- 10 months ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Now, there is Hayden Conner, the rookie out of Texas, six-round pick this year.
00:09Let's take another look.
00:13He's moving against London.
00:15You can tell right away.
00:17Grab for his wrist there, yeah.
00:22So Froholt, who has been a sturdy presence in the middle of that offensive line
00:28that has needed something of an anchor, a totem in the middle of that line.
00:33He's been the model of consistency, where everything else has pretty much changed out around him.
00:37He's been the one constant.
00:39Coming into today, it was 287 combined missed games.
00:43It's like a tote board for a telethon.
00:45It just keeps growing hour by hour for Jonathan Gannon.
00:49It's just a really tough season.
00:51There are injuries.
00:52Do you think the audience even knows what a telethon is?
00:54They have no idea.
00:55It's actually the thing.
00:57We're here to educate them on the 1980s, clearly.
01:02Froholt is down.
01:04I mean, Jacoby Brissett could not have been more effusive in his praise for Yelda Froholt.
01:09He says, look, like, he's so competitive.
01:12He is mad every time the defense does anything when he comes to the sideline.
01:17And Brissett said, I got to tell him, like, they have a job to do as well.
01:22Like, it is okay.
01:23There are going to be moments that are a struggle, as now they're going to work with Gaines.
01:29So we'll see if Gaines moves to center.
01:31Connor will shift over to guard.
01:33Which makes sense.
01:34I mean, you'd like to be able to put the responsibilities of making the Mike designation, the run blocking,
01:39pass blocking on a more veteran player in Adams versus Connor.
01:43We'll step aside and check on the offensive line when we come back.
01:51Let's go!
01:53One play at a time.
01:54Let's come out of here with a win.
01:55And mishmash for Arizona, and it has been all year.
02:02So John Gaines will move over.
02:05Again, Hayden Connor checking into the game for the Cardinals,
02:09and they will hand it off for Kiner once again,
02:12and the rookie with some surge for a first down.
02:15And that's one adjustment, too, for this Cardinals offensive line,
02:25is bringing additional offensive linemen.
02:27His number 78, Josh Fryer, is in there as well.
02:31Becoming more of a trend in the NFL,
02:33bringing the additional offensive linemen to get a little more push
02:35or even more protection at times, too, in the pass game.
02:39The Cardinals run just about as much of that as anybody.
02:42They're third in the NFL in six offensive linemen in a given play
02:47about 15% of the time.
02:52Kiner getting a bunch of run and showing some promise here.
02:56He'll jostle his way to the 31.
02:59But it's most effective, too,
03:00because the defense is going to match what you're putting out there personnel-wise.
03:04So oftentimes you're going to then find yourself
03:06with an extra defender around the line of scrimmage,
03:08which leaves you with one-on-one coverage on the outside.
03:10So it's going to give you what you're looking for in the pass game
03:13when you want to go with those play-action pass shots
03:15or need additional time to let your quarterback throw the football.
03:22Second down and manageable certainly helps with the playbook,
03:25and it's breadth as McBride in motion.
03:29Brissette will look that way, and that is easy money.
03:32Trey McBride on the catch.
03:35They motion him there.
03:36Brissette looks him down first down.
03:38And this is the other thing,
03:39is when you're in a certain personnel group
03:40and you simplify what the defense gives you from their coverage.
03:44And when so many tight ends in,
03:46as McBride motioned across the formation
03:48and allowed the softer coverage,
03:50you're just running an out route to space.
03:53Easy pitch and catch for Jacoby Brissette and Trey McBride.
03:56The official word, by the way, on Yelda Froholt,
03:59the center is an elbow injury.
04:01He is questionable to return as McBride has catch number two of his day.
04:09Kiner running behind McBride.
04:12Off the spin.
04:13Corey Kiner showing out here in the second.
04:16He pummeled Jesse Bates.
04:18And what a job by this offensive line.
04:22Again, Hayden Conner, the rookie, coming in at the left guard,
04:24doing a great job.
04:26John Gaines moves to center.
04:27Even McBride.
04:29Nice job sealing off on the back side.
04:32This is Hayden Conner's third game in the NFL.
04:37You have Gaines, a third-year player out of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
04:42Kiner, the rookie back there.
04:44Who got his first carries in the NFL last week against Houston.
04:49And all he's done is set up a first down and goal for the Arizona Cardinals.
04:55You have a backup center,
04:56and one of the things you're going to notice is obviously the shotgun snap.
04:58A little off on that last play.
05:00That'll be something that Monarchs are moving forward,
05:02but also just the cadence.
05:04Jacoby Brissette is at home.
05:06You know, can he use the cadence?
05:07Can he allow these guys to show what they're doing
05:10and try to make the defense to jump off sides?
05:12All things that, as a quarterback, when you have a backup center in,
05:15a little more hesitant to use.
05:18Josh Fryer comes in as an extra lineman again.
05:22Cardinals leaning on the run game.
05:24They run it three out of ten plays this year.
05:27But Kiner has been outstanding on the drive.
05:30Right back there, right up the zipper,
05:32and crashing down to the six.
