GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Official Falcons-Cardinals Wild Card Playoff game notes straight from the press box at University of Phoenix Stadium immediately after the game. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons, 30-24.
- Head Coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan became the first rookie Head Coach and rookie quarterback to coach and compete in a playoff game since the Cleveland Rams accomplished the feat in 1945.
- Atlanta found the scoreboard at the 10:00 minute mark in the second quarter when kicker Jason Elam split the uprights on a 30-yard field goal attempt to cut the Cardinals lead to 7-3. The kick was Elam’s 16th career postseason field goal.
- Wide receiver Roddy White caught eight receptions in the first half setting a new franchise postseason record. The old mark was held by Andre Rison, who totaled five first half catches at Washington on January 4, 1992. White finished the game with 11 receptions for 84 yards. His total of 11 catches also set a franchise record for receptions in a postseason game.
- Ryan completed nine consecutive passes from the 1:54 mark in the first quarter to the 8:21 mark in the second quarter. Since starting the game one of four in passing, Ryan went on to complete 17 of 21 passes.
- Running back Michael Turner posted Atlanta’s first touchdown of the game when he found the end zone on a seven-yard carry in the second quarter. The Falcons pieced together 14 plays for 77 yards on the scoring drive. The touchdown is the second of Turner’s postseason career. His first came against the New England Patriots on January 14, 2007 as a member of the San Diego Chargers.
- Ryan completed his first career postseason touchdown pass on a two-yard strike to tight end Justin Peelle with 23 second remaining in the second quarter. The TD gave the Falcons a 17-14 halftime lead. The touchdown for Peelle was the first of his postseason career.
- Ryan added his second touchdowns strike of the game on a five-yard completion to White. The score cut Arizona’s lead to 30-23. The TD was the first in the postseason for White in his career.
- Ryan became the first Falcons quarterback to throw for two touchdown passes in a playoff game since January 15, 2005.
- Ryan set a NFL playoff rookie record with 26 completions in a single postseason game.
- Wide receiver Brian Finneran caught two passes for 11 yards against the Cardinals. One of his catches came on third down. In his career, 68 percent of Finneran’s passes have gone for a first down or touchdown.
- Cornerback Chevis Jackson intercepted his first career postseason pass to give the Falcons possession at the Cardinals 23-yard line. The interception was the first for Atlanta in a postseason game since Jason Webster picked off St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger on January 15, 2005.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-CARDINALS GAME:
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more in the NFL.com Game Center
- GAME BLOG: Review updates from the press box in the playoff game blog
- GAME NOTES: Track some of the milestones from the playoff game
- GAME STORY: Playoff loss in Arizona ends Falcon season
- GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete Falcons-Cardinals game coverage from AF.com
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: More news and comment from the AF.com Managing Editor
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Matt Ryan
- NFL NETWORK: Game Highlights | Matt Ryan Highlights | Michael Turner Highlights
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Cardinals
- INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from the Falcons-Cardinals game
- FORUMS: Talk about the game with other fans on FalconsLIFE
- PHOTOS: Images from the Falcons playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium
