NFL Playoffs Begin: Atlanta Travels to Arizona, Comes Up Short 30-24

I have selected the Arizona Cardinals to beat rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons.

Don't get me wrong. I like the way Atlanta has played this season. I just believe the playoffs are a different animal. Rookies are usually not in playoff games, and I expect mistakes.

On the other hand, Kurt Warner has been there before.

Let the game begin.

The Cardinals start on their own 12-yard line. Warner is under pressure quickly on a safety blitz and throws his first pass incomplete. Second-and-10.

Warner hit as he lets the ball go and it falls short, incomplete. Another blitz. Third-and-10. That's a completion, but it is short of a first down.

Atlanta takes over on the 47-yard line of Arizona in excellent field position. 1st down. Ryan play action fake, as he runs for 4 yards. 2nd and 6. Turner runs the ball for just a yard. 3rd and 5 to go. Ryan fires across the middle and its intercepted.

That was a bad throw as he stared down the receiver and tipped the defensive back off to where the pass was headed. There's mistake No. 1! How many of those can Ryan get away with?

Warner takes over and hands it to Edgerrin James, who gets six yards. A draw play to James again, who picks up a first down. James runs for his third straight carry for six yards.

This is a good plan for Arizona. Warner, on a flea-flicker to Fitzgerald in the end zone, Touchdown!

James loosened the defense up a bit, and bam, a great pass and a better catch. He was double-teamed and outjumped both defenders in just a normal catch for Fitzgerald.

If James continues to look strong running the ball, this could be a long day for the Falcons.

Arizona kicks to Atlanta, who downs the ball in the end zone, touchback. The Falcons will start on the 20-yard line.

Turner starts this drive with a run, and no gain. Movement by Atlanta, 2nd and 14.

This game is starting poorly for Atlanta. Turner is stopped after a short gain. Third and 12. This time, Ryan completes a pass for a first down.

1st and 10 from the 30. Ryan throws it away, thinking Arizona was offsides. They were not. Turner stopped in the backfield, for a loss. 3rd and 11 to go.

Atlanta must be shocked they cannot run the ball, so far, against the Arizona defensive line. Time out Atlanta, as they regroup and devise a strategy for another first down.

Ryan is sacked, and the Falcons must punt. Atlanta is out of their game right now, without the running game being effective. Arizona takes over for their third series of this game.

Arizona runs the ball again! James picks up a few yards. 2nd and 5. Warner passes to Fitzgerald again for a good gain. Edgerrin James gains another seven yards. Wow!

James is averaging 6.6 yards a carry, so far. It looks like Arizona and Atlanta switched uniforms, with the running game Arizona has established.

Arrington carries for a short loss. 3rd and 5. Warner throws incomplete, on a drop by Boldin. The Cardinals punt perfectly and Atlanta takes over on their own 5-yard line.

Turner runs for three yards. 2nd down and seven to go. Play action fake and that one is nearly picked off again. 3rd and seven to go.  Ryan is sacked again and Arizona will have to punt from their own end zone.

Arizona gets good field position, and starts on their own 45-yard line. Warner throws incomplete.  The Falcons blitz and Warner dumps it off, incomplete again. Through the hands of the Atlanta defender, incomplete. Arizona punts.

Great coverage by Arizona again and the Falcons start from their 8-yard line. Turner runs two yards to the 10. Ryan throws to White for a first down and some breathing room.

Turner runs for only one yard. 2nd and nine. They hand the ball to Norwood this time, and it is close to a first down. The first quarter ends with Arizona leading 7-0.

So far the game plan for Arizona seems to be establish the run threat with Edgerrin James, while taking away the back side run of Turner and the Falcons.

Turner gets his best run of the day, gaining 13 yards. Ryan throws 13 yards, for a first down to Jenkins. They are in Arizona territory at the 45-yard line. Another eight-yard pass to Turner. 2nd and 2. Turner runs for another first down.

This is Atlanta's best drive of the day. A huge hit by Arizona excites the crowd. 2nd and 11 to go. Ryan completes a pass, again, first down.  Ryan is 6 for 6 for 45 yards so far on this drive.

A fumble, but Atlanta recovers it. 2nd and 9. Penetration by the Cardinal defense and they stop Turner for a loss. 3rd and 10.

Atlanta gets a nine yard gain, to make it fourth and one. They take a time out, to discuss going for it, or kicking a field goal. So far, this is a great clock-eating drive for the Falcons. Elam kicks the field goal to put the Falcons on the board. Arizona leads 7-3.

