NFC Wild-Card - Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals showed their fans
the playoff wait was worth it.
In the Cardinals' first home playoff game in 61 years, Kurt
Warner tossed two TD passes in Arizona's 30-24 win over Atlanta in
an NFC wild-card game. The Cardinals' 30 points were their most in
the playoffs, breaking a record set by the then-Chicago Cardinals
in the NFL championship victory over Philadelphia in 1947, the year
of the franchise's last home playoff game.
Warner came out throwing in his first playoff appearance since
2002. He opened with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald
and later hit Anquan Boldin on a 71-yard scoring play. Warner
finished 19-for-31 for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cardinals' Edgerrin James outgained Atlanta's Michael
Turner, the NFL's No. 2 rusher. James ran 16 times for 73 yards.
Turner was held to 42 yards on 18 carries.
Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan was intercepted twice, was tackled in
the end zone for a safety and fumbled the ball away on a botched
handoff. The fumble was returned 26 yards by Antrel Rolle 52
seconds into the second half to put Arizona ahead for good.
The Cardinals will play either the Carolina Panthers or
defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the second round.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
