GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Falcons quarterback Chris Redman took another step in his career resurgence at University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday, but it was another thirty-something quarterback with a history out of football that finished off the game.
Kurt Warner captained a nine-play, 63-yard drive inside the final two minutes Sunday to put Neil Rackers in range for a 29-yard game-tying field goal. That sent the game into overtime, where a coin toss put the Cardinals offense back on the field. A little more than five minutes later Warner and Co. found their groove again, setting Rackers up for a 31-yard kick to give the home team a 30-27 win.
It was a valiant effort on the part of Redman and the Falcons (3-12). The team mounted an improbable charge in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points and holding the Cardinals to just nine yards on offense before the game-tying drive.
Redman was near perfect in the final period, leading scoring drives of 93, 48 and 37 yards to put the Falcons into the holiday spirit. He finished the game 28-of-42 for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His scoring toss to Alge Crumpler in the fourth quarter tied the game and his 74-yard strike to rookie wide receiver Laurent Robinson in the first half was a career long.
In the fourth quarter, Redman was 16-of-21 for 155 yards and a score. The offense scored twice inside the final seven minutes, including a 23-yard field goal by Morten Andersen that gave the team a brief 27-24 lead.
"Right now we're hurting for our football team," Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas said. "We're very proud of our football team. They showed a lot of character, a lot of perseverance, a lot of fight. We got ourselves in a hole early in the ballgame. We came back in the second half and played Falcon-type football. We came up a little short, but we have to take our hats off to the Cardinals, too. They're a fine football team -- almost made the playoffs -- but our guys showed a lot of hustle and I'm very proud of them."
"It felt good, but I'm obviously disappointed because we needed one more," added Redman. "We've got to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to get one more out there. But I think a lot of guys played well, the offensive line blocked well, the receivers did a great job catching the ball."
Arizona's high-flying offense had the last chance, however, adding to numbers that pilled up like crumpled wrapping paper on Christmas morning.
Warner finished the game 36-of-53 for 361 yards and three touchdown passes. His favorite target was Anquan Boldin, who dominated all over the field with 13 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
Arizona scored 17 points and held the ball for more than 11 minutes in a decisive second quarter that seemed to put the game out of reach. The Falcons kept it close however with some quick strikes and big plays.
Travis Williams' 37-yard rush off a fake punt set the Falcons up in Cardinals territory in the first. A third down completion to Roddy White for 14 yards and a 12-yard carry by Jerious Norwood set the team up in the shadow of the goal line, leading to a 1-yard rushing touchdown by rookie Jason Snelling -- the first score of his career.
Two possessions later the Falcons took flight as Redman hit Robinson deep down the middle of the field for that 74-yard score. It was the longest reception of Robinson's career and his first professional touchdown. It was also the longest play for the Falcons offense this season.
"We just stressed to them that they're pros," Thomas said. "We laid an egg last week and we wanted to come out this week and play Falcon football -- make the fans of Atlanta, our owner and our organization proud. The guys had a good week of work, the coaches put out a good game plan and they executed. We came up a little short defensively, but they played hard."
It was White that led the Falcons, however with 12 catches for 141 yards (a new career high in receptions). He also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in receiving, becoming the first Falcon since 1999 to reach the milestone.
"Laurent and Roddy had big nights," Redman said. "I'm really happy to see Laurent get in the end zone because I've been telling everybody about this guy. I'm glad to get him in the end zone. We just have to keep improving and find some positives, because there were some positives out there today."
The Falcons defense prepared all week for the dual receiving threat of Boldin and Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald. Only one part of the duet presented real problems in the game, though, as Fitzgerald finished with six catches for 72 yards. Twenty-four year old Brent Grimes -- a first-year player from Shippensburg University -- saw his first action of the season with most of his work against Fitzgerald.
Grimes teamed with Pro Bowler DeAngelo Hall, who also got into the game as a punt returner. Grimes led the team with 10 tackles, while defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux roamed along the line of scrimmage for eight stops, one of which behind the line of scrimmage.
Redman spent the last three seasons out of football before signing with the Falcons in the offseason. He was selling insurance at this time last year, but rallied to earn a spot out of training camp and a job as the team's starter after a near comeback win at St. Louis the first weekend of December.
Fans may also remember Warner's story, which included time away from the football before landing with the St. Louis Rams and winning a Super Bowl and league MVP honors.
His task now, however, is keeping the Cardinals (7-8) in the hunt for .500.
Redman and the Falcons return home for the season finale next week against Seattle.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-CARDINALS GAME:
- GAMEDAY: All the coverage from the Falcons-Cardinals game
- GAME RECAP: Falcons rally, but fall to Cardinals in OT
- STATS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY: NFL.com Game Center
- GAME NOTES: Updates and injury news from the University of Phoenix Stadium press box
- INACTIVES AND STARTERS: Inactives and starters from Week 16
- QUOTABLE: Thoughts on the game from Falcons players and coaches
- VIDEO: Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas
- VIDEO: Quarterback Chris Redman Highlights
- VIDEO: Falcons-Bucs Highlights
