Falcons at Cardinals
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m., State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: Fox 5
Records: Falcons 5-9; Cardinals 3-11
Line: Falcons -3
Outlook: This is one of the few games on the NFL schedule that has no impact on playoff seeding but it includes a team that’s vying for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The Falcons (5-9) are playing for pride and possibly for head coach Raheem Morris to keep his job next season.
It was a lot closer than it needed to be in the final minutes, but the Falcons will win it, 26-19, over the Arizona Cardinals.
C.J. Henderson had a highlight-reel interception as the Cardinals were trying to get in position for a potential tie, and that should do it.
The Falcons had a 10-point lead and the ball and the game looked to be in hand. Cousins' fumble led to the Cardinals driving down and getting a 34-yard field goal to pull within 26-19.
The Falcons had fourth-and-short and were looking to salt the game away with another score.
But tight end Charlie Woerner collided with Cousins, who was looking to hand off to Tyler Allgeier, but in the commotion, Cousins fumbled and the Cardinals recovered at the 47.
It's symbolic of the Falcons' struggles this season, but having called a timeout before the play, maybe there was a better option. Maybe not.
Still, the result was bad.
The Falcons took control with another long drive, culminating with a 1-yard run by Kirk Cousins. They had chances to get a TD pass to Jake Matthews — yes, offensive lineman Jake Matthews — but Cousins was pressured and couldn't get the throw there.
The Falcons started the third quarter with a 13-play drive that ended with a 40-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez for a 19-16 lead.
Most of the drive was behind Bijan Robinson, but Tyler Allgeier had a couple of nice runs and Kyle Pitts had a 10-yard catch on fourth-and-2.
The Cardinals have had a slew of injuries on the defensive side, so just the attrition alone could be enough to keep the Falcons in the game.
The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead before halftime, but they missed a 50-yard field-goal try as time expired and it remained a 16-16 game. The Falcons will get the ball to start the third quarter.
The Falcons offense has some momentum, coming off the touchdown by Kyle Pitts, with some big plays by Bijan Robinson and getting Drake London back involved in the offense.
Kyle Pitts continued his high-level play, with a 5-yard touchdown catch from a Kirk Cousins pass. That play pulled the Falcons into a 16-16 tie, but Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell blocked the extra-point try, the 11th block of his career.
Pitts has four catches for 30 yards and the touchdown, coming off his career game last week.
Cardinals center Hjalte Froholdt has an elbow injury that was suffered with 9:38 to play in the second quarter. His return to the game is questionable.
The Cardinals had a good drive going, with rookie running back Corey Kiner leading the way with six rushes for 32 yards on the possession, but they had to settle for a 25-yard field goal, which made it a 16-10 lead.
Jacoby Brissett found his tight ends, with a pair of catches by Trey McBride.
Pregame reading
- Trips to the Valley of the Sun have not resulted in many wins for Falcons
- Falcons’ Drake London ‘is playing’ after missing four games with injury
- QB corner: Falcons’ Kirk Cousins discusses the Cardinals defense
- Falcons cut veteran returner Jamal Agnew
- Can Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts keep playing at a high level?
About the Author
