Falcons stun Cardinals, keep pace in NFC South

ATLANTA - It was supposed to be a game for the Arizona Cardinals to get their offense squared away, and to take a step toward confidence without injured quarterback Carson Palmer.

The team with the NFC's best record was going to repair its running game, endure another week without All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and survive its glut of injuries against an Atlanta defense that was last in the NFL in yards allowed per game.

Instead, it all got turned upside down on Arizona. The offense did not get better, it got worse, and the defense, the foundation of the team, was embarrassed giving up 500 yards in a 29-18 loss on the road to the Falcons (5-7).

"The big message in the locker room was when you are looking for answers look in the mirror," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. "Don't look anywhere else, don't lie to yourself. We obviously didn't come out and play with emotion and intensity that I thought we would in this ball game."

Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones had a career-high 189 yards (10 catches) and running back Steven Jackson had 101 yards rushing, the first 100-yard game surrendered by the Cardinals in 22 games.

Arizona quarterback Drew Stanton, who was handed the job when Palmer was lost for the season with a knee injury Nov. 9, struggled again with two interceptions while completing 24 of 39 passes. Without Fitzgerald for the second consecutive week, the Cardinals (9-3) were 1-for-7 on third down.

"Adversity, she's here," Cardinals linebacker Larry Foote said. "Besides the '72 Dolphins you're going to get some adversity. We'll see now. We'll see the next couple weeks how we respond. We'll know the type of team, the type of character we got in how we respond."

The Cardinals, who have been battered by injuries, lost three starters during the game. Safety Tyrann Mathieu broke his left thumb. Running back Andre Ellington (hip) and right guard Paul Fanaika (high ankle sprain) did not come out for the second half.

Atlanta went 71 yards in eight plays on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead. Atlanta was back on the board when a long punt return by Devin Hester set up a 20-yard field goal, one of five by Matt Bryant, that made it 10-0.

After a Stanton interception gave the Falcons the ball at the Arizona 32, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan threw 32 yards for a touchdown to Jones, who snatched it before cornerback Patrick Peterson could turn around.

The All-Pro Peterson, who boasted during the week that he had gotten the better of matchups with Jones, was not contrite after the game for his mid-week comments.

"I just didn't play my best game today," he said. "He made the best of his opportunities."