Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, Jan 3, 2009 - 4:30pm EST on NBC
The team no one said should be here,
shows maybe they should.
Recap: The Arizona Cardinals
have consecutive home playoff victories—61 years apart. Kurt Warner opened with
a 42-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald and connected with Anquan Boldin on
a 71-yard scoring play as the Cardinals beat Atlanta 30-24 Saturday before a
raucous, towel-waving crowd.
It was the franchise’s first home playoff game since the then-Chicago Cardinals
beat Philadelphia to win the NFL championship in 1947.
“A lot of people coming into this game said we were the worst playoff team ever
to get in,” Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “… I think we rallied around
that.”
Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan was intercepted twice, was tackled in the end zone for
a safety and fumbled the ball away on a botched handoff. That fumble was
returned 27 yards by Antrel Rolle 52 seconds into the second half to put Arizona
ahead for good.
Everyone knew the Cardinals could pass, but a stout defense and effective
running game were a bonus...
|
Scoring Summary |
ATL - ARI |
| 1st Quarter |
| 10:28 |
ARI |
TD |
Kurt Warner passed to Larry Fitzgerald to the left for
42 yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT) |
0 - 7 |
| |
| 2nd Quarter |
| 10:00 |
ATL |
FG |
Jason Elam kicked a 30-yard field goal |
3 - 7 |
| |
| 8:58 |
ARI |
TD |
Kurt Warner passed to Anquan Boldin to the left for 71
yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT) |
3 - 14 |
| |
| 2:55 |
ATL |
TD |
Michael Turner rushed to the left for 7 yard gain (Jason
Elam made PAT) |
10 - 14 |
| |
| 0:23 |
ATL |
TD |
Matt Ryan passed to Justin Peelle to the right for 2
yard gain (Jason Elam made PAT) |
17 - 14 |
| |
| 3rd Quarter |
| 14:08 |
ARI |
TD |
Matt Ryan rushed up the middle for no gain. Matt Ryan
fumbled. Antrel Rolle recovered fumble and returned for 27 yards (Neil
Rackers made PAT) |
17 - 21 |
| |
| 2:48 |
ARI |
TD |
Tim Hightower rushed to the left for 4 yard gain (Neil
Rackers made PAT) |
17 - 28 |
| |
| 4th Quarter |
| 12:37 |
ARI |
SY |
Matt Ryan sacked for a safety |
17 - 30 |
| |
| 4:15 |
ATL |
TD |
Matt Ryan passed to Roddy White to the right for 5 yard
gain (Jason Elam made PAT) |
24 - 30 |
|
Team Statistics |
| |
ATL |
ARI |
| First Downs |
20 |
15 |
| Passing |
14 |
9 |
| Rushing |
6 |
5 |
| Penalty |
0 |
1 |
| Third Down Efficiency |
6-14 |
6-15 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency |
1-1 |
0-0 |
| TOTAL NET YARDS |
250 |
357 |
| Total Plays |
67 |
60 |
| Average Gain Per Play |
3.7 |
6.0 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING |
60 |
86 |
| Rushes |
24 |
28 |
| Average Per Rush |
2.5 |
3.1 |
| NET YARDS PASSING |
190 |
271 |
| Completions-Attempts |
26-40 |
19-32 |
| Yards Per Pass Play |
4.4 |
8.5 |
| Times Sacked |
3 |
0 |
| Yards Lost to Sacks |
9 |
0 |
| Had Intercepted |
2 |
1 |
| PUNTS |
5 |
6 |
| Average Punt |
42.4 |
39.8 |
| PENALTIES |
6 |
6 |
| Penalty Yards |
52 |
47 |
| FUMBLES |
2 |
0 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1 |
0 |
| TIME OF POSSESSION |
29:58 |
30:02 |
Preview: With his best
season in years, grizzled veteran Kurt Warner has led the Arizona Cardinals to
their first playoff appearance in 10 years.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has accomplished something just as
impressive as a rookie.
The 23-year-old Ryan looks to help the Falcons continue their remarkable
turnaround as they visit the 37-year-old Warner and the NFC West champion
Cardinals in a wild-card game Saturday.
Warner was named league MVP in 1999 and 2001 and earned Super Bowl MVP honors
after leading the St. Louis Rams to the title following the 1999 season. After
several inconsistent years, he regained his old form in 2008.
Warner has lost the starting quarterback job four times with three teams since
earning his second MVP award. He's been benched twice in Arizona, only to
persevere with a season that statistically matches his best with the Rams...more
Prediction: As shaky as
Arizona has been lately, the Cards are 6-2 at home -- and Kurt Warner knows
something about cranking it up for the playoffs. If Arizona gets off to a fast
start, it could easily roll over the Falcons. If not, and the Falcons are able
to pound the ball early with running back Michael Turner, they have a chance.
You just have to go with the experience of Warner at quarterback not
withstanding the fine rookie campaign by Matt Ryan
Arizona 33 - Atlanta 30
Watch out for this: The
Cardinals haven't defeated a team with a winning record since beating Dallas,
30-24, in Week 6 (four straight losses since) and their strength of victory in
2008 (.368) is lowest among all teams in the postseason
Video Preview: Rookie
quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons will head to Arizona to take on
Kurt Warner and the Cardinals in an NFC Wild Card matchup. Charley Casserly and
Jason Horowitz have the preview
Watch CBS Videos Online
Statistically Speaking:
|
Falcons |
Average Team
Rankings |
Cardinals |
 8.6 |
Total Offense |
 12.9 |
|
15.5 |
Total Defense |
20.5 |
|
14.1 |
Passing Offense |
6.1 |
|
18.1 |
Passing Defense |
21.5 |
|
5.5 |
Rushing Offense |
25.2 |
|
21.0 |
Rushing Defense |
15.5 |
|
15.7 |
Receiving Offense |
9.0 |
|
22.5 |
Receiving Defense |
21.8 |
|
26.2 |
Punting |
29.2 |
|
16.0 |
Return |
14.7 |
|
15.5 |
Kicking |
24.5 |
|
Falcons
|
OFFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
152.7
(2nd) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
208.5
(14th) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
361.2
(6th) |
|
DEFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
127.5
(25th) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
220.4
(21st) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
347.9
(24th) |
|
|
Cardinals
|
OFFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
73.6
(32nd) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
292.1
(2nd) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
365.8
(4th) |
|
DEFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
110.3
(16th) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
221.3
(22nd) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
331.5
(19th) |
|
|
Around the Web:
Falcons-Cardinals scouting report
Boston Globe
Miscellany: The Falcons have won four of the last five
vs. the Cardinals and lead the all-time series, 14-10 . . . The
Cardinals have a 6-2 mark at home ...
Wild-Card Breakdown: Falcons-Cardinals
SI.com
Top rookie Ryan leads Falcons into wild-card matchup in Arizona
NFL News
Audibles: What will happen on Wild-Card Weekend?
TSN.ca
My Picks: Falcons-Cardinals: Take the Cardinals
in a close one. Play tough at home, finished well and due for a Playoff win.
Colts-Chargers: Payton Manning ...
Fifth seeds Colts, Falcons have inside tracks in NFL playoffs
Kansas City Star
NFL wild-card picks: Colts, Dolphins hope to stay hot
SportingNews.com
Wild-card weekend handicapping column
Pro Football Weekly
