The Arizona Cardinals are 54 days out from their regular season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, which is a good time to remember one of their rougher rides: the 1954 season. That year, the Cardinals were an absolute last-place squad, kicking things off with a brutal five straight losses and limping to a miserable 2-10 finish. It was a season fans probably still bring up in therapy, honestly.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Season of Struggle
You want to talk about a team that struggled? This 1954 Cardinals squad was historically bad, plain and simple. They scored a pathetic 15.3 points per game, which was the second-fewest in the entire league. And on defense? Woof. They gave up a staggering 28.9 points per game, also ranking second-most in the league. Think about that for a second: they were almost last in scoring *and* almost last in defense. It’s a recipe for disaster.
The scoreboard was a tough read most Sundays. They managed to score more than 20 points in a game only once all season. Meanwhile, opponents were having a field day, dropping 30 or more points on them seven separate times. That’s more than half their schedule being absolute blowouts! Their quarterback, Lamar McHan, started 11 games and threw for 1,475 yards and six touchdowns. But he also led the league with 22 interceptions. Talk about a tough gig!
Even a Disaster Had Its Stars
Here’s the wild part: even on a team that went 2-10, there were some legitimate studs. Three Cardinals made the Pro Bowl that year: running back Ollie Matson, cornerback Night Train Lane, and offensive/defensive lineman Jerry Groom. Matson wasn’t just a Pro Bowler, he was a first-team All-Pro, and Lane earned second-team All-Pro honors too. Matson was a true highlight reel, snagging a team-leading seven total touchdowns and racking up 1,117 total yards from scrimmage. He ran for 506 yards and four touchdowns, hauled in 34 receptions for 611 yards and three more scores, and even returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns. The guy was electric!
Night Train Lane was an absolute beast on defense, leading the entire NFL with 10 interceptions. Can you imagine picking off 10 passes on a two-win team? That’s insane production. Don Stonesifer also led the team in receptions with 44 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns. These guys were seriously good, even when the team around them was struggling to find a win.
As we count down the remaining 54 days to the Cardinals’ regular season opener on September 13 against the Chargers, it’s wild to look back at the 1954 season. It was a tough one, no doubt, but it also showed that even in the roughest seasons, you can find legendary individual performances. Here’s hoping the current squad can put up some better numbers when Week 1 finally rolls around!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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