The Cardinals (9–3–2) were the runner-up in the Eastern Conference, finishing a half game behind the Cleveland Browns (10–3–1), who won the NFL championship game on December 27.
The Cardinals tied the Browns in Cleveland in September and defeated them in St. Louis in December.
As the conference runner-up, the Cardinals played the Green Bay Packers of the Western Conference in the third place Playoff Bowl in Miami, Florida.
Held on January 3 at the Orange Bowl, St. Louis won in an upset, 24–17.
^ The game with the Baltimore Colts on October 12 was originally scheduled for St. Louis, but was moved to Baltimore due to the baseball Cardinals' participation in the World Series.