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1971 St. Louis Cardinals season
OwnerBidwill brothers
(Charles, Jr. & Bill)
Head coach Bob Hollway
Home field Busch Memorial Stadium
Results
Record4–9–1
Division place4th NFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersCB Roger Wehrli

The 1971 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 52nd season the team was in the National Football League and twelfth in St. Louis. Led by first-year head coach Bob Hollway, the Cardinals failed to improve on their previous year's 8–5–1 record, winning only four games. [1] They failed to reach the playoffs for the 23rd straight season, their previous appearance was in 1948 in the championship game.

This was the last season the team was co-owned by Charles Bidwill, Jr.; he sold his share to his younger brother Bill in September 1972. [2] The adopted sons of Charles and Violet Bidwill, [3] [4] the two had co-owned the team since their mother's death in January 1962. [5]

Hired in February, Hollway was previously the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings under head coach Bud Grant. [6] [7]

Roster

St. Louis Cardinals roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

Practice squad

rookies in italics

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 19 Washington Redskins L 17–24 0–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 46,805
2 September 27 New York Jets W 17–10 1–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,358
3 October 3 New York Giants L 20–21 1–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,571
4 October 10 at Atlanta Falcons W 26–9 2–2 Atlanta Stadium 58,850
5 October 17 at Washington Redskins L 0–20 2–3 RFK Stadium 53,041
6 October 24 San Francisco 49ers L 14–26 2–4 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,419
7 October 31 at Buffalo Bills W 28–23 3–4 War Memorial Stadium 40,040
8 November 7 Dallas Cowboys L 13–16 3–5 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,486
9 November 15 at San Diego Chargers L 17–20 3–6 San Diego Stadium 46,486
10 November 21 Philadelphia Eagles L 20–37 3–7 Busch Memorial Stadium 48,658
11 November 28 at New York Giants W 24–7 4–7 Yankee Stadium 62,878
12 December 5 Green Bay Packers T 16–16 4–7–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,443
13 December 12 at Philadelphia Eagles L 7–19 4–8–1 Veterans Stadium 65,358
14 December 18 at Dallas Cowboys L 12–31 4–9–1 Texas Stadium 66,672
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Dallas Cowboys 11 3 0 .786 7–1 8–3 406 222 W7
Washington Redskins 9 4 1 .692 6–1–1 8–2–1 276 190 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 6 7 1 .462 4–3–1 5–5–1 221 302 W3
St. Louis Cardinals 4 9 1 .308 1–7 2–8–1 231 279 L2
New York Giants 4 10 0 .286 1–7 3–8 228 362 L5

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

  1. ^ 1971 St. Louis Cardinals
  2. ^ "Bill Bidwill sole owner of Cards". Southeast Missorian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. September 12, 1972. p. 8.
  3. ^ Howard, Robert (February 2, 1963). "Court rules for Bidwills". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 4.
  4. ^ "High court rules in favor of sons". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. February 2, 1963. p. 2, part 2.
  5. ^ "Mrs. Wolfner, Cardinals' owner, dies". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. January 30, 1962. p. 1, part 3.
  6. ^ "Bob Hollway to head Cardinals". Southeast Missourian. (Cape Girardeau). Associated Press. February 13, 1971. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Cards hire Viking aide". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. February 13, 1971. p. 6.