How Bad Are the Cardinals?Since they moved to Arizona in 1988, they have won 96 games (counting postseason). None of the teams that played every year since then has won fewer. They have been endlessly mediocre. The NFL went to the 16-game season in 1978. Since that time, the Cardinals have gone 4-12 five times; no other NFL team has accomplished that record of futility as many times. They've also gone 5-11 in six other seasons, something that only the Tampa Bay Bucs can match.
We can take a look at all the expansion clubs since they entered the league. The Atlanta Falcons entered the league in 1966 and have won 242 games; the Cardinals have also won 242 games since 1966. The Miami Dolphins who entered the league that same year have won 374 games. The New Orleans Saints, not exactly a franchise covered in glory, started play in 1967; they've won 236 games against the Cardinals' 234 since then. The Cincinnati Bengals started up in 1968 and have won 249 games compared to the Cardinals' 228 over the same span.
The Seahawks and Bucs both entered the league in the bicentennial year and have won 218 and 177 games respectively compared to the Cardinals' 173. The Jaguars, Panthers and Ravens (see note and correction) all entered the league in 1995, and have won 87, 76 and 77 games respectively, compared to the 56 games the Cardinals have won.
The Browns reentered the league in 1999, since they both they and the Cardinals have won 31 games. The Houston Texans started play in 2002, they have won 16 games to the Cardinals' 15.
Note: The Ravens were considered a new team when they started play in 1995 (see correction) even though it was plainly the same squad that played as the Cleveland Browns the season before.
Correction: As noted in the comments by Suomynona, the Ravens started play in 1996, not 1995. They have won 77 games since then, while the Cardinals won 52.