05:35And this has been the area of the field
05:36where the Cardinals have struggled offensively
05:38because of the lack of balance running the football
05:41and throwing the football.
05:45So what's their best bolt here?
05:47What's their best bullet with Trey McBride
05:49and the personnel they have in the red zone?
05:51Well, they're going to find a way of isolating McBride,
05:53and that could be loading him up to one side with three receivers
05:56or moving him around, motioning him potentially across,
06:00and finding a way to get him with three of the receivers
06:02where you can create some traffic for his defender to run through.
06:04He's right next to Pharoah Brown.
06:07Two tight ends on the right side.
06:08Brissett standing.
06:10He pumps.
06:11He zigzags.
06:11He gets hit as his arm was coming forward.
06:14The ball is loose.
06:15They say it's a fumble for now.
06:18Now it's an incomplete pass.
06:20The near-side official, the line judge, is saying incomplete pass.
06:24Really on the field.
06:25It's incomplete pass.
06:26Fourth down.
06:27It looked like Brissett still had control of the football
06:30as his arm was moving forward and he got hit.
06:32But that's, and Leonard Floyd, keep an eye on him.
06:38Or excuse me.
06:39It's going to be a row, a row.
06:43They clearly had control moving forward.
06:45It's incomplete.
06:45Officials said fourth down.
06:47It is third down.
06:48Brissett climbing the pocket.
06:50He gets hit as he throws.
06:51It's short of the goal line but caught by McBride
06:53who had to lean out of the end zone to reel that in.
06:57Now the officials will talk it over.
06:59Incomplete.
07:01The far-side official came in and pointed to the ground.
07:05The near-side official said catch.
07:07Jesse Bates was on the coverage, leaning over top of him.
07:12And this is going to be really close.
07:14McBride working to find a window for the football.
07:17Brissett puts it in a spot.
07:18It looks like it might have skipped there.
07:24This would be a good look.
07:25Yeah.
07:26Looks like it caught the ground.
07:27And I don't think there's anything from that that would overturn the call.
07:32Dean Blandino watching with us.
07:34Told our producer, Rich Gross.
07:36Well, whatever Dean says, right?
07:37Yeah, that's right.
07:40That's, I live my life with that mantra.
07:43That's dangerous.
07:44Ryland from 25, and he puts it in.
07:47But Arizona has settled for a field goal three times.
07:51Atlanta is within six in the desert.
07:58Santa, Santa, did you get my letter?
08:00Single yard, that last drive.
08:03Capping it off with a touchdown.
08:06Let's see whether it's on the ground or through the air.
08:07His grandparents excited.
08:09There's a lot more where that came from for Mr. Robinson.
08:14We mentioned his family here.
08:16In that section, his grandma Jerry, his grandfather Cleo.
08:21Tremendous support system out of Tucson, Arizona, for Bajon Robinson,
08:26who was a star waiting to happen from a very young age.
08:30Always knew he wanted to play football.
08:32And some people just look like they were born to do what they're doing.
08:36He is so fluid as Atlanta will get it again.
08:39But Ryland takes a spill.
08:41The turf monster got him.
08:43We saw Bajon Robinson change his cleats earlier.
08:46This has been a slippery track in the past.
08:49That's the history of this field is it's been at times slick.
08:53We've heard about that narrative in Super Bowls.
08:55But also just from my career being down here playing on it, there's no doubt.
09:02You know, pretty soon.
09:03Proper cleats.
09:04Pretty soon, Brady.
09:05People are going to use that as a meme for 2025.
09:11If you had a bad year, on New Year's Eve, people are going to be like,
09:14yeah, 2026, thank goodness, because 25 was that.
09:20That.
09:20Yeah.
09:23I'm not even going to respond to that.
09:26You know how people do on New Year's Eve, though.
09:28Let's get the Christmas first.
09:29Well, we're only 10 days away.
09:30We've got New Year after that.
09:31Four shopping days.
09:32Overrated holiday.
09:33Okay.
09:34Wow.
09:35New Year is.
09:36New Year is overrated.
09:37Hot take.
09:39Robinson, the tailback on first down.
09:42I think Brady may have just slipped.
09:43Cousins to Robinson off the deflection incomplete.
09:48Baron Browning on the coverage is trying to square up with him just in case of a hard cut from Robinson.
09:54Yeah, and he was in a tough spot, because he could feel Browning there, and Cousins is trying to get rid of the football as he feels the pass rush, and O'Jelari getting to him again.
10:02How do those hits feel at 37?
10:12I would not know.
10:14I'm 41, and I worry about tweaking something just walking out of the hotel this morning.
10:17He made it here in one piece.
10:22Second down.
10:23Robinson, the motion man.
10:25Bajon Robinson flowing with the play.
10:28Sidestep twice and a first down.
10:31I mean, he is ridiculous.
10:32It's like poetry in motion, just watching as he slides and cuts and knives through the defense so effortlessly.
10:41Look at the play design.
10:42You have Algier in the backfield.
10:44He's going to end up being a lead blocker.
10:47Robinson feels the flow, the defense overflowing, and makes the cutback.
10:50And Calais Campbell almost getting in the way of his own players there.
10:56You can feel the admiration for Calais Campbell for his former teammate, Bajon Robinson, talking to him this week.
