Across all three phases, the Cardinals had multiple jaw-dropping moments featuring top plays that'll be replayed for years to come. Over the course of the next few days, let's recap the team's top offensive, defensive, and special teams plays of the season.
Here are the Cardinals 2024 Top 10 defensive plays of the year.
1. Budda Baker Sets The Tone Early Against Rams
The situation: The Rams were looking to be aggressive early in the game, going for it on fourth-and-2 at the Arizona 41 on the first possession of the game.
The play: Matthew Stafford threw a quick screen pass to Cooper Kupp. Budda Baker looked like he came straight out of a cannon and brought down Kupp before he could cross the marker to force the turnover.
The aftermath: The stop set the tone right out of the gates. The Cardinals took over in prime field position, leading to Marvin Harrison Jr.'s first career touchdown.
2. Dennis Gardeck Sack Party Versus Rams
The situation: The Cardinals defense trotted onto the field after Trey McBride recovered a James Conner fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The Cardinals were leading 34-10 in the fourth quarter.
The play: Matthew Stafford was facing pressure all afternoon, and on second-and-1, Dennis Gardeck had a strip-sack fumble that was recovered by L.J. Collier.
The aftermath: Collier handled the football like a running back but was stopped fairly quickly because, well, he's not a running back. Gardeck had three sacks in a game where everything was working for the home team.
3. Starling Thomas V Showcasing Speed To Force Touchdown-Saving Fumble
The situation: The Chargers were looking to make a statement on their opening drive on "Monday Night Football," with Justin Herbert looking deep from the Arizona 44 on second down.
The play: Jalen Reagor, the Chargers wide receiver, was wide open on a busted coverage. A few yards outside the end zone, cornerback Starling Thomas V caught up to Reagor from behind and forced the ball free. Safety Jalen Thompson recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchback.
The aftermath: Considering the Cardinals won by a walk-off field goal by Chad Ryland, that forced fumble proved to be an enormous difference-maker.
4. Garrett Williams Does It Again In Seattle
The situation: Already up 10 against the Cardinals, the Seahawks were threatening at the Arizona 18 on the first play of the fourth quarter on third-and-6.
The play: Geno Smith was looking to start the fourth quarter with a bang. He tried to target Tyler Lockett in the end zone but Garrett Williams jumped in the way for the interception.
The aftermath: The Cardinals couldn't rally, but it made Williams 2-for-2 with interceptions in games he's played in at Lumen Field.
5. Garrett Williams Leaps For Impressive Interception
The situation: Cardinals were down by a touchdown against the Commanders in the second quarter.
The play: Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels threw it deep to Terry McLaurin, but Garrett Williams got in the way for the interception. Williams leaped in front of McLaurin, tipped the ball with his right hand, and as it bobbled mid-air, the second-year corner somehow managed to secure it for the turnover.
The aftermath: Up until Week 4, Daniels had yet to throw an interception. Williams was the first player to intercept the rookie.
6. Superman Punch By Jesse Luketa Forces Fumble
The situation: The Cardinals were in trouble, already trailing 23-21 and seeing the 49ers drive to the Arizona 8 with a first-and-goal.
The play: 49ers QB Brock Purdy pitched the ball off to running back Jordan Mason. Initially wrapped up by Kyzir White, outside linebacker Jesse Luketa flew in to the scrum and punched the ball loose. Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. managed to come away with the recovery.
The aftermath: The turnover gave the ball to Kyler Murray, who engineered the game-winning field-goal drive in Chad Ryland's first game.
7. The Rookie Strip-Sacks The Vet
The situation: The Jets were trying to rally from a 24-6 deficit, facing a fourth-and-goal from the Arizona 3 on the first possession of the second half.
The play: Aaron Rodgers started in shotgun and scrambled to his left, hoping to find an open target. However, Rodgers did not see linebacker Xavier Thomas flying off the edge on the strip-sack. Kyzir White recovered the fumble.
The aftermath: The Cardinals shut out the Jets in the second half of a 31-6 win and the strip-sack was as close as New York got to the end zone.
8. Mack Wilson Sr. Soars In For Interception
The situation: In their first possession of the second half, the 49ers had a first-and-10 on their own 24.
The play: Defensive lineman Roy Lopez threw his mitt into the air to deflect Brock Purdy's pass. As the ball was fluttering in the air, linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. dove in front of tight end George Kittle to intercept the pass.
The aftermath: In good field position, the Cardinals couldn't get anywhere offensively but still got three points ona Chad Ryland field goal.
9. Kyzir White Sends The Cards Home Happy
The situation: Chad Ryland's field goal gave the Cardinals the 24-23 lead with 92 seconds left in the game.
The play: With 1:16 left on the clock and desperation kicking in, Brock Purdy dropped back. As he set to throw, safety Jalen Thompson came off the edge and hit him. Linebacker Kyzir White tracked down the ball as it was floating in air, and similar to his linebacker counterpart, Mack Wilson Sr., dove to secure the interception.
The aftermath: The pick sealed the deal for the Cardinals, marking their second win of the season.
10. Kei'Trel Clark Ends Season With A Bang
The situation: The Cardinals were up by two scores in the middle of the fourth quarter of the finale against the 49ers.
The play: Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis dialed up a blitz package that forced 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs to get rid of the football quickly. A pass intended for Ricky Pearsall landed in the arms of cornerback Kei'Trel Clark for the diving interception. While it appeared Clark took the interception back for a touchdown, he was declared down at the San Francisco 39.
The aftermath: It was the first interception of the season for Clark, who was playing in place of an injured Sean Murphy-Bunting. The 49ers were swept in the season series by the Cardinals for the first time since 2021.
