The Atlanta Falcons outscored their opponents 234-139 in the first half during the regular season. but were outscored by opponents 186-154 in the second half. The Arizona Cardinals defense harassed Atlanta rookie QB Matt Ryan the entire game.

     Kurt Warner opened with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald, the franchise's first home playoff game since the then Cardinals beat Philadelphia. Which let them win the NFL championship in 1947. Atlanta's 60 yards rushing represented a season low. Atlanta had to throw it around a little bit more than they were used to, which kind of put them behind the eight-ball. Matt Ryan was intercepted twice, and tackled in the end zone for a safety. Matt fumbled the ball away on a botched hand off, which lead to 27 yard return. That fumble was the element that put Arizona ahead for good.

     Atlanta's Michael Turner, the NFL's No. 2 rusher, was out performed by Edgerrin James. James ended the game with 16 carries and 73 yards where Turner ended his season at this game with only 42 yards after 18 carries. Warner, in the playoffs for the first time since leading the Saint Louis Rams to a second Super Bowl in 2001, was 19-of-32, for 271 yards with only one interception. Ryan, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, completed 26 of 40 passes for 199 yards and two scores. But Ryan's first pass of the playoffs was intercepted by Ralph Brown.

      The Cardinals won their first playoff game since 1998, and their first home playoff game since 1947. They will travel to Carolina to face the Panthers. So will these birds be able to fly past the big cats? We shall see Jan.10th at  8:15

    The New England Patriots proved themselves just for the postseason, whipping the Arizona Cardinals 47-7 with a blizzard of points on a snow-covered field Sunday.  The Patriots scored the first 47 points of the game and scored on nine of their first 10 possessions.
      The Patriots showed total superiority to the struggling champions of the weak NFC West. Kurt Warner was pressured more tonight than anytime in his 11 pro seasons, and had one of his worst games as he only threw for 30 yards total. The Cardinals defense was worst than the weather, which allowed the Patriots to score on nine of their 10 possessions. All this happened before Matt Cassel got the rest of the game off.

Cassel completed 20 of 36 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Matt Leinart replaced Warner with 3:27 left in the third quarter. Matt went 6-of-14 for 138 yards with an interception, a fumble and a 78-yard touchdown on which Larry Fitzgerald ran most of the way to cut the lead to 47-7 with 6:17 left. Kurt Warner went 6-of-18 for 30 yards, the fewest in any game in which he started. New England out rushed Arizona 183-44 yards, The Cardinals were held to under 100 rushing yards for the seventh straight game. The Cardinals went 0-5 on the East Coast this season, losing for the ninth straight time on the East Coast. Arizona had just four first downs and 45 total yards through three quarters.
    The Arizona Cardinals might have clinched their Division, but if they continue to play as horrible as they did today, their journey in the playoff's will be very short.