11:03And Robinson already has piled up over 100 yards from scrimmage.
11:10Cousins loads up to throw, and that is incomplete for Pitts.
11:14The tight end, the coverage from Denzel Burke, the rookie corner out of Ohio State.
11:18There are rookies everywhere in this defensive backfield, but they have done a nice job of speeding up Kirk Cousins today.
11:24Yeah, they're doing the best they can, again, to get to that spot as we take another look.
11:28Pitts cutting through the night, the middle of the defense, and then release upfield.
11:34They tried to use a double move where it wasn't there.
11:38Good coverage by Burke.
11:40It's a tall task when you've got to have to cover in the open field a guy like Kyle Pitts.
11:44Now you deal with the two tailbacks together, Algier and Robinson.
11:52It is Algier on the run, launching himself for a first down Atlanta as we get a game break from Carissa.
11:59Thank you, Jason.
12:00Jags down three.
12:01Trevor Lawrence will make a nice back shoulder pass.
12:05A second touchdown pass of the day to Brenton Strange.
12:09Jags back in front.
12:1014-10 over the Broncos.
12:12Jason?
12:13Bigger surprise this year, the Broncos or the Jaguars for you, Brady?
12:19Probably the Jaguars.
12:20You know, didn't necessarily see them having this much success in year one for Liam Cohen,
12:25but it's one of those bright, young offensive minds that the teams believe in.
12:29Their defense has improved, too.
12:32It's coming to the radar a little bit.
12:34Algier through the hole again, and what a collision.
12:37Algier headlong into what looked like Taylor Demerson at the bottom of the bus.
12:45And he is down.
12:48I mean, Tyler Algier at 5'10", 225 pounds.
13:00He cuts through the line of scrimmage like a bowling ball.
13:03You better have your pads down ready to tackle.
13:07He's a former linebacker.
13:09He was a walk-on initially at BYU, converted from linebacker to running back,
13:14and has made an NFL career out of collisions like that.
13:18Short yardage, touchdowns as well.
13:20But Taylor Demerson is down.
13:22Garrett Williams already ruled out in this game with an Achilles injury.
13:28Taylor Demerson, a second-year DB out of Texas Tech, is down.
13:35The Cardinals play a top-five amount of base defense,
13:40so they haven't played a ton of DBs together.
13:44They're running out of options at defensive back in this game, Brady.
13:48And that's unfortunately what happens at this time of year.
13:50When the injuries mount up and pile up,
13:53and you've got some inexperienced guys in there,
13:55it's going to limit what you're capable of calling as a defense
13:59because of the personnel issues.
14:01And you can't do really the things you'd like to do sometimes
14:04you came into the game with.
14:05That's an unfortunate position that defensive coordinator Nick Rollis is in right now,
14:09and head coach Jonathan Gannon's got that defensive background.
14:12I'm sure they're talking right now for what adjustments they can make.
14:15What can you do against this Falcons run game, though?
14:23I mean, you have to have corners and safeties who can tackle as well.
14:27You're going to be in a lot of 1-1 coverage on the outside,
14:29which is exactly what Kirk Cousins wants to do.
14:31You've got Drake London and Kyle Pitts out there.
14:33Pitts in motion.
14:35Cousins topside.
14:37Incomplete for London.
14:38And that's Will Johnson, who was stapled to him.
14:41Nice coverage.
14:42Yeah, no separation from Will Johnson.
14:45He was a standout cornerback at the collegiate level,
14:48but we just talked about the 1-on-1 coverage.
14:52Cousins trying to go to the back shoulder of London.
14:56Will Johnson stays at the hip, stays in phase,
14:59gets his hand up in between London's...
15:02the pass break-up.
15:04Atlanta 3 of 5 on 3rd down.
15:07This is a 3rd and 3.
15:08Could be a running down, certainly.
15:10Robinson the tailback.
15:12And they will feed him.
15:13Robinson trying to break a tackle.
15:15He is stood up by Buda Baker
15:17and knocked down short of the line to gain.
15:21Baker with Simon down low, stonewalled in.
15:24It was a heck of a play by Cody Simon
15:26because he had to fight through a block to get there.
15:28And he stopped the engine of Robinson
15:31and taking out his legs,
15:33which allowed Buda Baker to do the rest.
15:34But we've got 4th and inches now for the Falcons.
15:38They're going to go.
15:41They don't have to snap it before the 2-minute warning.
15:44And they will not.
15:59So, 2-minute warning here in Glendale.
16:03Falcons driving to try to take the lead.
16:074th down when we come back.
16:09What are you singing here?
16:34All the days are coming.
16:36All the days are coming.
16:37All the days are coming.
16:39All the days are coming.
16:40All the days are coming.
16:43All the days are coming.
16:43Ah!
16:44Walmart X for the half.
16:46Terry's got the highlights smooth and steady.
16:48And we will set the move for the playoff picture,
16:51so stay with us.
16:52We'll see you at the half.
16:53Tell me you wouldn't buy a record from Kurt and the Men of Five.
17:00Well done.
17:01I love that.
17:02Yeah.
17:02I'm buying.
