Atlanta 'Building Our Resume': Desmond Ridder Leads Young Falcons to Last-Second Win
The Atlanta Falcons played host to the Arizona Cardinals inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday in NFL Week 17, recording a last-second 20-19 win that is meaningful in at least one sense.
"We are out of the playoffs," A.J. Terrell said of this NFL's-youngest roster, "but everybody is building their resume."
Atlanta is a modest 6-10 after having broken a four-game losing streak, rookie QB Desmond Ridder engineering a late drive capped by a Younghoe Koo game-winner.
How did it all unfold? Follow along ...
Neither team is in playoff contention, meaning both are just playing for pride and draft positioning. The Falcons' postseason hopes came to an end last week in a loss against the Baltimore Ravens.
Despite an improved performance from rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder, the Falcons were unable to punch the ball into the end zone against a talented Ravens defense. The 17-9 loss extended the Falcons' losing streak to four games.
As for the Cardinals, they are coming off a 19-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In a game that needed overtime. The Cardinals are also looking to snap a losing streak of five games.
Being this late into the season, both teams will have a number of players inactive. Big names include Cardinals' wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and quarterback Colt McCoy.
Here are the inactives for each team:
Falcons Inactives
- TE Feleipe Franks
- CB Rashad Fenton
- DL Matt Dickerson
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
- S Micah Abernathy
- OLB David Anenih
Cardinals Inactives
- WR DeAndre Hopkins
- QB Colt McCoy
- DE Zach Allen
- CB Antonio Hamilton
- CB Marco Wilson
- LB Victor Dimukeje
- OL Rashaad Coward
Kickoff between the Falcons and Cardinals is scheduled for 1 p.m. Stay tuned with Falcon Report throughout the afternoon for live updates.
First Quarter
The Cardinals got the ball first and advanced the ball well into the Falcons' territory. A holding penalty on 2nd & 1 helped the Falcons stall out the Cardinals' drive, as they were forced to take a field goal.
Cardinals 3, Falcons 0
change of possession
Despite backing themselves into a 2nd & 23 on the drive, Ridder and the Falcons' offense found a way to move the chains. First, a pass to Cordarrelle Patterson picked up 16 yards before a Tyler Allgeier run for nine yards picked up the first down.
Second Quarter
Three more Allgeier runs punched the ball into the endzone.
Falcons 7, Cardinals 3
change of possession
The Cardinals started their drive from the 25-yard line. But after picking up 30 yards on seven plays, the Cardinals were forced to punt.
change of possession
The Cardinals recovered a fumble by Ridder.
change of possession
With short field position, the Cardinals took the lead as quarterback David Blough found Trey McBride for a four-yard touchdown pass.
Cardinals 10, Falcons 7
change of possession
A 25-yard pass from Ridder to tight Mycole Pruitt advanced Atlanta into Cardinals' territory, as they drove 66 yards to the Arizona nine-yard line. But on fourth and two, Ridder's pass fell short of his intended receiver.
change of possession
Blough found his receiver for a gain of three before two straight incompletions saw the Falcons force a three-and-out right before the two-minute warning.
change of possession
After Reggie Grant blocked the Cardinals' punt, the offense took over at the Arizona five-yard line, where Patterson would run the ball in for a touchdown
Falcons 14, Cardinals 10
change of possession
With Lorenzo Carter in his face, Blough completed a pass to James Connor for a 13-yard gain, putting them into field goal territory. On the next play, Blough scrambled for four yards. A Matt Prater field goal cut the lead down to one-point
Falcons 14, Cardinals 13
The Falcons will get the ball to start the second half.
Third Quarter
The Falcons picked up a first down on a 15-yard pass to Patterson, but a sack helped the Cardinals force a punt.
change of possession
A controversial defensive pass interference moved the chains for the Cardinals on a third and long. Yet on the next third down, the Falcons stood their ground, holding Arizona to a field goal.
Cardinals 16, Falcons 14
change of possession
Ridder completed a pass for 12 yards and a first down but had nothing going afterward. The Falcons were forced to punt for just the second time.
change of possession
The Cardinals found some success with the ground game, rushing for 19 yards before Blough completed one of his three passes which stalled out the drive. Then, a Prater field goal attempt was wide left.
change of possession
The Falcons went three-and-out after three straight runs for Allgeier. The rookie running back picked up nine yards on his first two runs but couldn't convert a third and one.
change of possession
Fourth Quarter
A second down sack backed the Cardinals up for a third and 13. Despite completing a pass to his receiver, the Cardinals were a yard short of the sticks. Going for it on fourth and one, saw the Falcons' defense stand tall, stuffing a Cardinals one for a turnover on downs.
change of possession
Allgeier rushed for 20 yards before going out with an injury. Without their rookie running back, Ridder looked to Patterson for a potential touchdown pass, but the ball came loose as he went to the ground, leading to a field goal kick from Koo.
Falcons 17, Cardinals 16
change of possession
A long drive for the Cardinals spanning 11 plays saw the Falcons' defense hold them to a 57-yard field goal by Prater.
Cardinals 19, Falcons 17
change of possession
A 22-yard Patterson run kicked off the drive for the Falcons. On third and eight, Ridder found his tight end, Pruitt, for a big first down. Another Allgeier run gave the Falcons a first down on third and three. The Falcons opted to bring out the field goal unit for a 21-yard attempt.
FINAL: Falcons 20, Cardinals 19
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