Week 4 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 10, Atlanta Falcons 32

What you need to know

Arizona Cardinals

QB Matt Leinart replaced Kurt Warner in the fourth quarter after Warner was intercepted and fumbled on consecutive possessions. Leinart didn’t fare any better committing two turnovers on his first two possessions as well. However after listening to Coach Dennis Green, QB Kurt Warner and Leinart after the game, it’s clear the torch has been passed and this will be Matt Leinart’s team.

The offensive line in Arizona is still a liability for the Cardinals. RB Edgerrin James was hit in the backfield on nearly half of his carries, and QB Kurt Warner took a severe beating throughout the game. Their inability to run the ball effectively is allowing pass rushers to pin back their ears and collapse the pocket with little regard to run responsibilities.

Receiving duo Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin were limited in their targets. The Atlanta running game controlled the clock and kept the Cardinals’ offense on the sidelines. The Falcons dominated time of possession through the first three quarters.

Atlanta Falcons

QB Michael Vick and RB Warrick Dunn continue to effectively utilize their option read. The two combined for 156 rushing yards. Backup RB Jerious Norwood also chipped in 106 rushing yards in mop up duty including a 78 yard touchdown run on his first carry.

TE Alge Crumpler only managed two receptions and had several drops in the game. However, he continues to be QB Michael Vick’s favorite target each week. Crumpler led all Falcons’ receivers with seven targets in this game.

With DE John Abraham still sidelined due to groin injury, DE Patrick Kerney (three sacks) led an aggressive pass rush. They forced three quarterback fumbles creating two turnovers.

46 year old PK Morten Andersen kicked five field goals. The Falcons’ offense repeatedly stalled in the red zone allowing Anderson and long distance specialist Michael Koenen to combine for six field goals.

What you ought to know

QB Kurt Warner, Pass: 11 - 20 - 128 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - -6 - 0

Warner faced an intense pass rush in the first half getting dropped twice by DE Patrick Kerney. He fumbled on one of the sacks, but luckily a teammate recovered the ball. It only got worse in the second half as Warner had a tipped pass intercepted and he lost another fumble while getting sacked. Warner was replaced by rookie QB Matt Leinart early in the fourth quarter.

QB Matt Leinart, Pass: 5 - 8 - 49 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - -7 - 0

Leinart entered the game at the start of the fourth quarter. He fumbled while being sacked on his second play from scrimmage. He was able to march the Cardinals down the field 60 yards on his second series, but had a ball tipped up in the air at the line of scrimmage that was intercepted. This wasn’t a quick change for coach Green. Matt Leinart is the new QB here.

RB Edgerrin James, Rush: 20 - 41 - 0, Rec: 5 - 31 - 0 (7 targets)

The frustration is starting to show on James. He continues to get hit in the backfield on lots of his carries. Five of his eight first half carries went for negative yards. His five passing targets in the first half were more a factor of QB Kurt Warner throwing the ball away as opposed to part of the game plan. Only three of his twenty carries went for four yards or more.

RB J.J. Arrington, Rush: 1 - -2 - 0

Arrington returned kickoffs all game long. His only carry came on the final Cardinals’ possession when the game was all but over.

WR Anquan Boldin, Rec: 4 - 42 - 0 (8 targets)

Cardinals' quarterbacks struggled to get the ball to Boldin. Twice he was targeted on quick slants that were tipped by linebackers and intercepted. His sixteen yard reception up the middle of the field in the fourth quarter was typical Boldin. He caught a short dump and weaved his way through, over, and around defenders leaving tacklers in his wake.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0, Rec: 3 - 66 - 0 (5 targets)

Fitzgerald’s first target was a deep jump ball down the right sideline. CB DeAngelo Hall had good coverage on the play, but Fitzgerald went up high to snatch the ball away for a 46 yard gain. He also made a nice grab in the fourth quarter from QB Matt Leinart on a slant. Leinart put the ball up too high, but Fitzgerald went up fearlessly to grab the ball exposing his midsection to a potential big hit.

WR Bryant Johnson (4 targets)

Johnson had two drops in the game, but both plays resulted in positive yards for the Cardinals. The first was in the first half when he drew a pass interference flag. The second was a horrendous drop on a deep out that almost killed the best offense momentum Arizona had showed, but a Cardinals’ penalty bailed him out.

TE Leonard Pope, Rec: 2 - 32 - 0 (3 targets)

Both of Pope’s receptions showcased his size and speed in the open field. He did a nice job of creating separation. He turned up field well for solid gains on each of his receptions.

