Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals Live In-Game Updates, Highlights: Falcons Lose 25-23
At 4-5 and a game behind the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints, every Sunday is a crucial one for the Atlanta Falcons. Winning the games they are “supposed to” win is a pressing matter in staying competitive for the conference’s No. 4 seed.
Last week, Atlanta fell short against a Minnesota Vikings team saved by a quarterback still getting to know his new teammates. Now, the Falcons are tasked with taking on a feisty Arizona Cardinals team, invigorated by the return of star quarterback Kyler Murray.
Murray, coming off of an ACL tear, is one of the most dynamic players in the sport and—despite inconsistencies—a threat to carry the Cardinals to a few wins. They also may be helped by the return of veteran running back James Conner.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell tackling Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
No matter who plays, the mission remains the same for Atlanta: beat a less-talented team on their home turf and get back to .500. The defense is certainly up to the task, ranking fifth in success rate and 12th in expected points added per play. The unit has mitigated opponents’ down-to-down consistency and, with Murray in a new offense, could reap the benefits of his rust shaking off.
Of course, all eyes will be on running back Bijan Robinson and his usage. Head coach Arthur Smith has had some frustrating moments with the media, but the opportunity is ripe on Sunday. There is a clear talent advantage against the Arizona defense that hasn’t been particularly stingy in the first half of the season.
Will the Falcons finally give fans an offensive performance worth celebrating?
WHAT: Atlanta Falcons (4-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-8)
WHERE: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ (63,400)
WHEN: Sunday. Nov. 12, 2023, 4:05 p.m. (ET)
TELEVISION: CBS
RADIO: 92.9 The Game
ODDS: Falcons -2.5 (-110), Moneyline -137, Total: 43.5 (o -110/u -110)
Live updates will appear after kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
Cardinals First Drive: Arizona received the opening kickoff.
Murray's return began with an incompletion in receiver Marquise Brown's direction. Murray was forced out of structure on third down and couldn't find a completion. The Cardinals elected to punt.
Falcons First Drive: Robinson started Atlanta's offensive day with two rushes for a total of five yards. Notably, he was also the punt returner. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke's first attempt was incomplete, preceding a punt.
Cardinals Second Drive: The drive started with a six-yard catch by tight end Trey McBride, and Conner moved the chains on the next snap.
A third-down checkdown wouldn't get the first down, but Conner found one on a fourth-and-1 rush.
Murray returned to McBride on second-and-4 for a nine-yard gain. He hauled in another catch for 19 yards, despite a defensive pass interference call on safety Richie Grant.
Penalties would stunt the drive, setting up a 51-yard field goal from kicker Matt Prater.
The Falcons trail 3-0 with 4:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Falcons Second Drive: Tight end Kyle Pitts found himself a reception to begin the drive. Backup running back Tyler Allgeier then got in on the action with a seven-yard rush and a new set of downs.
A third-down roughing the passer call extended the drive. Robinson ran up the middle for 17 yards.
The Falcons trail 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Holding wiped out a Robinson rush on first-and-goal. A Heinicke scramble would make third-and-goal a short one. Receiver Scotty Miller found himself open on a drag route for a touchdown.
The Falcons lead 7-3 with 13:35 remaining in the second quarter.
Cardinals Third Drive: Murray hit a 28-yard completion to start the drive. Defensive pass interference would grant Arizona its next first down. On third down, Murray and Brown just missed connecting for a long touchdown.
Prater's attempt would be good.
The Falcons lead 7-6 with 10:32 remaining in the second quarter.
Falcons Third Drive: Patterson got the first three touches of the drive for 13 total yards. On the drive's fourth play, Robinson gained 11 yards.
Once again, a penalty would extend a drive -- this time, illegal contact on the Cardinals. Two incompletions, later Heinicke scrambled on third down, setting up a goal-to-go situation.
Ladies and gentlemen, Robinson has found the end zone.
The Falcons lead 14-6 with 4:07 remaining in the second quarter.
Cardinals Fourth Drive: Conner started the drive with a six-yard run, followed by a 12-yard catch to receiver Rondale Moore.
Murray connected with Brown for a chuck gain, and Conner followed that with a nine-yard rush to bring this one to the two-minute warning.
Conner would find another first down. Arizona is firmly in the red zone.
Murray would finish the drive with a read-option touchdown. They would not get the two-point conversion.
The Falcons lead 14-12 with 10 seconds left in the first half.
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER
Falcons Fourth Drive: Atlanta's offense wasn't able to muster much of anything out of the gate. A three-and-out would give the Cardinals the football.
Cardinals Fifth Drive: This one was an adventure. After a couple of first downs, penalties put Arizona in an adversarial first-and-30 situation.
Murray would eventually hit Moore for a 12-yard gain, putting them in position to kick a long field goal.
From 56 yards, Prater gave Arizona the lead.
The Falcons trail 15-14 with 9:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Falcons Fifth Drive: Once again, Atlanta would stall out. Holding set the offense back to second-and-16, a sack would set the Falcons back further. While Pitts found 18 yards, it wasn't enough to move the sticks.
Cardinals Sixth Drive: Momentum change! On the first play of the drive, Murray was picked off by linebacker Nate Landman. Atlanta will take over in the red zone.
Falcons Sixth Drive: Atlanta wasn't able to do much, but not turning the ball over was enough to set up a go-ahead field goal.
The Falcons lead 17-15 with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Cardinals Seventh Drive: After stopping Conner on first down, the Falcons defense came screaming up the middle to sack Murray for an eight-yard loss. Arizona found 13 yards on third-and-forever, leading to another punt.
Falcons Seventh Drive: Things are not going well in the second half. No gain on first down. One yard on second down. Sack on third down.
Needless to say, Atlanta punted. It was returned to their own 20-yard line.
Cardinals Eighth Drive: Murray began the drive with a six-yard scramble. Soon after, receiver Michael Wilson would take an out route to the one-yard line with the help of a broken tackle.
A few plays later, Clayton Tune was pushed into the end zone for the lead.
The Falcons trail 22-17 with 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Falcons trail 22-17 at the end of the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Falcons Eighth Drive: Atlanta has itself a long drive, but Heinicke left the game with an injury. He was replaced by Desmond Ridder.
Ridder moved the chains on a quarterback sneak and with the help of Robinson, moved into Cardinals territory. Robinson was ruled short of the line to gain on third down, setting up a big fourth down call.
Atlanta ran another sneak and did not convert.
Cardinals Ninth Drive: The Falcons got the stop they desperately needed. After a first down, a short run and an incompletion would set the stage for a Landman sack and an Arizona punt.
Falcons Ninth Drive: A big catch from receiver Drake London kept the drive alive, followed by a 14-yard rush from Robinson to put them in Arizona territory.
A 32-yard penalty would put them in the red zone. Ridder would keep it on a read option to give the Falcons the lead. The two-point conversion would be unsuccessful.
The Falcons lead 23-22 with 2:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Cardinals Tenth Drive: Two eight-yard gains would bring this half to its two-minute warning.
After two incompletions, Murray pulled a rabbit out of his hat, bailing backward and somehow gaining 13 yards and a new set of downs with his legs.
Soon after, a spectacular catch from McBride would put the Cardinals in the red zone. Arizona would intentionally hit the deck a couple of times to waste the Falcons' timeouts.
Prater hit the last-second field goal.
The Falcons lost, 25-23, to fall to 4-6.
