— McBride’s first “big game” in the NFL came in Atlanta as a rookie in 2022, a 7-78-1 day. His first 100-yard performance came against the Falcons in 2023 at State Farm Stadium, an 8-131 line. He’s not sure why he plays well against the Falcons, but the way he’s playing now, it’d be weird if he didn’t again Sunday.

“Hopefully I can have another good game but honestly I just want to win more than anything,” McBride said.

Needs 7 catches to get to 112 and break his own franchise record for receptions by a tight end
Needs 135 yards to break the franchise record for receiving yards by a tight end in a season
Needs 10 catches to match DeAndre Hopkins’ franchise record receptions in a season (115)
Needs 11 catches to match Zach Ertz’s NFL record for receptions in a season (116)
Needs 1 touchdown catch to become first Cardinal since Larry Fitzgerald (13 in 2009) to have at least 11 in a season

— Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers delivered an eloquent comment this week when he was asked, as a veteran coach – Rodgers has been with the Cardinals since 2018 and in the NFL most of the time since 2003 – if he worries about his job security or the head coach’s job security in a difficult season like this one.

“People know what we do and for a lot of people on the planet, they can go and have a great day at work and nobody knows,” he said. “You can have a bad day at work, and nobody knows. In our line of work, people know. There are questions that come up like that. I can’t tell you how hard we work, in terms of getting ready for an opponent. And if you spend time veering off of that with whatever life might bring to you, it’s not going to get focused back on the thing that’s most important.

“Guys have jobs, guys have lives. It’s real world stuff. It’s not just come in and clock in the building, leave and sleep, rinse wash repeat. There are other things that happen. As much as we can, we focus on the things that are ahead of us and what’s important now is scouting report, getting ready for meetings, things like that. You can’t allow yourself to get there.”

— Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is averaging 5.0 yards a carry and already has 1,174 yards rushing and six touchdowns, as well as 64 receptions for 684 more yards and two TDs. As good as tight end Kyle Pitts is, or wide receiver Drake London (who should play after being out), it is Robinson that drives the Atlanta offense.

“You’re watching games and it seems like it’s a highlight reel,” coach Jonathan Gannon said of Robinson.

Robinson has a Cardinals tie. He is from Tucson, having played at Salpointe Catholic High School, and was the Cardinals High School Player of the Year as a senior. That year, Robinson averaged a ridiculous 17.7 yards a carry. 17.7!

— The last word goes to right tackle Kelvin Beachum, about all the injuries the Cardinals have suffered this season:

“Everybody has injuries. You can’t use that as a crutch or an excuse. In the National Football League there is a 100 percent injury rate. That is the nature of this business. You have to find ways to maneuver and put things in place that allows you to be successful when your number is called. It’s a war of attrition.”

See you Sunday, one last time at State Farm Stadium this season.