The Atlanta Falcons beat the Arizona Cardinals 26-19 on December 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium, a road win sealed by a late diving interception from C.J. Henderson and powered by Bijan Robinson, who finished with 171 yards from scrimmage and became the third player in franchise history to reach 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season. The result moved Atlanta to 6-9 for the year, while Arizona dropped to 3-12 after a seventh straight loss.

Game summary

Atlanta trailed early, but steady running, timely throws, and a resilient defense turned the game around in the second half. The Cardinals opened with a spectacular 32-yard touchdown grab by Michael Wilson, and Arizona led 10-0 midway through the first quarter. The Falcons fought back, tying the game at 16-all by halftime, then built a lead in the second half that Arizona never fully erased.

Key moments:

• Falcons answered a 10-0 deficit with a balanced offensive response, capped by a late second-quarter Kyle Pitts touchdown catch that tied the game going into halftime.
• Special teams were decisive, Arizona missed multiple field goals and had one attempt bounce off the upright before halftime, shifting momentum.
• Late in the fourth quarter, with Arizona driving to potentially tie the game, C.J. Henderson intercepted Jacoby Brissett with 1:30 left, ending the comeback bid and effectively sealing the Falcons' win.

"It shows guys what this team should look like on a consistent basis," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said after the game, praising the team's second-half execution.

Standout performances

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Bijan Robinson carried the offense, totaling 171 scrimmage yards, and scoring a receiving touchdown. He crossed the 2,000 scrimmage yard mark for the season, a rare franchise achievement that places him alongside Jamal Anderson and William Andrews in Falcons history. His combination of explosive runs and reliable receiving made Atlanta harder to defend for the full 60 minutes.

Falcons passing attack

Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes and finished the day with multiple key completions, and he also scored on a short rushing touchdown that helped put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Cousins' ability to manage the game and convert in the red zone was critical to Atlanta's three successful red zone attempts.

Cardinals offense

Former starter Kyler Murray remained sidelined, with Jacoby Brissett starting and producing a mixed performance, finishing with just over 200 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception on the decisive play. Elijah Higgins emerged as a reliable target for Arizona, catching multiple passes and finishing with more than 90 receiving yards.

Injuries and missed opportunities

Arizona lost CB Garrett Williams to a non-contact Achilles injury early in the contest, a setback that will be watched closely by the team and medical staff. Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland missed multiple field goal attempts, including a 50-yard try that hit the upright before halftime, and those misses loomed large in a game decided by a single touchdown.

Statistical snapshot

Bold shows the most impactful season and game statistics for quick reference.

What this means for Atlanta

For the Falcons, the victory was validation for a ground game-centered identity, and a morale boost late in a losing season. While Atlanta is mathematically out of playoff contention, back-to-back road wins and a clear offensive identity centered on Bijan Robinson give the coaching staff and front office positive data to evaluate as they consider roster moves in the offseason. Robinson’s milestone, combined with consistent production from tight end Kyle Pitts and effective situational play from Kirk Cousins, suggests the Falcons have building blocks to target stability at quarterback and depth on the offensive line.

What this means for Arizona

The Cardinals’ loss intensified questions about roster construction, kicking reliability, and injury depth. Arizona is now 3-12, and the seven-game losing streak underscores systemic issues that go beyond a single position. The team will need to assess the offensive line, evaluate the long-term health of playmakers, and decide whether to continue with veteran starters like Jacoby Brissett or to retool at quarterback during the offseason.

Perspectives inside the building:

• From the Cardinals' point of view, the defense had moments, including a late fourth-down stop earlier in the final minutes, but missed opportunities and special teams miscues ultimately decided the game.
• From the Falcons' locker room, the message was resilience, with players pointing to a need for consistency, but acknowledging progress in execution and situational football.

Broader takeaways and next steps

• Bijan Robinson’s season will be a major talking point around the league, as 2,000 scrimmage yards is an uncommon achievement, and it increases Robinson’s trade and contract value heading into the offseason.
• Arizona’s front office must weigh short-term fixes against a longer rebuild, especially after injuries and multiple special teams failures influenced close games this year.

Quick look at what to watch next

• Falcons, final stretch of the season: will Atlanta finish strong and test younger pieces, or will the team prioritize evaluation over wins?
• Cardinals, roster and coaching decisions: will the team double down on veteran leadership, or will they shift focus toward developing a longer term plan for the quarterback and draft picks?

Simple technical note

If you want a quick check on Robinson’s per-game impact, here is a tiny calculation showing scrimmage yards per game if he reached 2,000 yards over 16 games, and what the number would be over 17 games.

```

Simple per-game calculation

total_yards = 2000
games_16 = total_yards / 16
games_17 = total_yards / 17
print(games_16) # => 125.0 yards per game over 16 games
print(games_17) # => 117.65 yards per game over 17 games
```

Final note

The Falcons’ 26-19 win in Arizona was a compact, meaningful moment in two teams’ seasons, offering optimism to Atlanta and a clear signal to Arizona that changes are required. With the regular season winding down, both franchises will use the remaining games to clarify personnel plans, assess health, and prepare for an offseason that could reshape roster trajectories.