17:04The Jazz Combo of the Year.
17:06Yes.
17:07Kurt and the Men of Five.
17:09All the festive Cardinals fans.
17:11And DJ Malski.
17:13That's right.
17:14Just in case we need a Men of Sixth.
17:16Let's see what you did there.
17:194th down for Atlanta out of the 2-minute warning.
17:22Algier the tailback.
17:24They need a quarter of a yard.
17:27It's a sneak.
17:29And it's a first down.
17:30You thought they could have done that before the 2-minute warning.
17:32Yeah, they initially went to the line of scrimmage.
17:34The Cardinals were not ready.
17:36And usually every offense has a call.
17:39We used to say, dog, dog, blue, go.
17:41And you're firing off the football.
17:42They wedge.
17:43And you're getting that first down.
17:44And I thought they almost allowed the Cardinals the opportunity to set up bigger personnel
17:48and have a better chance of stopping it.
17:50Although, here we are.
17:51157 left in the half.
17:53And the Falcons driving.
17:55Timeout Arizona.
17:56The Cardinals are trying to get the ball back.
17:58And now these messages from State Farm.
18:04We'll get to that in a moment.
18:06The messages from State Farm are from the stadium.
18:09That's what I meant.
18:10First down for Atlanta.
18:11They'll go from the 26.
18:14Robinson motioned.
18:19Cousins throwing that way.
18:21It's a little too much for Robinson.
18:23He had a step.
18:25Well, then this was by design.
18:26They had Warner, the tight end, back in the backfield for protection purposes.
18:30And they knew they'd get the one-on-one matchup between Bijan working on Cody Simon.
18:34He's going to run right up the seam, throw just a bit upfield.
18:39Boy, they had exactly what they wanted.
18:43Clever design by Zach Robinson there.
18:46Yes.
18:47He's done an unbelievable job this season of finding ways of getting his playmakers in one-on-one opportunities.
18:53Then it's just about the execution from the players.
18:55They have London with Will Johnson up at the top of the screen.
18:58There's that motion again from Robinson.
19:00And it's a screen dropped off for Pitts.
19:03And Kyle Pitts is wrestled down immediately.
19:08Akeem Davis Gaither stuffed him.
19:11It's third down.
19:12And that's a big-time stop because if you looked at the window dressing, it looked very similar to what you just saw in the previous play.
19:18Everyone's thinking it's Drake London, Bijan Robinson in motion is going to get the ball.
19:22And then it's Pitts who leaks out.
19:24Akeem Davis Gaither is not fooled whatsoever by that.
19:30Cousins will mull it over on a third down and seven.
19:35Arizona saving the timeouts for now.
19:37Cousins third down throw down the middle.
19:40And he rips it there for Pitts.
19:43In traffic.
19:44First down Atlanta.
19:45And this one, I'm not going to say is lucky because it's a hell of a throw.
19:49But he was surprised by the snap.
19:51Watch Cousins.
19:52He's got his eyes on the defense.
19:54And he kind of looks back.
19:55The ball is already in his lap.
19:57And he's got a free rusher.
19:59Walter Nolan, the rookie, who's had a heck of a season right in his face.
20:02And he delivers a strike.
20:04Nolan, who had a sack last week in his return against Houston.
20:08And Kirk Cousins disconcerting.
20:10He still ends up with a strong throw.
20:13Now he gives some ground and flicks it out of bounds.
20:15With the pressure coming from Nolan again.
20:18And it's second down.
20:2034 seconds to go in the half.
20:23He's got to be thinking shots to the end zone in this case.
20:26But credit Walter Nolan, he's got such a bright future.
20:29You talk to the Cardinals, but even talking to the Falcons staff,
20:32they're like, that young man is already a heck of a player.
20:36Keep an eye on him as he continues to grow in this league.
20:39Again, Hakeem Davis-Gather was not fooled.
20:41He's out in the flat for Pitts.
20:45It's me.
20:46I'm finding a way of taking a shot to Drake London.
20:49He's in the slot at the bottom.
20:52Right there.
20:53There he is.
20:57London is crumpled down right around the five.
21:01Buda Baker they hit.
21:02Atlanta has three timeouts, and you'd imagine they're going to use one.
21:05They do.
21:05And they should start thinking about running the football, too,
21:08as they get closer to the goal line.
21:10You're getting the coverage looks and the box counts.
21:13You'll still be able to run the football effectively here.
21:16And there's a first down available at about the two.
21:19So it's going to be third down and three or so for Raheem Morris and Atlanta.
21:25This is going to be the 14th play of the drive coming up.
21:29So we've teeter-tottered.
21:30Arizona thought they were going to get the ball back.
21:32Now they're just trying to get a stop towards the field goal here.
21:35The question really becomes from Nick Rollis, the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals,
21:43do they elect to bring pressure?
21:46They've been mixing up the looks all day long,
21:48trying to keep Kirk Cousins on his toes.
21:54London up top, trips at the bottom.
21:57Pits in motion.
21:58Robinson the tailback.
22:00He'll leak out.
22:01Cousins end zone.
22:02Touchdown, Pitts.
22:05Easy does it.
22:06Atlanta scores on play number 14 of the drive.