TE Adam Bergen, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets)

Bergen’s only reception came late in fourth quarter garbage time.

PK Neil Rackers 1 - 1 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 4 points

Of note, Rackers was flagged for a penalty on a kick return.

ARI Rush Defense

The Cardinals’ defensive ends and outside linebackers struggled to contain QB Michael Vick on the edges allowing him to run for 101 yards. It didn’t get much better in the middle as RB Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood piled on another 156 yards between the tackles. The Cardinals’ did a poor job of gap management and couldn’t get the Falcons’ offense off the field before they got into scoring position.

ARI Pass Defense

Countless drops from Falcons’ receivers and general inaccuracy from QB Michael Vick aided the Cardinals’ secondary. They were able to sack Vick twice in the game, but neither play was game changing other than ending Atlanta drives and forcing field goals. FS Adrian Wilson kept the game from being a blowout early by intercepting a pass and returning it 97 yards for a touchdown.

QB Michael Vick, Pass: 13 - 22 - 153 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 11 - 101 - 0

Vick continues to run the option with RB Warrick Dunn making solid choices of when to take off around the corner. However, his inaccuracy and questionable choices when throwing the ball kept the Falcons from having a monster lead going into the locker room at halftime. From inside the ten yard line Vick scrambled to his right and tried to throw back across his body to WR Michael Jenkins at the goal line. Vick never saw FS Adrian Wilson who stepped in front of the pass and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the play was Vick’s nonchalance as Wilson ran by him and he didn’t attempt to run him down from behind. His passing numbers in the game would have been much more impressive if his receivers hadn’t dropped so many passes.

QB Matt Schaub, Rush: 4 - 0 - 0

Schaub entered the game in the fourth quarter only to hand off while winding down the clock to end the game.

RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 19 - 55 - 0, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (2 targets)

Dunn saw his normal work load between the tackles. He wasn’t able to find lots of running room against the Cardinals as they collapsed in the center on all his runs opening up opportunities for QB Michael Vick to take off around the corner. As he usually does Dunn ran hard with good shoulder lean grinding out tough yardage.

RB Jerious Norwood, Rush: 6 - 106 - 1

Norwood exploded through the line for a 78 yard touchdown run at the start of the fourth quarter. His burst and straight away speed was undeniably more impressive than that of starting RB Warrick Dunn, but he was untouched getting through the line and breaking into the clear. He remained in the game through the fourth quarter running out the clock. Norwood was able to break off one other impressive 19 yard run near the end of the game.

WR Roddy White, Rec: 4 - 26 - 0 (6 targets)

White saw his first target at the end of the second Falcons' drive. QB Michael Vick lobbed a jump ball into the end zone for White that he couldn’t pull down. Thereafter White was targeted on several short slants and quick hitters.

WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (6 targets)

Jenkins saw three targets in the end zone. The first one was intercepted and returned 97 yards for a touchdown. The second one was a crossing pattern near the goal line where QB Michael Vick didn’t lead him enough.

WR Ashley Lelie, Rec: 2 - 61 - 0 (2 targets)

Lelie caught two balls on a long drive in the second quarter. He made a nice adjustment on a deep ball down the left sideline learning backwards and catching the ball over his shoulder for a 51 yard gain.

TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 2 - 30 - 0 (7 targets)

Crumpler suffered from multiple dropped passes in the first half. At the start of the third quarter Crumpler pulled in a deep cross and went the distance up the left sideline, but the play was called back due to an unnecessary hold on WR Roddy White.

PK Michael Koenen 1 - 1 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 3 points

Koenen entered the game as the long distance specialist. He barely snuck his long attempt just inside the left upright.

PK Morten Andersen 5 - 5 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 17 points

Anderson looked sharp hitting all five of his attempts. Everything was down the center.

ATL Rush Defense

RB Edgerrin James had only three of his first eight carries go for positive yards. The Falcon safeties and linebackers were able to shoot through gaps disrupting the Falcon blocking schemes getting to James quickly. As the game wore on and the Falcons built a larger lead Arizona was forced to abandon the run.

ATL Pass Defense

DE Patrick Kerney posted a career best three sacks leading a persistent pass rush. The front seven harassed and hit Cardinals' quarterbacks forcing them into four turnovers. CB DeAngelo Hall picked off a deflected pass and returned if for a touchdown. The secondary did a good job of covering the duo of Fitzgerald and Boldin downfield forcing QB Kurt Warner to hold the ball too long resulting in turnovers.