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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:11 a.m., Thursday, January 1, 2009

NFL: Falcons-Cardinals playoff capsule

Associated Press

ATLANTA (11-5) AT ARIZONA (9-7)

Saturday, 11:30 a.m. HST, NBC (Oceanic Cable 8, HD 1008)

OPENING LINE — Falcons by 2½.

RECORD VS. SPREAD — Atlanta 9-7, Arizona 9-7.

SERIES RECORD — Cardinals lead 14-10.

LAST MEETING — Cardinals 30, Falcons 27 in OT, Dec. 23, 2007.

LAST WEEK — Falcons beat Rams 31-27; Cardinals beat Seahawks 34-21.

FALCONS OFFENSE — OVERALL (6), RUSH (2), PASS (14)

FALCONS DEFENSE — OVERALL (24), RUSH (25), PASS (21)

CARDINALS OFFENSE — OVERALL (4), RUSH (32), PASS (2)

CARDINALS DEFENSE — OVERALL (19), RUSH (16), PASS (22)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt worked together on Bill Cowher's staff in Pittsburgh. Whisenhunt succeeded Mularkey as Steelers offensive coordinator. ... Falcons opponents in NFC South were combined 29-19, compared with 13-35 for Arizona's NFC West foes. ... Atlanta's Michael Turner has eight TDs rushing in last three games. ... While Turner gets most of attention, and ranks second in NFL in rushing, teammate Jerious Norwood led NFL with average of 5.6 yards per carry (for those with at least 100 attempts). ... Turner and WR Roddy White gave Atlanta its first 1,000-yard rushing, 1,000-yard receiving duo in a decade. ... Falcons set NFL record by allowing just 49 punt return yards. ... Falcons have outscored opponents 114-52 in first quarter. ... Atlanta K Jason Elam has scored in 252 consecutive regular-season games. ... Falcons DE John Abraham had three three-sack games this season. ... Arizona QB Kurt Warner is 14 years older than Atlanta rookie QB Matt Ryan, the AP Offensive Rookie of Year. ... Arizona's 17 wins over past two seasons are most in two-year span for the franchise since 1983-84. Cardinals' 12 home wins are most in two-season period since 1975-76. Cardinals have won nine of last 11 home games. ... WR Anquan Boldin ranked second in NFC in receptions (89), behind teammate Larry Fitzgerald (96), despite missing four games with injuries. ... Arizona allowed average of 41.8 points in its last four non-division games (New York Giants, Philadelphia, Minnesota and New England). ... Cardinals' 427 points were franchise record. ... Warner set six franchise records: TDs passing, attempts, completions, completion percentage, passer rating and consecutive games with TD pass.