Cardinals need to play motivated versus a quality NFC South opponent
Neither the Arizona Cardinals or Atlanta Falcons have had reasons to celebrate in 2025. Both franchises have experienced similar shortcomings, including injuries to their starting quarterbacks, wide receivers, and consistent mental breakdowns in the key moments of contest. Both teams have had their head coaches scrutinized for play calling, game decisions, and leadership abilities, yet neither franchise has experienced any uprisings from players in their locker rooms. So what can fans expect from these teams in Week 16?
The Cardinals will have the home-field advantage and may be privileged to get starting wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. back in the lineup from a nagging injury. Falcons wide receiver Drake London will participate after weeks of being absent but other unfavorable Falcons’ news is that starting tight end Kyle Pitts was also listed on the injury report headed into Sunday. The Falcons are unlikely to stop Cardinals tight end Trey McBride with straight-up man coverage, so offensive coordinator Drew Petzing needs to be prepared to counter the pass rush from Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to keep quarterback Jacoby Brissett from being clobbered this afternoon.
Ultimately, fans should expect a competitive game between two teams that both know that the talent on their rosters didn’t fully reflect their potential in 2025. The Cardinals will have their hands full trying to stop Falcons running back Bijan Robinson but the Falcons will have equally as much trouble covering McBride between the hashes. If the Cardinals can use their air attack to turn the game into a shootout, they will have a chance to pummel Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins with a pass rush of their own and increase the chances of getting their team a much-needed win Sunday at State Farm Stadium.
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