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The 5: Most memorable Cardinals performances by Kurt Warner

Jan 25, 2017, 6:22 AM | Updated: 11:46 am

Kurt Warner had an incredible NFL career, one that could very shortly lead to him being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A good portion of that career was spent in Arizona, where Warner played 61 games (67 if you include playoffs) and installed himself as the leader for many Cardinals franchise records. Some of them have since been broken by Carson Palmer, but Warner’s tenure with the organization is undoubtedly a bright spot for a franchise that, until recently, had relatively few.

But when it comes to Warner, what games really stand out? Warner has his own thoughts:

With apologies to Kurt, who you could say knows a thing or two about this topic, his 2008 effort against Miami (19-of-24 for 361 yards and 3 TDs in a 31-10 win) and the 2007 performance in Baltimore (15-of-20 for 258 yards and 2 TDs in an off-the-bench outing) didn’t quite make the cut here.

With that in mind, here is our collection of Kurt Warner’s most memorable performances while wearing Cardinal Red.

When you throw more touchdown passes than incomplete passes


The Cardinals went into the 2009 postseason as the defending NFC Champions who, unlike the previous season, had the look of a team that could make some serious noise.

Their run began with a home game against the Green Bay Packers, who were led by second-year starting QB Aaron Rodgers. What transpired was one of the best games in NFL history, a wild affair that saw the Cardinals cough up a 21-point third-quarter lead before ultimately triumphing 51-45 in overtime.

The winning score came on a Karlos Dansby fumble recovery, but it was Warner who really shined in what happened to be the final home game of his career. The veteran completed 29-of-33 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns, posting a QB rating of 154.1. Warner was so good in this game that in the third quarter, a pass he appeared to be trying to throw away ended up being an 11-yard touchdown toss to Larry Fitzgerald.

He did about all he could to bring a title to AZ

The Cardinals were not supposed to be in Super Bowl XLIII, but as long as they were there, Warner was going to do everything he could to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Arizona.

After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, Warner led a scoring drive that was capped by a 1-yard TD toss to tight end Ben Patrick, getting Arizona on the board and back into the game. From there, just about the only blemish on Warner’s record was a big one, as the Cardinals, trailing 10-7, appeared poised to score and take a lead into halftime before Steelers linebacker James Harrison stepped in front of a Warner pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. However, that did not prevent Warner and the Cardinals from rallying back, as a couple of Warner-to-Fitzgerald touchdowns put the Cardinals ahead 27-23.

Unfortunately, as we all know, the Steelers produced one final scoring drive, and Warner was only able to get the Cardinals to the Pittsburgh 44 before he was sacked by LaMarr Woodley, who forced a fumble that was recovered by Brett Keisel. Even with the rough finish, Warner completed 31-of-43 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns with one interception against what was the NFL’s top-ranked pass defense that season.

Setting records in Jacksonville

Kurt Warner, Daryl Smith

Normally, a Week 2 game in Jacksonville would hardly be anything to celebrate, but what Warner did in Arizona’s 31-17 victory — its first of the season, by the way — was remarkable. Actually, it was historic.

Warner completed his first 15 passing attempts to start a game in which he completed 24-of-26 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, posting an NFL record for completion percentage at 92.3. His incompletions came on a short pass to Anquan Boldin late in the second quarter and then, in the third quarter, he missed on a short toss to Jerheme Urban. As far as Warner passes that did not reach their intended target, that was it.

Aging legends battle it out on Sunday Night Football

Kurt Warner, Brett Favre

In 2009, the Cardinals were clearly the best team in the NFC West, but had still somewhat struggled to establish themselves as one of the NFC’s best. In Week 13 they hosted one of the conference’s elite teams, the Minnesota Vikings, who came to University of Phoenix Stadium with MVP candidate Brett Favre as well as a 10-1 record.

The Cardinals fell behind 7-0 early, but dominated most of the rest of the way en route to a convincing 30-17 victory. Warner completed 22-of-32 passes for 285 yards and three scores that night, outdueling Favre, who was 30-of-45 for 275 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

“We’re going to the Super Bowl!”

