Bouncing back from their first loss of the season and overcoming Ryan's careerworst five interceptions, the Falcons rallied past Arizona 2319 on Sunday. Michael Turner scored the winning touchdown on a 1yard run with 6:40 remaining, and Larry Fitzgerald couldn't hang on to a fourthdown pass that would've given the feeble Cardinals a chance to pull it out.
"You can't worry about it," said Ryan, who had never thrown more than three picks in a game. "Part of playing this position is knowing there are going to be times when you make mistakes, when you fall flat on your face. You've got to get up and keep playing, keep throwing it. In those kind of situations, I'm just worried about the next play."
Ryan became the first quarterback since Green Bay's Bart Starr in 1967 to win a game despite throwing five interceptions with no touchdowns, according to STATS LLC.
"That's good company to be in," Ryan said with a chuckle.
The Falcons (91) turned it over a total of six times, but Ryan set up Turner's winning run with four completions www.footballbengalsshop.com/WOMENS-DRE-KIRKPATRICK-JERSEY.html for 64 yards, including a 9yarder to Tony Gonzalez that was just short of the end zone. Turner scored on the next play.
Coming off a bye, Arizona (46) lost its sixth straight game. The Cardinals tried to bolster their anemic offense by switching quarterbacks, replacing John Skelton with rookie Ryan Lindley, but they had only 178 yards.
"We said during the bye week we were going to make changes that we thought necessary, and that's what we're going to do going forward," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We have to make more plays."
Both teams struggled offensively in the second half. The Cardinals had the only points going ahead 1916 on Jay Feely's fourth field goal of the game, set up by Ryan's fourth interception before the Falcons finally came alive on a 70yard drive.
With Julio Jones sidelined by an ankle injury, Ryan completed an 11yard pass to third receiver Harry Douglas, then a 26yarder to Douglas into Arizona territory. Roddy White hauled in an 18yard pass before Ryan, on thirdand5 at the Arizona 10, went to ol' reliable. Gonzalez grabbed the pass and stretched for the goal line, getting his helmet knocked off in the process.
The officials ruled him down about a foot short. Turner carried it in from there, standing defiantly in the end zone in front of the cheering Atlanta fans who had booed him earlier for the Falcons' continuing problems running the ball.
Arizona had one more chance, after Ryan had a pass deflected at the line, the ball wobbling into the arms of Cardinals linebacker Sam Acho at the Falcons 32.
On fourthand2 with just over 3 minutes remaining, Lindley threw a pass that Fitzgerald appeared to haul in at the 5 before tumbling out of bounds. But as he took a hit from William Moore, Fitzgerald rolled over and the ball came loose. The Falcons took over and ran out the clock.
Ryan completed 28 of 48 for 301 yards.
LaRod StephensHowling accounted for most of Arizona's yards, carrying 22 times for 127 yards. Lindley was 9 of 20 for 64 yards. Skelton was benched in the second quarter after going 2 of 7 for 6 yards.
"It's extremely frustrating," Cardinals center Lyle Sendlein said. "If you would have told us yesterday we'd get the ball four or five times on their side of the 50, I'd have said, Yeah, we're going to beat them, and beat them by a large margin."
The turnover tone was set on the very first snap.
Ryan threw a little behind White, the ball bouncing off his hands and right into the arms of Arizona safety Rashad Johnson for the interception. He returned it to the Atlanta 9, and the Cardinals punched it in two plays later on a 3yard run by StephensHowling.
On Arizona's next possession, StephensHowling broke off a 40yard run to www.footballBengalsshop.com set up Feely's 48yard field goal. The Falcons were down 100 before they even gained a yard.
Ryan threw two more interceptions before the first quarter was done, the second of which led to another field goal by Feely to make it 130. But the Falcons rallied to tie it up by halftime, coming up with a huge defensive play after the Cardinals brought in Lindley.
As the rookie dropped back to pass on third down, John Abraham came in from the blind side and got his hand on the ball a splitsecond before Lindley's arm came forward. While both teams mostly stood around, thinking it was an incomplete pass, Abraham motioned for Jonathan Babineaux to pick up it up. The 300pound tackle did just that, running 15 yards for a stunning touchdown.
"Multiple players told me they heard a whistle," Whisenhunt insisted.
With a nod to Gonzalez, Babineaux feigned like was going to dunk the ball over the crossbar, but just flipped it over instead.
Tony Romo, Trevin Wade, Jabaal SheardCleveland Browns' Trevin Wade (26) and Jabaal Sheard (97) close in on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
Calvin JohnsonDetroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) celebrates a 25yard touchdown reception against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter of their NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Bilal Powell, JoLonn DunbarNew York Jets running back Bilal Powell, right, carries the ball past St. Louis Rams outside linebacker JoLonn Dunbar for an 11yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Justin BlackmonJacksonville Jaguars' Justin Blackmon (14) scores a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Stephen Nicholas, Ryan Lindley Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas (54) tackles Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) for a sack as Arizona Cardinals fullback Anthony Sherman (35) blocks during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Santana Moss, Kurt Coleman, Brandon BoykinWashington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss, top, pulls in a touchdown pass between Philadelphia Eagles free safety Kurt Coleman (42) and cornerback Brandon Boykin, right, during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Eric Decker, Curtis BrinkleyDenver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (87) takes the ball into the endzone ahead of San Diego Chargers running back Curtis Brinkley (36) in the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. Kids Dre Kirkpatrick Jersey 18, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
