Rams will meet again in Arizona on December 19th.
• Cardinals rookie receiver Larry Fitzgerald (8/31/83) turned 21 years old on the last day of August and is among the youngest players in the NFL. He is half the age of Rams punter Sean Landeta (1/6/62) who is presently the NFL’s senior-most player.
http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=2183
ARIZONA CARDINALS at ST. LOUIS RAMS
Sunday, September 12, 2004
10:00 AM (MST) – Edward Jones Dome
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Cardinals kick-off the 2004 campaign and play their first regular season game under new head coach Dennis Green when they take on the Rams this Sunday in St. Louis. Arizona is coming off a 1-3 preseason but recorded a victory in their most-recent contest, a 33-21 win at Denver in the finale. The Rams, who are the NFC West’s defending champs, were also 1-3 in preseason play. The won in game #3 vs. Washington (28-3) but lost vs. Chicago, at Kansas City and at Oakland.
THE SERIES
The Cardinals and Rams have met 50 times in the regular season with the Rams holding a 27-21-2 edge over the Cardinals. The Rams have swept the division match-up for the last two years however Arizona won six of the previous eight contests before the 2002 division realignment. Last season the Rams edged out the Cardinals 30-27 in overtime on November 23rd and also won in St. Louis in week 4 (37-13). The two teams met on the home opener in 1994, with the Rams claiming a 14-12 victory over the Cardinals. The last time the Cardinals won in St. Louis was 1998 with a 20-17 victory over the Rams. The two teams have met six times on the season opener with the Rams holding a 4-2 lead in the series. The results of those opening day meetings is as follows:
Date Site Result
Sept. 4, 1994 @ L.A. Rams Rams, 12-14
Sept. 1, 1991 @ L.A. Rams Cards, 24-14
Sept. 7, 1986 L.A. Rams Rams, 10-16
Sept. 18, 1970 @ L.A. Rams Rams, 13-34
Sept. 16, 1968 L.A. Rams Rams, 13-24
Sept. 23, 1960 @ L.A. Rams Cards, 43-21
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION
Network: FOX
Play-by-Play: Dan Miller
Color Analyst: J.C. Pearson
CARDINALS RADIO NETWORK
Flagship: 1060 KDUS (AM)
KSLX 100.7 (FM)
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Color Analyst: John Mistler
Sideline: Mike Jurecki
CARDINALS SPANISH RADIO
Flagship: KMIA (710 AM)
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo
Color Analyst: Luis Zendejas
Halftime/Analyst: Felipe Coral
The Last Meeting
Rams 30, CARDINALS 27 (OT)
November 23, 2003 – Sun Devil Stadium – (42,089)
St. Louis assumed sole possession of first place in the NFC West with a 30-27 overtime victory at Sun Devil Stadium. The loss marked Arizona’s third consecutive defeat, but its first setback in its past five overtime outcomes. The Cardinals inspired defensive effort against the high-powered Rams included two season bests – five takeaways (four interceptions, one fumble recovery) and four quarterback sacks. The Cardinals, however, were unable to protect their 27-24 lead when St. Louis ran the game’s final 24 plays to kick tying (24-yards with 0:00 remaining in the fourth quarter) and winning (49-yards in overtime) field goals to conclude a pair of long drives. The Cardinals battled uphill early after spotting St. Louis a 14-0 first quarter lead. Cornerback Renaldo Hill and rookie wide receiver Anquan Boldin changed the game’s momentum, Hill with two interceptions and Boldin with two touchdown receptions. Hill returned his first pick 70 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and his second went back 26 yards to the Rams’ 22-yard line at the onset of the fourth quarter to set the table for Boldin’s game-tying three-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Blake. Minutes earlier, on the last play of the third quarter, Blake found Boldin for a 54-yard touchdown. Boldin caught six passes for 123 yards to inch within one yard of becoming the NFL’s 12th 1000-yard rookie. Running backs Marcel Shipp (Cards) and Marshall Faulk (Rams) dueled with nearly identical rushing stats: Shipp with 95 yards on 24 carries; Faulk answered with 100 yards on 24 carries.
CARDINALS ’04 ROSTER FACTS
Youngest Player: Larry Fitzgerald, 21 years, 6 days
Oldest Player: Emmitt Smith, 35 years, 113 days old
Tallest Player: Anthony Clement, 6-8
Shortest Player: Larry Croom/Derek Ross, 5-10
Heaviest Player: Leonard Davis, 381 pounds
Lightest Player: Duane Starks, 174 pounds
Player Breakdown by College Conference
Big Ten: 11
ACC: 9
Big 12: 6
SEC: 5
Big East: 3
Pac 10: 2
Most Games Played in NFL
Emmitt Smith, 211
Ronald McKinnon, 125
Karl Williams, 115
Scott Player, 92
Players from 2003’s final 53-man roster: 26
Players not with team in ’03: 22
Players from ’03 practice squad or reserve lists: 5
CARDINALS-RAMS CONNECTIONS
• Cardinals defensive line coach Deek Pollard was the line coach for the Rams during the 1995-96 seasons.
