Cards come up aces, top Falcons in playoffs
January 4 East Valley Tribune
"The last play on their final day of practice every week is as simple as it is uplifting.
Kurt Warner takes the snap from center Lyle Sendlein and kneels on the ball.
So the Cardinals were well-practiced when Warner did just that Saturday afternoon, capping the biggest home win in the franchise's 21 seasons in Arizona.
Warner's kneel-down to close the Cardinals' 30-24 playoff win over the Atlanta Falcons set off a prolonged celebration by fans whose raucous support seemed to hold the Falcons in check as much as the Cardinals did.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt thanked the crowd by taking a memorable victory lap around the field, shaking hands with front-row fans along the way.
"Who knows if we'll get another game at home?" Whisenhunt said. "The chances … are slim.
"The atmosphere at the start of the game was as good as any I've ever been in."
"It was electric," defensive end/linebacker Bertrand Berry said of the atmosphere.
"That's what we needed. The fans did their part.
"We needed every single fan in there screaming. The crowd definitely was the difference for us on the defensive side. … It definitely disrupted their rhythm."
On the field, the Cardinals may have crossed up the Falcons a bit with an attack far more balanced than has usually been the case.
Even though their running game has been close to nonexistent at times this season, the Cardinals could read the stat sheet that said the Falcons had given up 4.9 yards a carry this season (one of the league's worst in that category).
Veteran Edgerrin James, probably playing his last home game for the Cardinals, charged right at the Falcons, gaining 73 yards on 16 carries.
James sounded elated for safety Adrian Wilson, who had played eight seasons for the Cardinals without seeing the playoffs.
"Eight years and no playoffs? For me, that's kind of unheard of.
"All week I was talking to the guys, telling them about my first playoff game. It's something you're going to remember forever.
"For Adrian Wilson, something like this is big time."
Wilson agreed.
"For me, it's great," he said. It's probably a little too big right now. Later, I'll probably reflect back and take in the emotions of the game. It's just an emotional experience.""Link
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