Record 8–8 Playoff finish did not qualify Head coach Buddy Ryan Home field Sun Devil Stadium | Division place 3rd NFC East Start date 1994 Owner Bill Bidwill | |
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The 1994 Arizona Cardinals season was the team's 75th season with the National Football League, the seventh season in Arizona and the first season as the Arizona Cardinals. Buddy Ryan became the 32nd head coach in Cardinals history. After being given a large share of the credit for the success of the Houston Oilers in 1993, Ryan was named head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 1994. Also named general manager of the Cardinals, Ryan went 8–8 his first year, the Cardinals' first non-losing season since 1984.
The Cardinals finished the season ranked third in the NFL in total defense, although it allowed only two fewer points in 1994 than they did in 1993. An anemic offense, one which saw three quarterbacks start at least one game, held the team back. Arizona scored 89 points fewer in 1994 than it did in 1993, and it finished with a minus-32 point differential after finishing at plus-57 in 1993.
Arizona lost its first two games by a combined five points, then were shut out 32–0 by the Cleveland Browns. The Cardinals recovered to enter the final week of the season with a shot at the playoffs, but those hopes were ended by a 10–6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.