You cannot get to the Super Bowl without winning a conference championship game, and for the Cardinals, that meant knocking off the Philadelphia Eagles at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Warner and his team got off to a great start, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive before taking a 24-6 lead into halftime. The Eagles rallied back though and took the lead early in the fourth quarter, but Warner then directed a 14-play, 72-yard scoring drive that ended with a touchdown on a screen pass to running back Tim Hightower. A two-point conversion to tight end Ben Patrick put the Cardinals up by seven, and the defense finished the Eagles off from there.

Warner, who was no stranger to big games like this one, was a masterful 21-of-28 for 279 yards and four touchdowns, with Larry Fitzgerald accounting for nine of the completions, 152 yards and three of the scores.

Presented By
Western Governors University
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) throws a pass over Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith (52) in the first half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.(AP Photo/Phil Coale) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (4) meet at midfield after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 30-17. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner celebrates after overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. Arizona won 51-45. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner walks to the sideline during a first-half timeout during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner looks for a reciever during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, in St. Louis. Warner had his 45th 300-yard passing game, throwing for two touchdowns to defeat the St. Louis Rams 34-13. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is hit by New England Patriots' Jarvis Green on an incomplete pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner leaves the field after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 29-24. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2000, file photo, St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner holds up the Lombardi Trophy after the Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta. Warner is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) escapes the grasp of Miami Dophins' Vonnie Holliday during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) has his arm bent by Carolina Panthers' Julias Peppers after a fumble during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz. Warner left the game but later returned. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, top, eludes Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Gaines Adams, left, as Warner throws a second-quarter pass during NFL football game action Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks Matt Leinart, right, and Kurt Warner, watch from the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007 in Glendale, Ariz. Warner was replaced by backup Tim Rattay after Warner was injured in the second quarter. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) get the fans to cheer during an NFL football training camp Friday, July 31, 2009 in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner arrives for afternoon practice at at the NFL football team's training camp Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner warms up during afternoon practice at Cardinals NFL football training camp Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) throws deep late in the first quarter of a NFL pre-season football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner, left, just gets a pass off as he gets hit by Minnesota Vikings' Jared Allen in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Vikings 30-17. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner answers reporters' questions following practice for the NFC Divisional Playoff game Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at the team's facility in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinals will play the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Jan. 16. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (98) reaches out to tackle Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) during the third quarter of an NFL football divisional playoff game in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) walks off the field after his NFL football divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 45-14 to advance to the NFC conference championship. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) September 13, 2009 - University of Phoenix Stadium

49ers 20, Cardinals 16

Kurt Warner threw for 288 yards but two costly interceptions gave San Francisco a surprising road win against the reigning NFC champions. Kurt Warner

Kurt Warner was done. Unceremoniously dumped 
by both the Rams and Giants, most thought the 
Cardinals were continuing their trend of 
signing washed up players in the twilight of 
their careers. Not so fast. Though then-coach 
Dennis Green called Matt Leinart "a gift from 
heaven," the man he was supposed to replace 
ended up being the real prize. Warner revived 
his career in 2007, starting 11 games and 
throwing 27 touchdowns. What he did the next 
two seasons was nothing short of miraculous, 
throwing for 8,336 yards and 56 touchdowns 
and leading the Cardinals to Super Bowl 
XLIII. Former quarterback Kurt Warner, left, talks with San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula  during the 49ers NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) NFL Network's Kurt Warner, a former NFL quarterback, is interviewed during a media availability on set at the NFL Network studios, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, in Culver City, Calif. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, and Matt Leinart share a laugh during an NFL football training camp Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009 in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, center, celebrates with quarterback Kurt Warner, right, as Carolina Panthers' Chris Gamble (20) walks off the field after Fitzgerald's touchdown catch during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009, file photo, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner throws a pass during against the Pittsburgh Steelers during NFL football's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla. Pittsburgh won 27-23. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File) Former NFL quarterback and Northern Iowa alumni Kurt Warner cheers on the team in the first half during a second-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Oklahoma City, Sunday, March 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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The 5: Most memorable Cardinals performances by Kurt Warner