Cardinals v Falcons Preview

Atlanta Falcons (11-5) at Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

Falcons Offense v Cardinals Defense:

Matt Ryan, this years Offensive Rookie of the Year, has surprised many this season by leading the Falcons into the playoffs as a rookie. He finished the year with 3,440 yards passing to go with 16 touchdown passes. With him under the center, the Falcons offense sky rocketed to 6th in the NFL in total yards, scoring almost 25 points per game. While he has gotten all of the hype, the Falcons offense is centered around Micheal Turner. Turner, in his first year in Atlanta, was 2nd in the NFL in rushing with 1,699 yards to go with 17 touchdowns. He is not much of a threat out of the back field tho, catching only 6 balls this season.

The Cardinals defense will have its hads full, trying to stop Ryan and Turner, as well as break out reciever Rodney White. The Cardinals defense has been less then impressive this season, allowing almost 27 points per game. They allow 110 ypg on the ground, good for 16th in the NFL. If they allow Turner to get it going, that will open up the passing game for Ryan. That won't be good, since the Cardinals are 22nd in the league preventing the pass. Also, letting the Falcons run the ball will keep the Cardinals offense off the field, and let the Falcons quite the crowd. If this can happen, Ryan should get over his first playoff game jitters.

ADVANTAGE: FALCONS

Cardinals Offense v Falcons Defense:

Kurt Warner, a one time league MVP, has continued to fill up the stat sheet, finishing the season with 4,538 yards and 30 touchdowns. He is surrounded by weapons on offense, at it starts with the best wide reciever combination in the league, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Fitzgerald had a monster 1,431 reciveing yards to go with 12 touchdowns. The Cardinals have no running game, getting only 73 yards per game, good for last in the NFL. They might have some luck agasint the Falcons tho, who are 25th in the NFL in stopping the run. The Falcons also have trouble stopping the pass, allowing 220 yards through the air. Another advantage for the Cardinals in this matchup is that Kurt Warner has played in 7 career playoff games, winning 5 of them, including the Super Bowl.

ADVANTAGE: CARDINALS

Analysis:

These are two teams that are very different on the road and at home. Both teams went 6-2 at home, 3-5 on the road. However, the Falcons are still favored in this game. The Cardinals can't run the ball, or stop the run, which is not the way to win in the playoffs. However, they do have experience at the quarterback position, which is huge. Many people don't give the Cardinals a chance in the playoffs, and I woulnd't disagree with them. There will be alot of points scored, and it could come down to which team has the ball last. But this week, I think Ryan shows his youth, and Warner shows why he is a Super Bowl winning quarterback.

PICK: CARDINALS