22:11What a play design by Zach Robinson for the Falcons.
22:15Pitts starts all the way outside.
22:17He's going to motion down, come across the field,
22:19and there's really no one to pick it up because of all the traffic
22:22that the Cardinals defense has to run through.
22:27It doesn't get much easier than that.
22:29And Pitts continues his high level of play over the last four weeks now.
22:35So, last week, he was the first tight end with 10 or more catches, 150 yards, and three touchdowns
22:43since Shannon Sharp in 1996.
22:46Heady Company, as that's blocked.
22:51Extra point blocked.
22:53And look who.
22:54Calais Campbell's 11th of his career in the blocked kick department.
23:00He told us this week, sometimes he visualizes a blocked kick, gets his hand up, and does it.
23:07When you're 6'8", and you've got that sort of height and reach with those long arms,
23:14it's not too difficult.
23:15But look at the effort, too.
23:16You just score a touchdown, you don't give up on it.
23:19That's high ball game.
23:2011 block kicks for a career.
23:24It's incredible for any player, let alone someone who's in his 18th year.
23:28Like, they didn't even have high def back in the NFL when he first started playing.
23:32I mean, his rookie year, they ended up going to the wild card round against Atlanta.
23:37It was Kurt Warner, Edgeron James, and a young Calais Campbell.
23:41He just did this last week.
23:44It's incredible.
23:44And really, when you turn on the tape and watch him throughout the course of the game,
23:48the effort he can still give and the impact that he's got on this defense is incredible
23:53for a guy in year 18 at that position.
24:01We asked him, and we asked him, like, what do you enjoy about football?
24:05And he kind of laughed.
24:07He goes, sometimes I ask myself that question, too.
24:09And then I stop, and I think, like, this is what I always dreamed of, playing with teammates.
24:15He grew up in a family of three older brothers, two younger brothers.
24:19It was always his way of getting to hang out with the guys and his family.
24:25And so he just keeps doing it.
24:26Yeah.
24:27I mean, he's still good at it.
24:29There's another piece of it, too.
24:30It's unbelievable.
24:32Two weeks in a row at age 39, he's blocked a kick.
24:35Brooks on the return, has a crease, and then gets twisted down at the 29th.
24:41So we were talking to him about his favorite memories, and he said one of them was draft day,
24:46and this is a great shirt, by the way.
24:48Well, you have to love that fact.
24:49He's got himself on that shirt, but what about this?
24:51This is 2008, folks.
24:53That's before NIL.
24:54I think maybe Nevin Shapiro at the University of Minnesota.
24:56I'm just saying it.
24:57That's just...
24:58You've got to bling like that when you're a college student back there.
25:01That's your takeaway?
25:02He's got his own name and face on his shirt, and you're looking at his timepiece.
25:08I'm just saying.
25:09It's great.
25:10It's great.
25:10Something going on there down in South Florida.
25:1311 out of 10, Telestration from Brady Quinn.
25:1621 seconds, two timeouts for Jacoby Brissette.
25:20He'll load up to throw.
25:22Intermediate route.
25:23Got it for a first down.
25:24Wilson across midfield.
25:26They've got a timeout to spare.
25:27They'll use it at 13 seconds.
25:29Well, credit the protection, but the patience, too, of Michael Wilson with this route.
25:34It was a double-move route.
25:37They act like he was going to run a post and then actually spun back out of it,
25:40which created the separation from Kobe Bryant.
25:43Let's take another.
25:44He's going to come up and in and back out.
25:48Right there.
25:53Slick turf.
25:54Defenders are always in that reactive mode, and it's tough.
25:57The throw, too, on time, on target, out of the break.
26:00And those are tough.
26:01You know, double-breaking routes like that, you're throwing it oftentimes when he's actually cutting in.
26:05It's before he actually makes his way back out on those out-breaking routes.
26:09So, well, throw him ball.
26:10See what's coming up on the Verizon Halftime Report with Kurt and the crew.
26:14From midfield, Jacoby Brissette with a couple plays remaining.
26:18He'll throw to the sideline and out of bounds for Weaver.
26:22The long for the career of Chad Ryland is 58, which would be approximately the 41-yard line.
26:28We asked Jonathan Gannon, where do he feel comfortable with?
26:30He goes, just give me to the 45.
26:32Well, we're at the 44.
26:34So, you better believe this will be something quick out of bounds.
26:40I guess with the timeout, you still could keep it in the field of play here.
26:42But either way, with nine seconds, you've got to save some time, potentially, for that field goal attempt.
26:50And we're going to get an Atlanta timeout, I believe.
26:54Yeah, the Falcons will talk it over.
26:57Atlanta, the second of the half.
26:59Again, 30 seconds.
27:00Remember, Atlanta will get it out of halftime.
27:05So, the Falcons have it first.
27:07Arizona would do well for itself taking the lead going into halftime, trying to break this six-game losing streak.
27:14And if Atlanta comes out in the same coverage they just had, it appeared to be man-to-man.
27:19And usually, it's a look where you're going to find a matchup in a way of maybe even taking a shot for a big play,
27:25if you can do it fast enough.
