The Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons are both out of the playoff race, but neither team wants to lose a game in Week 17. Will the Cardinals beat Atlanta on the road? Or will the Falcons take down Arizona at home? Check out our preview of this Cardinals vs Falcons game in Week 17 of the 2022 NFL regular season.
Arizona was so close to scoring a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 but ultimately ended up picking a 19-16 overtime loss. Trace McSorley started for the Cardinals in that game and went 24/45 for 217 passing yards and zero touchdowns with an interception, which was just what most expected from the former sixth-round pick. The hope for the Cards is that Colt McCoy will be cleared from concussion in time to play in Week 17 against the Falcons, who have a pass defense that looks so salivating for opposing quarterbacks. The Falcons are last in the league in defensive sack rate and in the bottom third of the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed per game.
The Over is 6-3-1 in the Cardinals’ last 10 games overall.
The Falcons still can’t get out of a losing streak. They have now lost four games in a row after falling prey to the Baltimore Ravens last Saturday on the road, 17-9. Atlanta seems to be decided on going with rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder the rest of the way in the 2022 NFL regular season. Against the Ravens, Ridder went 22/33 for 218 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions, which was nothing to write home about, but it was still a better performance than in his debut under center in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. With a talented fellow rookie as his receiver in the form of Drake London, Ridder will have someone he can count on downfield to move the chains against the Cardinals, whose pass defense is among the softest in the league.
The Falcons are 4-3 against the spread in their last seven home games.
