2018 Arizona Cardinals season


The 2018 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 99th in the National Football League, their 31st in Arizona, and their only season under head coach Steve Wilks. During the off-season, State Farm purchased the naming rights to the Cardinals' home stadium and it was renamed from University of Phoenix Stadium to State Farm Stadium. Although former head coach Bruce Arians retired before the season began, he came out of retirement on January 8, 2019 to become the new coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With a Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Cardinals had their first double digit loss season since 2012 and were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. One highlight of the Cardinals' 2018 season was their first ever victory against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, which also resulted in the firing of Packers head coach Mike McCarthy after a nearly 13-year tenure. They finished the season 3–13, their worst record since 2000. The Cardinals also went 1–7 at home. Head coach Steve Wilks was fired the day after the season ended.
This was also the last full season under the ownership of Bill Bidwill, who died during the 2019 season.

Draft

RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
110Josh RosenQBUCLAFrom Oakland
247Christian KirkWRTexas A&M
397Mason ColeCMichiganCompensatory pick
4134Chase EdmondsRBFordhamCompensatory pick
6182Chris CampbellCBPenn State
7254Korey CunninghamGCincinnatiCompensatory pick

Draft trades

Staff

Final roster

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins

Week 2: at Los Angeles Rams

Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks

's first start was a loss as the Seahawks kicked a game-winning field goal. The Cardinals started 0–4 for the first time since 1986 when they were in St. Louis. Coupled with wins by the Raiders and Texans, the Cardinals became the only winless team in the NFL.

Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 10: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 12: at Los Angeles Chargers

Week 13: at Green Bay Packers

This was the first time the Cardinals defeated the Packers on the road since 1949 when the team was based in Chicago. It was also the first time they did so at Lambeau Field. After 12 years as head coach, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was fired following this game.

Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions

Larry Fitzgerald passed Jerry Rice for most receptions with a single team in NFL history with 1,282 receptions.

Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 16: vs. Los Angeles Rams

With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 3-12 and finished 1-7 at home, their worst in franchise history

Week 17: at Seattle Seahawks

With the loss, the Cardinals ended their season at 3–13 and were swept by the Seahawks for the first time since 2014.

Standings

Division

Conference