Familiar ending for Arizona Cardinals in loss to Houston Texans
The Cardinals are setting records for points allowed as they limp to the end of the 2025 season.
The Arizona Cardinals continued their 2025 NFL regular season schedule with an NFL Week 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons today. Look back at our updates of the game, which was played at the Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday, Dec. 21.
The Arizona Cardinals had the football and a chance to win, but C.J. Henderson intercepted Jacoby Brissett’s pass attempt to end any hope.
It was the first win by the Falcons in Arizona in 24 years.
The Cardinals led by as many as 10 points early, but scored just 3 points in the second half. The Cardinals missed a pair of field goals.
Brissett finished 16-for-31 for 203 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice for a total of 15 yards. Michael Carter had 11 carries for 65 yards to lead a strong rushing effort by the Cardinals. The team gained 132 yards on 23 carries.
Tight end Elijah Higgins led the team with seven catches for 91 yards. Trey McBride saw his record streak of games with at least five receptions snapped. He finished with four catches for 27 yards on eight targets.
Bijan Robinson, a former high school player from Tucson, had a strong return to Arizona. He had 16 carries for 76 yards and added another 92 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Kirk Cousins was 21-for-35 passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Tyler Allegeier had 16 carries for 79 yards for the Falcons.
The Cardinals saw several players leave the game with injuries. Among them were linebacker Josh Sweat, lineman Walter Nolen and center Hjalte Froholdt.
Watch Falcons at Cardinals with FUBO (free trial)
After leading by as many as 10 points early in the game, the Cardinals now find themselves trailing by as many.
Atlanta used its third drive that lasted at least 10 plays to add a touchdown. QB Kirk Cousins scored on a 1-yard sneak. That camped the 12-play, 66-yard drive.
Cousins is now 18-for-32 for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
On the drive, Bijan Robinson eclipsed 2,000 yards from scrimmage on the season.
Score: Falcons 26, Cardinals 16 (12:28 Q4)
After making his first three field goal attempts, Cardinals’ kicker Chad Ryland has now missed two. The second miss was a 44-yard attempt that was wide right.
It came at the end of a promising drive that featured a 21-yard run by Michael Carter and a 25-yard pass from Jacoby Brissett to Elijah Higgins.
The misses against the Falcons were Ryland’s seventh and eighth of the season.
Score: Falcons 19, Cardinals 16 (3:42 Q3)
A 40-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez had the Falcons up by 3 midway through the third quarter.
The field capped the first drive of the second half. The drive covered 44 yards and needed 13 plays.
Score: Falcons 19, Cardinals 16 (7:25 Q3)
Chad Ryland attempted a go-ahead 50-yard field goal as the first half ended. However, the ball bounced off the upright to leave the game tied at 16.
Ryland had earlier made field goals from 50 and 51 yards.
Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett is 8-for-16 for 128 yards and a touchdown. Michael Carter has seven carries for 45 yards. Corey Kiner and Emari Demercado also have carries for the Cardinals, who have gained 95 yards on the ground. Michael Wilson caught his only two targets for 52 yards. WR1 Marvin Harrison Jr. has been targeted once.
Falcons’ QB Kirk Cousins is 10-for-22 for 115 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Bijan Robinson has a combined 103 yards from scrimmage.
Injuries hit the Cardinals hard in the first half. Linebacker Josh Sweat, center Hjalte Froholdt, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and cornerback Garrett Williams all left the game with injuries.
Score: Cardinals 16, Falcons 16 (Half)
Calais Campbell blocked the 11th kick of his career to keep the game tied at 16.
It was his second blocked extra point in as many games.
Kirk Cousins completed a 5-yard pass to Kyle Pitts for a touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half. That tied that game at 16-all. A successful extra point would have given the Cardinals a lead.
Cousins is 10-for-22 for 115 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He was sacked once for a loss of 7 yards.
Score: Cardinals 16, Falcons 16 (0:25 Q2)
On fourth-and-goal from the Atlanta 6, the Cardinals kicked a 25-yard field goal.
Chad Ryland is 3-for-3 on field goals in the game.
The Cardinals had a first-and-goal from the 9, but couldn’t get the ball in. Two Jacoby Brisett passes fell incomplete.
Score: Cardinals 16, Falcons 10 (5:02 Q2)
Bijan Robinson starred at Tucson’s Salpointe Catholic in high school.
