Falcons top Cardinals for first win at Arizona since 2001
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) reacts with wide receiver David Sills V (87) after scoring on a touchdown catch against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Kirk Cousins threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns, plus another rushing score, leading the visiting Atlanta Falcons to a 26-19 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Tyler Allgeier rushed for 79 yards, while Bijan Robinson ran for 76 yards and caught seven passes for 92 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta (6-9), which won at Arizona for the first time since Sept. 30, 2001.
Jacoby Brissett threw for 203 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Cardinals (3-12), who lost their seventh straight game.
Atlanta's Zane Gonzalez's 40-yard field goal broke a 16-16 tie with 7:25 left in the third. Chad Ryland pushed a 44-yard attempt for Arizona to the right on the Cardinals' ensuing drive.
From there, the Falcons took their first two-possession lead as Cousins pushed in a 1-yard rushing score to stamp a 12-play, 66-yard drive with 12:28 left in the fourth. It was Cousins' first rushing score since Oct. 30, 2022.
After Atlanta fumbled on fourth down, Ryland's 34-yard field goal pulled Arizona within seven with 4:37 remaining.
The Falcons could have essentially ended the game but turned the ball over on downs at Arizona's 39-yard line with 2:05 left.
Atlanta secured the win as C.J. Henderson -- who was promoted to the active roster on Saturday -- intercepted Brissett with 1:30 left.
Ryland's 50-yard field goal gave Arizona a 3-0 lead before Denzel Burke picked off Cousins and returned it to Arizona's 45 with 9:53 left in the opening quarter.
The Cardinals then stamped a five-play, 55-yard scoring drive with Brissett's 32-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson, giving Arizona a 10-0 lead at the 7:43 mark of the first.
Gonzalez's 49-yard field goal was answered with Ryland's 51-yarder, as the Cardinals took a 13-3 lead with 13:27 left in the first half.
On Atlanta's ensuing drive, Cousins connected with Robinson for a 41-yard pass, before the duo linked up on a 13-yard touchdown pass, cutting Atlanta's deficit to 13-10.
Ryland's third field goal of the first half -- this time a 25-yarder -- gave the Cardinals a six-point lead with 5:02 left in the opening half.
Atlanta tied the game with 25 seconds remaining before halftime, as Cousins hit Kyle Pitts for a 5-yard score. Calais Campbell blocked Gonzalez's extra point attempt.
Ryland missed a 50-yarder as time expired, leaving the halftime score tied at 16 apiece.
--Field Level Media
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