27:27You know, again, you still want to preserve the opportunity to have a shot at a field goal here.
27:36They're going to run it.
27:37Straight up the middle, Di Mercado slides down into that final timeout for Arizona right now.
27:46This run game has been very effective in the first half for the Cardinals.
27:50You have to be pleasantly surprised if you're Drew Petsing.
27:55I mean, six yards a carry, 5.9, that's unlike what we've seen.
28:01With the running back by committee, with your left guard now playing center, a rookie at left guard,
28:05it's been so many moving parts, and you'd have to be happy with the results so far.
28:09So, Chad Ryland, with that run, will kick from about 50.
28:19He's made two that long or longer already.
28:25Atlanta has a timeout they can choose to use to ice in if they'd like.
28:29We are in the NFL's kicker era.
28:37This one is off the post.
28:39It had the distance, and then some, but a bullseye on the right upright to end the half.
28:51End of the first half, we're tied in the desert.
28:54Now, Kurt Menefee and his jazz combo in Los Angeles for the Verizon halftime, which starts right now.
28:59That's today's game flow presented by Progressive.
29:20We are deadlocked at the half here at State Farm Stadium.
29:24The Falcons and the Cardinals.
29:26We've seen Bijan Robinson end up in the end zone with a touchdown.
29:30Jason Benetti, Brady Quinn, Sarah Kustak.
29:32Trey McBride still looking to extend that streak of games with five-plus catches, but the Stars have been out so far.
29:38The Stars have been.
29:39Bijan Robinson over 100 scrimmage yards already with a touchdown.
29:43He's been a part of that, but for the Cardinals, they've found a running game.
29:45So, forget about Trey McBride for a second.
29:47They've actually found some balance and a rushing attack.
29:49I'm sure McBride is going to be one of those points you're making at halftime and adjustments to find a way to give them the football and create some big plays for this offense.
29:59Bijan Robinson playing in front of friends and family.
30:02We've seen his grandparents, Cleo and Jerry, and family celebrating in a section they've carved out for themselves.
30:09And Atlanta will have it out of the halftime break.
30:12Kurt Cousins slinging it around the yard after 370-plus last week.
30:18He's got 115 and 2 touchdowns to this point.
30:21And there is Trey McBride, who has two catches today.
30:25His streak of consecutive games with at least five is at 16.
30:30And we'll see when Arizona gets the ball, if they can feed him in this second half.
30:37Moments ago, Sarah Kustak caught up with Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris.
30:40Coach, you really got the run game going and moving the ball there in that second quarter.
30:47But overall, how would you characterize what you saw to your guys on both sides of the ball?
30:50You know, I really like how they fought back.
30:51You know, we had a slow start.
30:52They got the ball on us, got down there, scored a touchdown, was able to move the ball a little bit.
30:56We settled down across the board as a team.
30:57We didn't blink.
30:58And that's the mentality we want to have.
30:59We appreciate your time.
31:00Good luck for the second half.
31:01Well, both teams have held serves so far.
31:07No, they have.
31:07And I think if you look at this in Falcons offense, it's been a heavy dose of Bajon Robinson.
31:11But they've gotten Pitts more involved.
31:13London's involvement, too, will be the next step.
31:16Robinson on the run.
31:17That was gummed up immediately.
31:19Zayven Collins with the tackle.
31:22But Darius Robinson broke through.
31:26Great pursuit by Darius Robinson.
31:28He gets the penetration and doesn't stop.
31:30But it helps that Zayven Collins helped to set that edge.
31:33And that's one of the things the Cardinals have done a pretty decent job of so far today,
31:36at least on the edges, not letting Bajon get out to the outside where he can create those big games.
31:41It's been more between the tackles.
31:43He is so good at creating an edge where there isn't one.
31:46At that time, Arizona got the 30th tackle for loss for Zayven Collins' career, the Oklahoman native.
31:54The motion from Warner.
31:55It's Robinson again.
31:57He sees two on the edge and ran away from Johnson.
32:00And eventually into Taylor Demerson and Davis Gaither.
32:04A couple of hyphenates on the tackle for third down.
32:09It's good to see Taylor Demerson back out there.
32:12Remember, he was injured earlier in the first or late in the first half.
32:17This has been a defense decimated by injury.
32:19So, good to see him back out there.
32:22Yeah, without Garrett Williams out with an Achilles injury, Sarah Kustak reported earlier.
32:29Third and eight.
32:30Collins up at the line.
32:40Here comes the pressure.
32:41Robinson picks it up.
32:43Throw by Cousins.
32:44A little bit high and rescued by Pitts.
32:46That's right at the line to gain.
32:48And Bajon Robinson, a pickup of the pressure to clean up the pocket first down.
32:52This is all Cousins working through his progression.
32:55He starts at the left-hand side.
32:57The Cardinals take away any available option.
32:59And he makes his way to Kyle Pitts, who finds the soft spot at the sticks for the first down.
33:03That's one of the reasons why Kirk Cousins has played so long in this league.
33:10It's a quick processor back there.
33:13Starting with the defense, he's trying to take away and get the ball to the right spot.
33:19Robinson cuts it back.
33:21Nasty jump cut.
33:22There is a marker in.