Arizona needs to get some offense going this time, as the defense of Atlanta has stepped up to pressure Warner on almost every pass. Atlanta kicks off, and Arizona takes over on their own 27-yard line. 

Warner's pass is batted down by a lineman. 2nd and 10. Boldin makes his first catch for a three yard gain. 

Boldin catches a short pass and sprints 71 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. 14-3 Arizona over Atlanta. The defender took a bad angle and Boldin was gone, showing nice speed. His shoulder is hurt, but not his legs.

Arizona kicks off with 8:54 to go in the half. Atlanta takes over at around the 25-yard line. Ryan completes two more passes for a first down. That's nine completions in a row for Ryan.

Ryan throws across the field to Roddy White and he drops it. That was a 36-yard drop. Anther incompletion, and it's 3rd and 10. Ryan throws to Jenkins 21 yards for a first down. Ryan is pressured, but completes one to Jenkins.

Turner gets the ball, but he is stopped in the backfield again. 3rd and six.  First down again, on an eight-yard gain to White. This time he is chased, and throws incomplete.

2nd and 10 on the Arizona 30. Another first down to Roddy White. His protection is holding up better now. Ryan runs for a short gain. 2nd and about 8. Turner runs it again for a short gain. 3rd and six.

Ryan throws again for a first down, on another long sustained drive. 1st and goal. Turner waltzes in for a touchdown, untouched. Arizona 14, Atlanta 10. That drive covered 77 yards on 14 plays, as the Falcons narrow the gap.

There's 2:55 left for Arizona to do something. Touchback for Arizona, 1st and 10 from the 20-yard line.  Edgerrin James runs for no gain, 2nd and 10. Warner is rushed hard, who dumps it off, incomplete.  On the next pass, the ball bounces off a Arizona receiver and it pops into an Atlanta player's hands. Interception!

Atlanta gets it on the 23-yard line of Arizona. Ryan completes a short pass, and that brings us to the two-minute warning.

That was a costly mistake for Arizona. The receiver did not seem to be looking for the ball and it bounced right off him, straight up into the air. 

Turner runs the ball, close to a first down. yes, first down. Offsides defense, 1st and five.  Ryan overthrows a wide-open receiver in the end zone. 2nd and 5. Atlanta takes a time out. Turner is stopped and its 3rd and 4. Ryan throws complete for a first down.

First and goal at the 3. Ryan throws for a touchdown to take the lead. Atlanta 17, Arizona 14. The turnovers are even now and it's a close game. Arizona will take it into the locker room and regroup.

Matt Ryan started off shaky, but has gotten hot, to give his team the lead. I think Arizona abandoned the run way too soon, and that has hurt them. No one expected them to run the ball, and it was working at first.

This game so far has had ebbs and flows for both teams and Atlanta seems to have the momentum as the second half begins.

Ryan hands the ball off to Turner, who is hit, the ball pops up in the air and Rolle grabs it, and races into the end zone for Arizona. Touchdown Cardinals to start the 2nd half. 21-17 with Arizona retaking the lead.

Turner is tackled in the backfield for a one yard loss, 2nd and 11. Ryan completes another one , but a hold negates that first down play.

2nd and 21 for Atlanta. Ryan being chased, throws it away, incomplete. Ryan was really under pressure that time. 3rd and 21. Another flag, delay of game, Falcons.

3rd and 25 from their own 5. Ryan throws down field incomplete. Atlanta punts from deep in their own end zone.

Atlanta hits the punt returner and that's another penalty on Atlanta. Arizona starts with very good field position. Atlanta is really shaky once again to start the second half.

Arizona goes back to the run with Edgerrin James and he gains five yards. Warner is blitzed and throws incomplete. 3rd and 5. Incomplete pass and Arizona tries a 51-yard field goal, which sails wide left, no good!

Atlanta dodged a bullet there for sure, and takes over the ball in decent field position.

Ryan and the Falcons go three-and-out this time and must kick it back to Arizona. The punt goes out of bounds for only a 31-yard kick. Arizona takes over on their own 24 yard line.

Arizona is running the ball again, as James runs twice for eight yards, 3rd and 2. Warner throws complete for a first down. James on the ground for two yards. He ran into his own man or that could have gone for more. Warner throws another completion.

