NFC West Division Championship 2008

Lore & Background

The Cardinals finished the 2008 season with a 9-7 record, which is a winning record, not a losing record. This was the first time the Cardinals franchise won an NFC West title, as their previous division titles were in the NFC East before the 2002 realignment.

In Their Own Story

The air inside University of Phoenix Stadium was electric on that final Sunday in December. As the clock ticked down with Arizona holding a slender lead over their division rival, the crowd erupted into a deafening roar. Kurt Warner, calm amidst the chaos, watched his receivers secure the ball out of bounds to stop the clock. When the final whistle blew, players didn't just celebrate; they embraced the realization that history had been made. For the first time since arriving in the desert, the green and white flag flew high as division champions.

Reader's Guide

The Cardinals' 2008 division title led to their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2002 realignment, where they lost Super Bowl XLIII.

Did You Know?

• The Cardinals moved to the NFC West in the 2002 realignment, so their 2008 title was their first in the division.
• A 9-7 record is a winning record, not a losing record.
• By 2008, the St. Louis Rams had won only one division title (2003) and the San Francisco 49ers had won none since the 2002 realignment.