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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 3:09 p.m., Sunday, December 23, 2007

NFL: Cardinals give Falcons the boot in OT, 30-27

By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. — Neil Rackers gained a measure of redemption and sent the Atlanta Falcons to another loss in their demoralizing season.

Rackers kicked a 29-yard field goal to force overtime, then booted one from 31 yards on the first possession of the extra session to give the relieved Arizona Cardinals a 30-27 victory today.

Rackers celebrated by sliding on his knees across the grass. He had missed what would have been a game-winning 32-yarder against San Francisco earlier this season.

The Falcons (3-12), who had rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to take the lead, lost their sixth in a row in a season that has included the loss of star quarterback Michael Vick in a dogfighting scandal and the abrupt departure of coach Bobby Petrino.

Kurt Warner completed 36 of 53 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns, two to Anquan Boldin, who caught 13 for 162 yards. Boldin became the fastest to reach 400 career catches in NFL history.

Chris Redman, starting for the third straight week, engineered Atlanta's comeback, going 28-for-42 for a career-high 315 yards and two scores with one extremely costly interception.

With a victory at home next Sunday against St. Louis, Arizona (7-8) would have its best record since going 9-7 and making the playoffs in 1998. It would be just the third time since 1984 that the Cardinals have not had a losing record.