Third and 5 to go. Warner runs for a first down.  1st and 10 at midfield. Edgerrin James carries two defenders for another first down. Tim Hightower carries for the first time tonight for a few yards.

Warner throws another completion for five yards. 3rd and two to go.  A pass to James out of the backfield and another first down for Arizona.

This is looking to be a good drive for Arizona. Hightower runs it to the 20 yard line, 2nd and 5.

Hightower again for 3 yards. 3rd and 2.  Warner buys some time and completes another pass, with good protection.

1st down, they hand the ball to Hightower and he races in for the touchdown. Arizona 28 , Atlanta 17.

Once again, the momentum has shifted, and right now it's all about the Cardinals.

That drive was 76 yards and 14 plays.

Arizona kicks off and Atlanta starts on their own 20 yard line, on a touchback.

Ryan throws another interception, with a huge mistake, as he held the ball way too long.

Arizona resumes the grind-it offense, with another run by Edgerrin James. 2nd and 5.

The Falcons were ready for James that time and they stop him. 3rd and 5.  Warner throws it away. Arizona has to punt, and Atlanta dodged anther bullet.

The Falcons take over on their own 15 yard line. Turner draws a crowd and is tackled for no gain. 2nd and 10. Norwood gets the call and picks up 5 yards. 3rd and 5 as the third quarter ends.

Matt Ryan throws incomplete and the Falcons must punt. Fair catch for Arizona and they take over on their own 43-yard line. James gets more yards on the ground, and a face mask on Atlanta. A big 15-yard penalty.

1st and 10 on the 36 of Atlanta. The Falcons stop a screen and it 's 2nd and 13.  A pass completion for a very short gain. It's 3rd and 11.  Warner is hurried again, and they hold off Arizona again.

Another punt by Arizona. Another penalty on Atlanta and that moves them back to their own 1-yard line. They are in a very bad spot here. A safety is a distinct possibility.

Well, I called that one! Safety as the defensive lineman wraps up Ryan. 30-17.

Arizona now gets the ball back on the free kick. Arizona starts on about their own 15 yard line after a penalty for excessive celebration after the safety.

The rookie quarterback has not been bad, but as I suspected, a couple of key mistakes have him in a hole.

Arizona starts with a quick toss to Fitzgerald for a good gain. 2nd and two to go. Another first down run for James. False start on Arizona, 1st and 15.  Warner completes another pass for a short gain. 2nd and 9.

Holding on the Cardinals, 2nd and 19. Hightower runs for about 8 yards. 3rd and 11. 

Warner throws complete again, but short of a first down. Arizona punts.

Atlanta takes over on their own 41-yard line.

There is still plenty of time, but Ryan cannot afford any more mistakes in this game.

Ryan starts with a long pass, incomplete. 2nd and 10 to go. There's a completion but short of a first down, 3rd and six.  Ryan's pass, incomplete. 4th and six. Atlanta goes for it. Norwood for a huge gain for 30 yards on a pass from Ryan.

Ryan completes another pass. Ryan throws again for a completion, then runs on the next play for a first down.

Offsides on Arizona, 1st and 5 at the 10.  A pass completion for five yards, and another first down. First and goal for Atlanta. Ryan throws the next pass for a touchdown. That was a great drive. Arizona 30, Atlanta 24.

This game is really good. All Arizona needs now is a field goal to put this game on ice.

Atlanta needs to stop Arizona without a time-consuming drive to have a chance. 4:15 to go in this game.

Arrington returns the kick-off to the 20 yard line, where Warner will start.

A pass down the field to Larry Fitzgerald for 15 yards, on a perfectly run pass route. A short play to James and Atlanta calls a timeout with 3:18 left. 2nd and 10. Warner hits another pass for a big gain and another first down in Atlanta territory.

Hightower runs and Atlanta calls another time out. 2:21 left to go. 2nd and 8. One more first down is all Arizona needs.

An end around call that gets stuffed. 3rd and 15. That was a huge stop.

Warner hits his tight end for 22 yards and a first down. That takes it down to the two-minute warning and Atlanta is out of time outs.

So the first road team goes down in the playoffs.

I had a funny feeling about this game as too, as many people had taken Atlanta to win.

Warner takes a knee and this one is over. Cardinals win 30-24 in the first game of the playoffs.

Look for my next playoff recap with the Chargers taking on the Colts next!

Thomas [ NFL Mikee ] Moreland