33:24This play may not count, but it definitely happened.
33:28It looked like Ryan Nussel, the center, had a hand on someone down there.
33:34Offense number 63.
33:36Ten-yard penalty.
33:37Hold on, Lindstrom.
33:40It's a 20-yard run that comes back.
33:43It is on Chris Lindstrom.
33:45Let's take another look.
33:46They're saying it's on Lindstrom.
33:47I think it's on Nussel right there at center.
33:52You can see Nussel kind of pushes off, and he's going to grab Akeem Davis-Gaither.
33:55I didn't see anything there on Lindstrom.
34:00That is a tough call.
34:02After Atlanta was so heavily penalized last week, Robinson to the sideline.
34:08The third back, Nathan Carter, inactive today.
34:12It's Algier, the tailback, on a first and 20.
34:15And Algier to the 44.
34:19Downstairs to Sarah.
34:21Brady pretty much spelled out what Jonathan Gannon told me going into the half.
34:25He said it all comes down to bottling up number seven.
34:28Much easier said than done.
34:29But he said we can't let them find him in the checkdowns
34:32and then also give up explosive.
34:34As for his offense, he said,
34:35I really like the way the run game's going,
34:36but we've got to stay on the field on third down and continue to get points.
34:43Bajon Robinson back on the field, Sarah, off of that.
34:46And again, he's split out wide.
34:48So not only is it about stopping him, but tracking him as well.
34:54He'll run away from it.
34:56Algier across midfield.
34:59And one of the things, too, he attracts so much attention, right?
35:02You know if he's not in the backfield, wherever he's at,
35:04he's going to be a guy that's trying to get the football to.
35:06And so it takes some of the defense away from the box.
35:10And then you hand the football off to Tyler Algier
35:11to try to put you in a little more third in management.
35:15Arizona brings on the pass rusher.
35:17Nolan, the rookie.
35:19And Robinson again split out wide.
35:21Browning got a jump, might have been offside.
35:29There goes the marker.
35:30It is incomplete, but that's going to be an offside penalty against Arizona.
35:35It's on Baron Browning, number five.
35:37For a second, the way Jake Matthews reacted at the left tackle spot,
35:40it might have been a false start.
35:44Let's take another look.
35:45Offside, defense number five.
35:48Five-yard penalty results in the first down.
35:50It's very close to him not even being offside.
35:53Like, you see the jump.
35:54The neutral zone?
35:55Yeah.
35:57Quite often that marker will come in on the movement.
36:00Right.
36:00It did not go very far forward, Brady.
36:02That was a quick flash.
36:05And almost, I mean, let's take another look,
36:08and that's what we're talking about.
36:10Went to snap cut.
36:12Yeah, yeah.
36:13Hand was in there.
36:14The hand, that's about all.
36:15Opening drive, third quarter.
36:21Atlanta trying to take the lead.
36:26Play action.
36:27Cousins.
36:28Sets.
36:29Throws for Algier,
36:30who gets hit immediately by Collins.
36:33Saban Collins was right next to him.
36:36Read it the whole way, second down.
36:38Working off the play action, pass fake.
36:42Cousins does a good job trying to buy time for the receivers to get downfield.
36:47Got an injured player down.
36:49Looks like it's Walter Nolan.
36:50And this has gone from bad to worse over and over again for Arizona in the injury department.
37:04Nate, honey, you got to look at the season with a calf injury, a knee injury a couple of weeks ago.
37:09He just came back last week, had a sack, and here's the play when he got hurt, Brady.
37:14He's right here on the ground.
37:16Working against number 71, Elijah Wilkinson.
37:18And it's hard to tell, but clearly in a ton of pain.
37:30You said it during the break, it could be a non-contact injury.
37:33He also could have hurt it on the play and then felt it a couple of steps later, yeah?
37:39Potentially.
37:39I mean, it's just frustrating.
37:41This has been a Cardinals team, again, decimated by injury.
37:44And today has been, unfortunately, an example of what their season has been.
37:49Let's hear it for him.
37:50Let's hear it for him.
37:50There is Calais Campbell in the middle of all of it.
37:54The 18th-year player, the 39-year-old, who just keeps weathering the storm for a team that's been to the playoffs once since 2016.
38:05He got a taste of it initially, his rookie year, we mentioned earlier, playing the Falcons in the wild card round on the way to the Super Bowl with Kurt Warner and Edrin James and that whole group, Larry Fitzgerald.
38:18For now, the defense has to find a way.
38:24It's a loss of six on the play to set up second and 16.
38:30Cousins to Robinson.
38:32Dejan Robinson running behind Lindstrom.
38:35Robinson!
38:37Explosive again to pick up 15.
38:41With second and long in that scenario, you just want to find an easy completion that gets you back in third and manageable.
38:46But take a look at number 63, Chris Lindstrom.
38:51Once he releases out, and this is essentially a screen, look at Budapaker.
38:55He's out in space, and you want to know part of that.
38:58It's a game of tag right there.
38:59Robinson off a spin.
39:00He goes down.
39:02Simon the tackle, but Saban Collins was in there first again to set up a fourth down.
39:09That is a huge stop for the Cardinals' defense.
