Kickoff: 4:05 PM ET (1:05 PM PT)
Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Broadcast: FOX: Jason Benetti, Brady Quinn, Sarah Kustok (field reporter), NFL+ (streaming)
Capacity: ~63,400 (retractable roof expected closed; moderate turnout for two eliminated teams)
The Atlanta Falcons (5-9) visit the Arizona Cardinals (3-11) in a late-season NFC matchup between two eliminated teams playing for pride and momentum into 2026. Atlanta shows recent fight with road upsets, while Arizona has collapsed with a lengthy skid amid injuries and disarray. This cross-conference clash in the dome favors offenses, with the Falcons’ run game and Cousins’ experience clashing against the Cardinals’ home speed but porous defense.
Team Records
Atlanta Falcons: 5-9 overall
Arizona Cardinals: 3-11 overall
Both teams disappointed, but Atlanta fights harder lately; Arizona in rebuild with potential coaching changes looming.
Recent Team Forms
Atlanta Falcons (Recent wins over divisional foes): The Falcons upset the Buccaneers 29-28 on Thursday Night Football (Week 15), with Kirk Cousins throwing for 373 yards and Bijan Robinson/Tyler Allgeier grinding the run game. Extra rest helps; road ATS strong (5-3).
Arizona Cardinals (6 straight losses): The Cardinals have been blown out recently (combined 48 points in last two losses to Rams/Texans). Jacoby Brissett at QB; offense stalls, defense tired/injured. Home ATS poor (1-6).
Injury Report (as of December 18 reports)
Atlanta Falcons:
Questionable/Limited: Drake London (various), other depth.
Impact: Largely healthy core; run game (Robinson) full strength.
Arizona Cardinals:
Questionable: Paris Johnson Jr. (OT), Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR), others.
Out/IR: Bilal Nichols (DL), Zonovan Knight (RB), Trey Benson (RB season-ending).
Impact: Line protection issues; run game depleted; Harrison questionable hurts passing.
Falcons healthier; Cardinals’ injuries contribute to skid.
Key Player Matchups
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins vs. Cardinals Secondary: Cousins hot lately (373 yards last game); exploits Cardinals’ leaky pass D in dome.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Cardinals Front Seven: Robinson (strong season) grinds vs. thin Cardinals run D; high-volume upside.
Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Falcons Pass Rush: Brissett volume passer; Falcons pressure could force mistakes.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride vs. Falcons LBs: McBride record-setting (100+ receptions); big target in dome.
Special Teams Edge: Neutral indoors.
Series History
All-time: Cardinals slight edge historically, but recent games competitive.
Recent: Cardinals won last meeting (2023, 25-23); Falcons strong in series lately in spots.
Trend: Moderate-scoring; dome games favor Over.
Betting Trends
Trends: Falcons fighting covers; Cardinals poor home ATS. Series Overs common in Arizona.
Historical: Road teams like Falcons cover vs. bad home squads.
FALCONS NOTES:
• QB KIRK COUSINS passed for 373 yards & 3 TDs for 117.0 rating in Week 15. Has TD pass in 3 of his past 4 games. Ranks 5th in NFL with 294 TD passes & 6th with 44,197 pass yards since 2012. Passed for 232 yards & 2 TDs in last game vs. Ari. (10/30/22, w/ Min.). • RB BIJAN ROBINSON had 175 scrimmage yards (93 rush, 82 rec.) & rush TD in Week 15. Ranks 1st in NFL with 1,858 scrimmage yards this season & aims for 6th in row with 90+ scrimmage yards. Has 3,606 rush yards, 1,602 rec. yards & 31 scrimmage TDs since 2023 & is the 2nd player ever (HOFer LaDainian Tomlinson) with 3,000+ rush yards, 1,500+ rec. yards & 30+ scrimmage TDs in 1st 3 seasons. • WR DAVID SILLS had season-high 6 receptions for 78 yards in Week 15. • TE KYLE PITTS led team with career-high 166 rec. yards & 3 TDs in Week 15, 1 of 2 TEs (Brock Bowers) with 3 TD catches in a single game this season. Aims for 4th in row with 80+ rec. yards. Ranks 4th among TEs since 2021 with 3,448 rec. yards. • EDGE JAMES PEARCE (rookie) had season-high 2 sacks & 2 PD in Week 15. Has sack in 6 consecutive games, tied-2nd longest streak (Micah Parsons & Mike Croel) by a rookie since 1982 (Jevon Kearse – 8 games). • DL LACALE LONDON had 4th sack of season last week. • LB DIVINE DEABLO had 0.5 sack in Week 15 & has TFL in 3 of his past 4. Has 8+ tackles in 2 of his past 3 on road. • CB DEE ALFORD had 2nd INT of season in Week 15. Has PD in 5 of his past 6 games. Had PD in last game vs. Ari (1/1/23). • CB A.J. TERRELL aims for 4th in row on road with PD. Had 2 PD in last meeting. • CB COBEE BRYANT had 5 tackles, TFL & PD in Week 15. • S JESSIE BATES had 8 tackles in Week 15 & has 7+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 on road. Had 13 tackles in last meeting.
CARDINALS NOTES:
• QB JACOBY BRISSETT passed for 249 yards & 3 TDs for 98.9 rating in Week 15. Aims for 10th in row with TD pass. Has 240+ pass yards & TD in all 9 starts this season. Ranks 1st with 256 completions, 2,708 pass yards & 2nd with 18 TD passes since Week 6. • RB MICHAEL CARTER had season-high 94 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 38 rec.) in Week 15. Had rush TD in last game vs. Atl. (10/10/21, w/ NYJ). • WR MARVIN HARRISON JR. has TD catch in 2 of his past 3. • WR MICHAEL WILSON had TD catch in Week 15 & aims for 3rd in row with TD reception. Aims for 4th in row at home with 115+ rec. yards. • TE TREY MCBRIDE had 12 receptions for 134 yards & 2 TDs in Week 15, his 16th consecutive game with 5+ receptions, the most by a TE in NFL history. Has 8 career games with 10+ receptions & is 1st TE to do such in 1st 4 seasons. Leads NFL with 105 receptions this season, his 2nd straight season with 100+ catches & is 1st TE in NFL history with 100+ receptions in consecutive seasons. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3. Had 131 rec. yards in last meeting. • LB JOSH SWEAT ranks tied-2nd with 4 FF & tied-7th with 11 sacks this season. • LB AKEEM DAVIS-GAITHER led team with 11 tackles in Week 15 & has 10+ tackles in 2 of his past 3. 1st-career season with FF, FR & INT. Had 9 tackles in last game vs. Atl. (10/23/22, w/ Cin.). • DL CALAIS CAMPBELL had 10th-career FG goal block in Week 15 & is 3rd player (Shaun Rogers & Julius Peppers) since 2000 with 10+ blocked FGs. Ranks tied1st in NFL since 2008 with 195 TFL & 4th with 116 sacks. • DL WALTER NOLEN (rookie) had sack in Week 15 & has TFL in 2 of his past 3. • CB GARRETT WILLIAMS had 8 tackles & TFL in Week 15. • S BUDDA BAKER had 8 tackles in Week 15 & has 6+ tackles in 9 of his past 10 games. Is only S since 2017 with 900+ tackles (984) & 10+ sacks (10). • S JALEN THOMPSON has 7+ tackles in 2 of his past 3.
Game Odds
Atlanta Falcons – 3
Arizona Cardinals 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 20, 2025
