Cardinals conservative approach leads to 26-19 loss to Falcons

Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

GLENDALE – Sunday’s home finale looked to answer all of the Arizona Cardinals Christmas wishes. The franchise entered Week 16 on a six-game losing streak and a six-game home losing streak and eyed to end both vs. the Atlanta Falcons. Arizona would score the game’s first 10 points, including a superb touchdown catch by wide receiver Michael Wilson, that placed all the momentum in the Cardinals favor.

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Those moments soon became fleeting, as Atlanta would go on a 26-6 run fueled by the prowess of Pro Bowl running back Bijan Robinson. The Tucson, Arizona native had 167 total scrimmage yards and a touchdown, with 75 rushing and 92 receiving.

Robinson flourished at home and helped Falcons head coach Raheem Morris aggressive decision making pay off in the 26-19 win, while Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon’s conservative approach early in the game didn’t help the team.

Arizona would take advantage of Morris’ risky fourth-and-one attempts late in the game, forcing back-to-back stops to give it a chance to tie the game. However, a controversial interception by C.J. Henderson, which looked very close to being incomplete, was confirmed on the field and ended the game.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw the least amount of passing yards in a game this season, leading to tight end Trey McBride ending his five-catch streak at 16. Outside of tight end Elijah Higgins career night of seven catches for 91 receiving yards, none of Brissett’s weapons had stellar days. Wide receiver Michael Wilson, outside of his crazy catch, had a slow day at his standards with only two catches for 52 yards, while Marvin Harrison Jr. had one catch in his return.

Contrasting styles leads to competitive first half:

Sunday was a battle of conservative and risky ideology. Arizona made it past the Atlanta’s 35-yard-line in all of their five first half drives. However, head coach Jonathan Gannon decided to not go for it on two fourth-and-two in opponent territory, electing to take the field goals. The same problem arose inside the Falcons redzone, on a fourth and goal on the six-yard line, which Gannon sent out kicker Chad Ryland.

Much like the entire season, the Cardinals have immensely struggled to finish drives in the endzone. The only touchdown drive the offense had in the first half was a miraculous 32-yard catch by wide receiver Michael Wilson, where he fell to the ground with ball landing in-between his legs.

While the passive decision making to not go for it is questionable, it gave Arizona the lead a majority of the first two quarters. The offense had a healthy diet between the pass and the run, something that has been missing this year. Michael Carter and Corey Kiner combined for 77 of the team’s 95 rushing yards. The pair helped Arizona have the most rushing yards since Week 10 in just the first two frames.

Atlanta was much more aggressive. Head coach Raheem Morris went for it twice on fourth down in Arizona’s territory. The first was on a fourth-and-six that found the arms of rookie cornerback Denzel Burke for the interception, leading to the Wilson’s touchdown.

The second attempt was much more successful with a fourth-and-one in the Cardinals redzone at the 2-minute warning. Quarterback Kirk Cousins dived forward for the first down, and later found tight end Kyle Pitts for the late touchdown and was a missed extra point from taking the lead entering the break.

Between those fourth down attempts was the Bijan Robinson show. The Pro Bowler returned to his home state of Arizona and had a sensational half of football with 103 scrimmage yards, 58 receiving and 45 rushing. The most impressive moment came on his team’s third offensive drive, where Robinson had all of the team’s 65 yards on the three-play touchdown drive, ending with a 13-yard back of the endzone catch.

The contrasting styles led to much different gameplay, and a 50-yard missed field goal by Ryland at the end of the half, somehow led to a tie game at halftime 16-16.

Late rally not enough in second half:

The Falcons controlled the pace in the third quarter. In the 7:35 opening drive, Atlanta completed two third downs and a fourth-and-two at Arizona’s 36-yard-line. Morris was keeping the same aggressive tempo for the offense. A stellar deflection by cornerback Will Johnson on the ball against wide receiver Drake London forced a fourth down and the Falcons to kick the field goal.

Arizona looked primed to respond in a major way with a 21-yard by Carter and a 25-yard catch and run by tight end Elijah Higgins. But again, the offense would stall out with back-to-back incompletions to set up a field goal attempt. Ryland was looking for redemption and instead got repetition by missing a 44-yard field goal, his second of the day.

Atlanta would take advantage of Arizona settling for a field goal by again going on a long 12-play, 66 yard touchdown drive. Various Cardinals penalties gave the Falcons six plays inside the team’s 10-yard line, just enough opportunities for Cousins to sneak in for the one-yard score.

The time of possession heavily favored Atlanta after the team’s last touchdown drive, 13:49 to 3:43. That margin would only get worse after a three-and-out by Jacoby Brissett and the offense, that ended by a 10-yard sack by Brandon Dorlus on third down to force the game’s first punt.

Morris continued his risky decision-making, but this time it wouldn’t pay off. A fourth-and-one at midfield led to a fumble on the handoff by Cousins that allowed Darius Robinson to fall on and recover for the turnover. Down 10 with seven minutes to go, Gannon and his quarterback Brissett had an opportunity to make a run.

Brissett returned to form following Atlanta’s turnover and found his weapons. Starting with McBride to start the drive, then following with Harrison on a 14-yard game for his first catch of the afternoon. The offense looked comfortable, but back-to-back stellar plays by Falcons safety Jessie Bates forced two incompletions by McBride. Arizona would tack on a field goal to bring it back to a one score game, 26-19.

The Cardinals defense just needed one stop to give Brissett and the offense one more chance to tie the game. Much like the rest of the game, Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson were met with a fourth-and-one dilemma.

With 2:14 remaining in the game, Atlanta elected to go with running back Tyler Allgeier over Robinson, which turned out to be a mistake. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson stuffed Allgeier at the line of scrimmage to forced the second straight fourth-and-one stop by the Cardinals defense.

Despite the stellar play by the defense, the offense couldn’t respond. After a 19-yard catch and run by Higgins to cap off his career day, Brissett would look for Harrison that was too far out of reach for him, but perfect for Henderson for the interception. Henderson looked to bobble the ball as his head hit out of bounds. Regardless, the call was confirmed and the Cardinals lose its home finale and lose seven straight home game.

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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports