ATLANTA FALCONS @ ARIZONA CARDINALS
NFC WILDCARD GAME
JANUARY 3, 2009 4:30 P.M.
The Atlanta Falcons travel to Arizona as two point favorites for the first post-season game this year. The Falcons secured the number five playoff seed in the NFC with a 31-27 victory over the hapless St. Louis Rams, who finished their season at 2-14. Meanwhile, the Cardinals capped their season with a 34-21 win over a Seattle Seahawk team that finished 4-12. Arizona enters the postseason at 9-7 while Atlanta comes to Phoenix at 11-5.
ATLANTA: UP: First year Head Coach Mike Smith led the Falcons to an 11-5 season after a dismal 4-12 season a year ago. Atlanta won three-in-a-row this year for the first time since 2005. They were 7-1 at home. QB Matt Ryan was named the Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. RB Michael Turner set a club record 17 rushing touchdowns. RB Jerious Norwood ran for two TDs against the Rams. LB Michael Boley had 11 tackles. At the end of the game the Falcon’s defense secured the victory by forcing the Rams to turn the ball over on downs. DOWN: Ryan was intercepted twice by the Rams. Turner had a 70 yard run ruined with a fumble into the end zone from the Rams 4 yard line. The Rams covered it for a touchback. For the season the Falcons are giving up over 347 yards per game, including 220 yards in receptions.
ARIZONA: UP: In the Seattle game QB Kurt Warner threw 4 touchdown passes to set a franchise record of 30 for the year. RB Edgerrin James ran for over 100 yards and passed Franco Harris to move into 11th place all-time in the NFL. The Cardinals scored a team record 427 points on the season while sweeping their NFC West Division games 6-0. Against the Seahawks WR Larry Fitzgerald had five receptions, including one for 50 yards and two for touchdowns. He finished with 130 yards, his 20th career 100+ yard game. DOWN: The offense has been up-and -down this year. The Seattle game was an improvement after poor showings against Minnesota and New England the previous two games. For the year the Cardinal offense is generating only 34 more yards per game than its defense is allowing. WR Anquan Boldin sat out the Seattle game with a shoulder injury. The record 427 points for the season was only one point better than their opponents scored against them this year.
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Cardinal offense needs to attack the Falcons backfield early and accurately. Warner will need to find Fitzgerald and other receivers to soften the line for the running game. The Falcons will need to establish their defense by not yielding too many first downs early in the game. They will need to keep pressure on Warner to get him frustrated. On offense, Turner and Norwood should be given ample opportunity to run. Ryan will need to be patient and on target to avoid turnovers.
BY THE NUMBERS: Statistically, these teams have very different numbers. Both are 9-7 ATS, but that’s where the similarity ends. Atlanta is 7-9 O/U while Arizona is 11-5. As a favorite the Falcons are 5-1 SU and 3-3 ATS while the Cardinals are 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS as underdogs. When playing a team with a winning record Atlanta is 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS with Arizona at 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS. Arizona is 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS at home. The Falcons are 4-4 in both categories on the road. Atlanta appears to have the edge in this game, at least on paper. But Arizona would prefer to be playing another game after this one. They don’t like losing at home.