In a game that has zero playoff implications, the Atlanta Falcons (5–9) take on the Arizona Cardinals (3–11) at State Farm Stadium on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Mountain Time. While both teams are just waiting for the season to end, we will still break down this matchup.
The Falcons are coming off a signature win last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football, where kicker Zane Gonzalez snuck in a 43-yard field goal as time expired.
While it was a moment to remember for Gonzalez, the star of the show was tight end Kyle Pitts, who put up the best performance of his career. The fifth-year player hauled in 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns, keeping the Falcons in the game against what was a high-powered Tampa Bay offense.
As for the Cardinals, they have dropped six straight games, with their last win dating back to Nov. 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. However, they have been riddled with injuries all over the field. For instance, Marvin Harrison Jr. has missed four of the team’s last six games. Key players such as Walter Nolen III and Paris Johnson Jr. have also missed time.
Good news for Arizona, it seems as if Marvin Harrison Jr. is active today after being a limited participant in practice all week with a heel injury. The team plans to “ease him in” to action. This will be Harrison’s first appearance since Week 13.
With Harrison set to return, it will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Drew Petzing chooses to use Michael Wilson, who has thrived as the team’s top pass catcher in the absence of Harrison. In the four games he’s seen, Wilson has 41 catches for 499 yards and three touchdowns.
MORE: Cardinals defense faces tough task after Falcons announce return of key player
The Falcons will be getting their No. 1 wide receiver back in Drake London, who has been out since Week 11 with a knee injury. 2025 has been London’s most efficient season, as he’s averaged 90 receiving yards per game. Coupled with Kyle Pitts, this will be a tough duo for an injury-plagued Arizona secondary.
With a duo as much potential as Drake London and Kyle Pitts, it is sometimes difficult to remember that the Falcons also have one of the league’s best running backs in Bijan Robinson, who can be a threat in both the run and pass.
It will be an uphill battle for the Cardinals today, despite getting Marvin Harrison Jr. back, as the injuries in the secondary, along with Atlanta getting Drake London back,k will be too difficult to overcome.
Prediction: Falcons 34 Cardinals 23