Saturday, January 3, 2009
NFL: Cardinals 30, Falcons 24; Arizona in order to win playoffs
Posted by Lesbond at Saturday, January 03, 2009Kurt Warner, Arizona field marshal, opened with a 42-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald for entry on Saturday and led the Cardinals to a 30-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons before a noisy crowd in his first postseason game of at home in 61 years.
Warner connected with Anquan Boldin on a 71-game record for yards.
The Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan suffered two interceptions, was shot down in the zone for a safety record and had lost a ball, which was taken by Antrel Rolle and returned 26 yards, 52 seconds after starting the second half to give Arizona would be the definite advantage.
Edgerrin James, the Cardinals, beat Michael Turner, of Atlanta, the second best runner in the NFL.
"I hope this gives us great confidence," said Warner. "I knew we could win this game. Hopefully we can turn this into more confidence and know we can win anywhere you have to go."
Arizona will play next weekend with the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. Arizona faced this season both teams, losing by 27-23 at Carolina on October 26 and 37-29 at home to the Giants on November 23.
Ryan, Offensive Rookie of the Year of the AP, he completed 26 of 40 passes for a gain of 199 yards and two notes.
The Cardinals were 9-7 mark to win the weak West Division of the National Conference and reach the postseason for the first time in a decade.
After securing the divisional title were defeated by Minnesota and New England in the two weeks prior to their victory over Seattle at the end of the regular season.
Atlanta (11-5) finished one game behind Carolina in the tough Southern Division of the National Conference and won five of their last six encounters, but Arizona showed from the start, at least this afternoon, he was entitled to be in the postseason .
The 30 points the Cardinals was their biggest production in postseason, breaking a mark set by the then Chicago Cardinals in the victory over Philadelphia for the NFL championship in 1947. That was the last game of the postseason at home in franchise history before the game on Saturday.
