After trailing for much of the first half, the Atlanta Falcons stormed back in the second quarter, scoring on three consecutive drives to take a 17-14 lead into halftime halftime at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Cardinals started quickly, kicking off the scoring less than five minutes into the game.
After the pass game stalled on the first drive, Arizona mixed things up the second time they got the ball by running the ball, a strategy they have used sparingly this season. The Cards handed off to Edgerrin James on three consecutive plays that netted 21 yards to get into Falcons territory.
Then came the big play. The Cards fooled everyone with a flea flicker that resulted in a 49-yard touchdown from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald on a perfectly thrown ball.
The Falcons fought back with their backs up against the wall. After getting the ball at their own 8 late in the first quarter, they managed to get on the board by moving the ball 80-yards on 14-plays to set up a 30-yard field from Jason Elam with 10 minutes left in the half.
Arizona responded quickly.
Warner hit a wide open Anquan Boldin across the middle and Boldin did the rest, beating Lawyer Milloy to the sidelines and taking off for a 71-yard touchdown with 8:58 left in the half. The touchdown strike was the second longest in Arizona playoff history.
Again, the Falcons responded with their backs against the wall. Matt Ryan completed on 7-of-10 passes on the ensuing drive, which culminated with a 7-yard scoring run from Michael Turner with 2:55 to go.
Then the Falcons defense stepped up.
Chevis Jackson picked off a deflected pass just before the two-minute-warning and went down at the Cardinals 23-yard line.
Ryan hit Roddy White on third-and-four from the Arizona 7 for a crucial first down. Then he hooked up with Justin Peele off of play-action on the next play to take a 17-14 lead with 23 seconds left in the half.
MY THOUGHTS
After some early jitters, the Atlanta offense is starting to get things together. The 80-yard drive to set up the Elam field goal was absolutely huge for the unit’s confidence. After that possession, there was simply no stopping Ryan and company.
The team has showed some resolve too. On the second scoring drive, Roddy White dropped a wide open deep ball that may have very well gone for a score. That could have taken the wind out of Atlanta’s sails. But they converted on a crucial third-and-ten soon after, and notched first downs on two more third-and-longs en route to the Turner touchdown.
It’s looking like ‘Zona are going to make Ryan beat them. I’m looking forward to see how he handles that kind of pressure. He certainly has passed the test thus far after a bumpy beginning to the game. At the half, he’s completed 18-of-25 for 141 yards.
I know it’s cliché, but you can’t say enough about the character of this team. They fell behind early and looked rattled in front of an absolutely chaotic atmosphere. But the offense came up with two long drives to keep them in it. And then the defense stepped up with the Jackson interception to set up the go-ahead score.
The first drive of the second half is going to be huge. If Atlanta can hit paydirt on that possession, they’ll be up two scores and Arizona will be in big trouble.
I’ve gotta give some kudos to the defense for keeping their heads up after giving up a couple of big plays. Warner is just 6-of-15 in the half, and looked a bit rattled when the Falcons started to get into the backfield just before halftime, resulting in the Jackson interception.
Bagriansky can be reached at jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
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