In his return to Arizona as the starting running back for the Atlanta Falcons, he scored a 13-yard touchdown. On the play, Robinson caught a short pass from Kirk Cousins and did most of the work with his legs. On the drive, Robinson accounted for all of the Falcons’ yards. He had a run of 11 yards and a 41-yard reception.
Robinson has six carries for 31 yards, plus three catches for 58 yards and the touchdown.
Score: Cardinals 13, Falcons 10 (11:56 Q2)
Fans booed, but the Cardinals kicked a 51-yard field goal on fourth-and-1.
It was the second field goal of the day for Chad Ryland, who also kicked one from 50.
A penalty on second down set the Cardinals up for third-and-11 from the Atlanta 42. Emari Demercado ran up the middle for a 9-yard gain to set up the field goa.
Score: Cardinals 13, Falcons 3 (13:27 Q2)
Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat has left the game and is questionable to return with an ankle injury.
Cornerback Garrett Williams left the game with an Achilles injury and will not return.
Score: Cardinals 10, Falcons 3 (End Q1)
Zane Gonzalez kicked a 49-yard field goal for the Falcons’ first points of the game.
The field goal came after a third down in which the Cardinals dropped Falcons’ QB Kirk Cousins for a loss of 7 yards.
Gonzalez is one of several Atlanta players with ties to Arizona. He played at Arizona State and spent three seasons with the Cardinals earlier in his career.
Score: Cardinals 10, Falcons 3 (2:17 Q1)
What looked to be a well-defended pass to the end zone turned into a touchdown for the Arizona Cardinals.
Initially ruled an incompletion, the play was challenged by the Cardinals and overturned.
The result was a 36-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson.
The ball was batted down by an Atlanta defender, but the ball never touched the ground. Instead, it rested on Wilson’s arm before settling on his chest.
It is the third straight game in which Wilson has scored a touchdown.
Score: Cardinals 10, Falcons 0 (7:43 Q1)
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins’ pass intended for Drake London was intercepted by Arizona’s Denzel Burke, who returned it 17 yards.
The throw came on fourth-and-6 from the Arizona 39. Burke’s return gives the Cardinals possession at their own 45.
It was Burke’s third interception of the season.
Cousins is now 2-for-7 for 14 yards with the interception.
Chad Ryland kicked a 50-yard field goal to put the Arizona Cardinals on the board after their first possession of the game.
A penalty on the kickoff gave the Cardinals the ball on the 40 to start the game. Jabocy Brissett was limited to just 1-for-4 passing, but his completion went to Elijah Higgins for 17 yards.
Score: Cardinals 3, Falcons 0 (12:46 Q1)
The roof of State Farm Stadium will be open for today’s game against the Falcons.
The team encouraged fans to dress accordingly. The weather forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s at kickoff.
Cardinals vs Falcons schedule: What time is NFL Week 16 game?
The NFL Week 16 game between the Cardinals and Falcons is on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2:05 p.m. MST, 4:05 p.m. ET.
Falcons vs Cardinals TV: What channel is NFL Week 16 game on?
The Falcons vs Cardinals NFL Week 16 game can be seen on FOX.
Cardinals vs Falcons streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 16 game on livestream?
Streaming options for the Cardinals vs Falcons game include FUBO, which offers a free trial, and other streaming services that carry FOX, like Sling.
Falcons vs Cardinals announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 16 game?
Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Brady Quinn (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-Falcons Week 16 NFL game.
Cardinals vs Falcons game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 16?
The Falcons are a 2.5-point favorite over the Cardinals in NFL Week 16 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Atlanta is -140 on the moneyline, while Arizona is +118.
The over/under (point total) is set at 47.5 points.
Falcons vs Cardinals picks, predictions: Who will win NFL Week 16 game?
The Arizona Republic’s Jeremy Cluff is predicting a 27-21 win for the Falcons over the Cardinals in the Week 16 NFL game today.
Some other sites are split on the result of the Cardinals vs Falcons game in their NFL Week 16 picks and NFL Week 16 game predictions for Dec. 21.
Pregame reading for Cardinals vs Falcons Week 16 NFL game today
NFL’s highest paid players in 2025: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive linemen | D-linemen | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Linebackers | Edge rushers | Highest paid NFL players: Overall | By position | By team
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.