• Arizona defensive end Bertrand Berry attended training camp with the Rams in 2000, but was released before the regular season.
• Cardinals guard Cameron Spikes was originally selected by the Rams in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 1999 draft. He played three seasons for St. Louis 19 games for the Rams, including a special teams appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI vs. New England.
• Arizona kicker Neil Rackers is a St. Louis native where he earned 11 varsity letters in baseball, soccer, and football at Aquinas-Mercy High School.
• Arizona safety Adrian Wilson and St. Louis wide receiver Torry Holt were college teammates together at N.C. State.
• St. Louis defensive coordinator Larry Marmie was the Cardinals defensive coordinator from midway through the 2000 season until 2003. He was also the Cardinals defensive backs coach from 1996-2000. Marmie also served as head coach for Arizona State from 1988-1991, posting a 22-21-1 record in his time with the Sun Devils
• Rams Head Coach Mike Martz was an offensive coordinator for Arizona State in 1984 and 1988-1991. He assisted Marmie during their time together in Tempe. Martz also was the wide receivers coach for the Sun Devils during the 1983-87 seasons.
• St. Louis safety Aeneas Williams was a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Cardinals from 1991-2000. Originally a third round pick (59th overall) in the 1991 NFL draft out of Southern University, Williams appeared in 160 games (159 starts) during his Cardinals career leading or co-leading the team in interceptions in seven of his 10 seasons (1991, ‘94-97, 99, 2000). Williams also ranks second in club annuals with 653 interception return yards and first with six interceptions for touchdowns.
• Rams safety Adam Archuleta is a Chandler, AZ native (Chandler High School) who starred at Arizona State as a former walk-on linebacker. He ranks fourth in school history with 54 stops behind the line of scrimmage and his 202 solo tackles rank fifth of the Sun Devils career record chart. He was the Pac-10 defensive player of the year as a senior in 2000.
• St. Louis wide receiver and Phoenix native Shaun McDonald was a standout for Arizona State during the 2000-2002 seasons. His 2,867 career receiving yards ranks second in schools history and sixth of the Pac-10’s all-time record list.
• Rams quarterback Chris Chandler played for the Cardinals from 1991-1993. He appeared in 22 games (17 starts) for the Cardinal including starting 13 of 15 games in 1992.
• St. Louis guard Chris Dishman was a fourth round pick (106th overall) by the Cardinals in the 1997 draft appearing in 78 games with 54 starts during his Cardinals tenure.
• St. Louis defensive end Erik Flowers is a former Arizona State Sun Devil (1998-99) where he recorded 68 tackles (18 for loss) and a team leading 10 sacks for 70 yards.
• Rams linebacker Trev Faulk spent the final three weeks of the 2002 regular season on Arizona’s practice squad. He was on the Cardinals practice squad again in 2003 but was signed off it by the Rams on 12/31/03.
• St. Louis safety Jason Shivers is a Phoenix native (South Mountain H.S.) who lettered at Arizona State in 2001-2003. Shivers was the defensive MVP for the Sun Devils in 2003 and recorded 314 tackles (186 solos with two sacks, six interceptions and 10 passes defensed during his three seasons.
• Rams Executive Vice President & General Counsel Bob Wallace was the Cardinals’ legal counsel and chief contract negotiator from 1981-91. as a 14-year old, he also served as a training camp assistant for the Cards.
• St. Louis rookie quarterback Jeff Smoker (Michigan State) and Arizona rookie quarterback John Navarre (Michigan) were college in-state rivals for the past two seasons.
ODDS & ENDS
• Cards running back Emmitt Smith has 76 career 100-yard rushing games but is seeking his first against the Rams. He needs one more to tie Walter Payton (77) for the most 100-yard games in NFL history.
• Arizona tight end Freddie Jones led all NFC tight ends in receptions a year ago with 55 (for 517 yards)and his 359 career catches rank third-most among active NFL TE’s.
• The Cardinals are 27-42-1 all-time on opening day while the Rams are 36-30-0.
• Dennis Green has an opening day record of 6-4 as an NFL head coach. Mike Martz is 2-2.
• The Cardinals were one of just four NFL teams not to throw an interception in the 2004 preseason. The others were Chicago, Kansas City & Oakland.
• Arizona receiver Reggie Newhouse finished the 2004 preseason ranked second in the conference in receiving yards (194) and tied for fifth in the NFC in receptions with 12.
• Cards punt returner Karl Williams finished the preseason ranked fifth in the NFL in kickoff returns with five for 78 yards.
• The last time the Cardinals opened the season on September 12 was in 1999 when they recorded a 25-24 win at Philadelphia.
• The Cards and Rams will meet again in Arizona on December 19th.
• Cardinals rookie receiver Larry Fitzgerald (8/31/83) turned 21 years old on the last day of August and is among the youngest players in the NFL. He is half the age of Rams punter Sean Landeta (1/6/62) who is presently the NFL’s senior-most player.
http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=2183