39:12Just give up a big play, give up some momentum.
39:14Collins unblocked.
39:16The pursuit will get just enough for him to slow up his feet, and Cody Simon finishes it off.
39:24That's the unfortunate position you're in.
39:25When you're trying to chase down Bajon Robinson, you're going to run at full speed, man.
39:29The way he stops and starts, it's a tough duty to bring him down.
39:33You need two at least.
39:34It is fourth down and two here for Atlanta.
39:39Mooney in motion.
39:41Cousins to throw.
39:42Down the middle.
39:43Got it there.
39:44First down, Pitts.
39:46Tough catch by Pitts.
39:48It's almost impossible to stop because Cousins can put this ball in a spot where no one besides Kyle Pitts and that six-foot-six frame can get it.
39:56And we have another injured Arizona Cardinal.
40:08It's Buda Baker.
40:10Baker is down.
40:12He was on the receiving end of that hit as Pitts came down with the football.
40:15And this is a young man who puts everything into every hit he makes in Buda Baker.
40:22Six years in the league on a nine with 100 tackles or more.
40:26And he's 5'10", 195 pounds, but he plays much bigger than that.
40:32So he's throwing that left shoulder into Pitts.
40:37Like I said, Pitts probably has 60 pounds on him.
40:40Might have knocked the wind out of himself on the landing there, too.
40:45He'll have to come off for a play.
40:47And this is a crucial role within the Cardinals' defense.
40:51The way they move around Buda Baker and find ways of getting him in the box to stop the run and matching him up on opposing tight ends.
40:58You cannot replace him.
41:08First down.
41:09Right back to the ground.
41:11Robinson covers it up.
41:13And ends up with three.
41:14Now a game break from Kurt Menefee.
41:17Hi, Kurt.
41:18Hello, Jason.
41:19Say hello to Trevor Lawrence.
41:21Three touchdowns today.
41:22Two passing.
41:23And that one rushing puts Jacksonville on top, on the road at Denver.
41:28As they try and snap the Broncos' 11-game win streak and hold on to first place in the AFC South.
41:33It's late in third.
41:35Again, get that B-side out.
41:37People are going to want to listen to that, Kurt.
41:41I was going to say, look, Matt Stafford may have the MVP locked up, but Trevor Lawrence is starting to make a case the way he's played the second half of the season.
41:47He really is.
41:48How about that?
41:48Ram Seahawks game here tonight, by the way.
41:50Drop it off.
41:51It's Warner to the tight end.
41:52And he is yanked down in the open field at the 22 by Davis Gaither, just to gain a two.
41:58And it's third down for Atlanta.
42:00It's been Kyle Pitts, Bajon Robinson, primarily utilized.
42:08You wonder when Drake Lennon's going to get involved.
42:10Remember, dealing with a heel injury, has missed the last, excuse me, knee injury, has missed the last four weeks.
42:19He'll break the huddle at the bottom of the screen.
42:25Robinson up top as well.
42:27A lot of talent to cover for a thinned-out secondary.
42:34Cousins for London.
42:36Incomplete.
42:38Will Johnson had the coverage.
42:40Fourth down.
42:41Textbook coverage by Will Johnson.
42:44I mean, he's not leaving any room for Cousins to put this throw in.
42:48I mean, look how tight they are to the sideline.
42:50That's how they teach it.
42:52Drake Lennon tries his best with one hand, but, you know, they paint these red lines.
42:55They always say, you know, hold the red line as a wide receiver to save some room so you can fade to the football.
43:01Will Johnson, physical at the point of attack, and pushed London so wide, there's really nowhere to put the ball.
43:06Well done by Will Johnson out of Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
43:11Zane Gonzalez for the lead for Atlanta.
43:15From 40.
43:17Straight on through.
43:18He nailed it.
43:2319-16.
43:25Have a happy Christmas.
43:31This jolly old lead by three on a Zane Gonzalez field goal.
43:37Dejan Robinson and the Falcons have grabbed a three-point lead.
43:41That's the opening drive of the second half, by the way.
43:43Cool down time for Jacoby Brissette.
43:46Yeah, well, they're wearing down this Cardinals defense is what it is.
43:50And as thin as they are, too, given their injury situation, you've got to wonder, too, if they're not going to continue to keep leaning on the Cardinals, in particular, up front.
43:58As we saw Walter Nolan, their outstanding defensive tackle, go off the field that last drive.
44:03Along with Buda Baker.
44:05Pro Bowl safety.
44:06And after the kick, Sarah will have a litany of updates on the injuries in this game as Zane Gonzalez kicks it away.
44:16And Brooks on the return.
44:20To the 25.
44:21And downstairs to Sarah.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:23Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:24Thank you.
44:25Thank you.
44:25Thank you.
44:25Thank you.
44:25Thank you.
44:25Thank you.
44:25Thank you.
44:26Thank you.
44:26Thank you.
44:26Thank you.
44:27Thank you.
44:27Thank you.
44:27Thank you.
44:28Thank you.
44:28Thank you.
44:28Thank you.
44:28Thank you.
44:28Thank you.
44:28Thank you.
44:29Thank you.
44:30Thank you.