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Cardinals Strike Back, Take Lead Over Falcons Into Fourth Quarter

Jan 3, 2009 – 6:48 PM
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Michael David Smith

Michael David Smith %BloggerTitle%


The Arizona Cardinals have dominated the third quarter of today's wild card playoff game, turning a 17-14 halftime deficit into a 28-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The second half couldn't have started much better for the Cardinals: On the second play of the third quarter, a botched Falcons handoff was fumbled and plucked out of the air by Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle, who raced 27 yards for a touchdown to give the Cardinals a 21-17 lead.

Later in the third, Cardinals running back Tim Hightower scored on a four-yard touchdown run to give the Cardinals a 28-17 lead, and then Arizona started to pour it on: On the Falcons' first play after the ensuing kickoff, Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie showed off his incredible vertical jump as he leaped into the air and picked off a Matt Ryan pass.

The Cardinals had to punt on their next possession, and the Falcons have the ball heading into the fourth, but Atlanta now has an uphill climb to keep its season alive.
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