These early career teams were mediocre at best (31–33–5 in his first seven years), but the hire of coach Don Coryell in 1973 turned things around. From 1974 to 1976, he guided the Cardinals to three straight ten-plus-win seasons along with back-to-back NFC East crowns in 1974 and 1975, leading the "Cardiac Cards" to ten game-winning drives during that three-year span. The Cardinals played their first playoff game in 26 years with the matchup in Minnesota on December 21, 1974 with Hart leading the Cardinals to the first score of the game on a pass from 13 yards to Earl Thomas in the second quarter. Although they were tied at halftime, it did not last, as the Vikings would roll to a 30-14 victory on 23 points in the second half. Hart would throw 18-of-40 for 200 yards with a touchdown and an interception while being sacked twice. For the matchup in the 1975 playoffs, they faced the Los Angeles Rams. Hart's early struggles would prove to doom the Cardinals, as he threw two interceptions that would each be returned for touchdowns, and the Rams would lead 28-9 at half-time, and a nascent run in the second half made the final score 35-23 in favor of Los Angeles. Hart threw 22-of-41 for 291 yards for a touchdown and three interceptions while being sacked twice.