Falcons Rediscover Their Groove in the Desert While Cardinals Absorb Costly Loss

The scoreboard at State Farm Stadium will show a victory for the Atlanta Falcons, a crucial result that keeps their postseason machinery humming as the 2025 regular season winds down. But for the Arizona Cardinals, the numbers on the board were secondary to the scene on the field. Sunday was not just a defeat. It was a war of attrition that left a struggling franchise battered, bruised and searching for answers in a season that has long since spiraled out of control.

While Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson danced through the defense in a triumphant homecoming, the mood on the opposite sideline shifted from frustration to genuine concern. This was a game defined by two distinct trajectories. One team found its composure to erase an early deficit and execute when it mattered most. The other watched its future limps off the field, a harsh reminder of the physical toll this game exacts.

Here are the major takeaways from a Sunday in Glendale that sent the Falcons forward and left the Cardinals picking up the pieces.

Bijan Robinson’s electric homecoming steals the show

For Bijan Robinson, Sunday was more than just a Week 16 road trip. It was a return to his roots. The former Salpointe Catholic High School star, who dazzled crowds in Tucson just down the road, treated the Arizona fans to a reminder of the talent they watched blossom in the desert years ago.

Robinson was the catalyst for an Atlanta offense that initially sputtered out of the gate. While quarterback Kirk Cousins worked to find his rhythm, Robinson provided the spark. He was responsible for the Falcons’ first touchdown, a 13-yard reception where he showcased his signature balance and burst. It was a play where he did most of the work with his legs, turning a simple check-down into a highlight reel moment.

The stats tell a story of dominance, but they barely capture the impact. On a single drive in the second quarter, Robinson accounted for every offensive yard Atlanta gained. He ripped off an 11-yard run and followed it with a 41-yard reception that flipped the field and the momentum. By the fourth quarter, Robinson had eclipsed 2,000 yards from scrimmage for the season, a milestone that cements his status as one of the league’s premier weapons. For a Falcons team eyeing a deep playoff run, Robinson is not just a piece of the puzzle. He is the engine.

The emotional toll of Arizona’s injury nightmare

There is a specific kind of silence that falls over an NFL stadium when a player stays down without contact. That silence blanketed State Farm Stadium in the third quarter when rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen III collapsed.

Nolen, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had been a bright spot in a dark season. He was flashing the disruption and power that made him a first-round selection. But with just over ten minutes left in the third, he hit the ground wincing. It was a non-contact knee injury, the two words no athlete or fan ever wants to hear.

The reaction from the Cardinals’ sideline spoke volumes about the human element often lost in the analysis of wins and losses. The entire bench cleared. Teammates surrounded the cart as Nolen was driven away, offering taps on the shoulder and words of encouragement to the Ole Miss product. It was a heartbreaking scene for a rookie whose growth had been a key narrative for head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense.

Nolen was not alone. The Cardinals’ training staff was overwhelmed throughout the afternoon. Cornerback Garrett Williams exited with an Achilles injury, and linebacker Josh Sweat left with an ankle issue. For a team already struggling with a six-game losing streak, losing three key defensive contributors in a single afternoon felt like a cruel joke. The emotional weight of seeing young cornerstones carted off is a hurdle Gannon will have to manage in a locker room that is likely emotionally exhausted.

Cousins overcomes slow start to manage the game

It was far from a perfect afternoon for Kirk Cousins, but veteran quarterbacks are paid to weather storms, not just sail in calm waters. Cousins looked shaky early on, throwing an interception to Denzel Burke on a fourth-down attempt that set up Arizona with excellent field position. At that moment, down 10-0, the Falcons looked disjointed and vulnerable.

However, Cousins did not panic. He methodically worked his team back into the contest, relying on high-percentage throws and the brilliance of his backfield. He finished the game 18-of-32 for 168 yards and two touchdowns through the air, but his biggest play might have been on the ground.

With the game in the balance in the fourth quarter, Cousins capped a massive 12-play, 66-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak. It was the kind of gritty, sustained possession that breaks the will of a defense. By converting that drive into seven points, Cousins extended the lead to 26-16 and effectively put the game out of reach. It wasn’t flashy, but it was professional. In late December, that is often all that matters.

Missed opportunities define Cardinals’ offense

If Atlanta’s story was one of resilience, Arizona’s was one of squandered chances. The Cardinals burst out to a 10-0 lead, fueled by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett to Michael Wilson and a 50-yard field goal from Chad Ryland. For a brief window, it looked like they might play spoiler.

However, the inability to finish drives continues to plague this unit. Too often, promising marches into Atlanta territory stalled, forcing Ryland to trot out for field goal attempts. While the kicker was good from distance early, hitting from 50 and 51 yards, the law of averages eventually caught up. A missed 44-yarder wide right in the third quarter deflated the stadium just as the offense seemed to be finding traction.

Even the bright spots came with caveats. Veteran Calais Campbell blocked a kick to keep the game tied at halftime, a heroic effort from the oldest player on the field. Yet, the offense could not capitalize on the momentum shift. Brissett, filling in during a lost season, managed the game but could not elevate the offense when the script broke down. With 128 yards passing at the half and limited explosive plays outside of Wilson’s touchdown, the Cardinals simply didn’t have the firepower to match Atlanta blow for blow.

The Verdict

The Falcons leave Arizona with a win that keeps them firmly in the hunt, their offense proving it can overcome a slow start and their star running back proving he is ready for the bright lights of the postseason. They are a team that knows who they are.

The Cardinals, conversely, are a team left asking painful questions. Beyond the scoreboard, the loss of Nolen and Williams casts a long shadow over the offseason. In a season defined by rebuilding, losing the very foundation blocks of that rebuild to injury is a bitter pill to swallow.