Falcons return from bye to host struggling Cardinals

ARIZONA (4-5-1) at ATLANTA (6-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE - Falcons by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Cardinals 3-7, Falcons 6-4

SERIES RECORD - Cardinals lead 16-13

LAST MEETING - Falcons beat Cardinals 29-18, Nov. 30, 2014

LAST WEEK - Cardinals lost to Vikings 30-24; Falcons had bye, lost to Eagles 24-15 on Nov. 13

AP PRO32 RANKING - Cardinals No. 21, Falcons No. 9

CARDINALS OFFENSE - OVERALL (9), RUSH (13), PASS (11).

CARDINALS DEFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (10), PASS (1).

FALCONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (3), RUSH (14), PASS (2).

FALCONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (28), RUSH (16), PASS (31).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is back with team after brief hospitalization. Series of tests showed no major issues, clearing him to be on sideline against Falcons. ... Cardinals RB David Johnson has 863 yards rushing and 510 yards receiving, leaving him just behind Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott for NFL lead in yards from scrimmage. Elliott has 1,382. ... Johnson has scored more touchdowns in past two seasons (25) than any player in NFL. ... Playing behind inexperienced line, Arizona QB Carson Palmer was hit 15 times in loss at Minnesota, four of them resulting in sacks. For season, he's been sacked 30 times, more than any other quarterback except Andrew Luck of Colts with 35. ... Falcons play four of last six games at home, and face one opponent that currently has winning record (Kansas City at 7-3). ... Atlanta QB Matt Ryan is on pace for highest passer rating of career (115.1) and trails only New England's Tom Brady (123.3). ... Ryan is also second in league in passing yards with 3,247, just behind New Orleans' Drew Brees with 3,277. ... Falcons OLB Vic Beasley already has 9 1-2 sacks, more than doubling rookie performance and most by Falcon since John Abraham had 10 in 2012. ... RB Tevin Coleman is expected to return for Falcons after missing last three games with hamstring injury, but TE Jacob Tamme is out for season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Rookie Austin Hooper will take over Tamme's spot. ... Beyond top WR Julio Jones, Falcons have seven other players with double-figure receptions this season. ... Fantasy Tip: Cardinals have top-ranked pass defense, could make things difficult for Jones.

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