Tagged As: Cardinals, NFL, Playoffs, Giants, Eagles, Falcons

The momentum and the history were on the Atlanta Falcons side before the first game of the playoffs started. The Falcons had won five of their last six and the Cardinals had not won a playoff game since 1947. I thought the only way the Falcons could lose this game was if Matt Ryan had a rookie meltdown. Well the Arizona Cardinals beat Falcons 30-24, Ryan had a game full of mistakes, and Arizona dominated the line on both side of the ball.

Myself and everybody else thought the Cards would come out on Kurt Warner’s arm, but they opened the game riding Edgerrin James legs. James disappeared during the regular season, but came out and ran for 73 yards on 16 carries. He had three straight rushes and set up a flea flicker that gave Warner his first of two touchdown passes with a 42-yard pass to a double-covered Larry Fitzgerald.

Following a Falcons field goal, the momentum swung far in the Cardinals favor with a short pass Anquan Boldin that Boldin took 71 yards tip toeing down the sidelines for his lone touchdown and last play of the day. Boldin left with a hamstring injury and finished the day with two catches and 72 yards.

Matt Ryan then pulled a performance akin to the Falcons comeback in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears. Ryan led Atlanta down the field twice. The first time giving Michael Turner his lone touchdown and his easiest run of the night. Turner would finish with a disappointing 42 yards on 18 carries.

Ryan seemed to flourish under the pressure with a two-yard touchdown to Justin Peelle in to close the first half, ending the second quarter like a time-tested veteran. The Falcons looked like they had turned things around and went into the locker room up 17-14.

Ryan then began the second half like a rookie. He botched a handoff to Jerious Norwood in the opening minute that was returned for a 27-yard defensive touchdown by Antrel Rolle. The Cardinals defense continued to dominate the Falcons run offense and was able to move the ball without Boldin. Tim Hightower could have skipped into the end zone for four yards out to give Arizona a 28-17 lead.

The Falcons fate was put on the rookie quarterback and his failure to get rid of the ball in time to open the fourth quarter resulted in a controversial safety, increasing the deficit to 30-17.

He mange to throw another pick, but put together a drive in the middle of the last quarter that featured several big third down conversions and a five yard touchdown pass to Roddy White. Ryan would finish with 199 yards on 26 of 40 passes with two touchdowns and interceptions and a fumble. White was his main target and ended the night with 84 yards on 11 catches.

Warner took over with four minutes left and orchestrated a time killing four-minute non-scoring drive that had big third down throws. Warner had 271 yards on 19 of 32 passes with two touchdowns and one interception and his favorite receiver of the night was Fitzgerald who had six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinals will travel to play the Carolina Panthers or the New York Giants depending on the result of the Minnesota Vikings-Philadelphia Eagles game.

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