Arizona Cardinals: When Was The Last Time…
Top-5 Defense
Dec 29, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back
Anthony Dixon(24) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker
Karlos Dansby(56) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 Cardinals had the league’s best rushing defense and the league’s No. 14 defense against the pass. All of that added up to the NFL’s No. 7 defense in points against and the No. 6 defense in yards allowed. Karlos Dansby was a big reason for that, but the last time the Cardinals had a top-5 defense, Dansby was just 13 years old.
Buddy Ryan’s 1994 Arizona Cardinals team was terrific on one side of the ball and horrific on the other. They had the league’s No. 4 defense in points allowed, yet still posted a -32 point differential. They were the No. 3 team in yards allowed. Somehow, the Steve Beuerlein/Jay Schroeder/Ronald Moore offense couldn’t keep up with Eric Swann, Seth Joyner and Aeneas Williams.