NFL: Three big plays from Cardinals lead to one big win
By Mark Heller
East Valley Tribune (Mesa, Ariz.)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Three skilled men made three big plays.
Drives of seven minutes and, later, five minutes ultimately stamped Saturday as a day to savor for the Cardinals, but before those came a "bang-bang" bonanza in a 30-24 victory against Atlanta in the franchise's first NFL playoff game since the Chicago era in 1947.
The first came on the Cardinals' second possession. Following a Ralph Brown interception, the Cardinals went to Edgerrin James on the ground and he churned out 21 yards on three carries.
On second-and-4 from the Falcons' 42-yard line, they went with the ol' flea-flicker, as James flipped a handoff back to quarterback Kurt Warner, who heaved it to Larry Fitzgerald — who beat double coverage — for a leaping catch in the end zone to make it 7-0.
"I hate that play," joked Warner, mostly because he claimed he can't throw the ball that far and had only two receivers as options.
After that, however, the Cardinals offense stagnated and Atlanta chewed up clock the rest of the first quarter and five minutes into the second, but on third-and-9 from their own 29, the Falcons' blitz never made it to Warner.
Anquan Boldin's return from a second two-game absence this season began with a couple of dropped passes, but he was wide open along the sideline and ran 71 yards past safety Lawyer Milloy to make it 14-3.
Boldin injured his left hamstring during the run, played the next series, then left for good, but the Cardinals had one more game-changer left.
Trailing 17-14 to begin the second half, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett crashed into Atlanta's backfield and forced a botched exchange between quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner. The ball went airborne and into the hands of safety Antrel Rolle, who ran 26 yards untouched for a 21-17 lead.
A touchdown and safety followed, which has the Cardinals packing for one of two East Coast destinations.
This time, they say there's no fear.
"All we ask for is a chance," Rolle said. "If you don't want to give it to us, that's fine. We'll take it into our own hands."
