Atlanta Falcons vs Arizona Cardinals Prediction & Preview - 12/21/2025
Updated July 9, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons will take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in a Week 16 NFL matchup in the desert. Atlanta arrives with a 5-9 record looking to build on a comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Arizona sits at 3-11, having dropped six in a row and searching for something positive. Before kickoff from Glendale, I've broken this game down and you will find my Falcons vs Cardinals prediction right here.
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The Falcons are coming off a hard-fought 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a result that snapped a two-game losing streak and gave them a boost of confidence heading into this road contest. Tight end Kyle Pitts was a major factor in that win, racking up 166 receiving yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his role as the centerpiece of Atlanta’s passing offense with Drake London out of action. London remains out here, which limits the Falcons’ depth in their receiving corps, but Pitts’ performance demonstrates how potent this offense can be when he is utilized effectively.
Arizona has struggled mightily this season, as evidenced by its 3-11 record and a six-game losing streak. The Cardinals have been outscored consistently, and their defense has allowed 40 or more points in two straight games. Injuries have taken their toll as well, with key contributors like running back Trey Benson ruled out for the season along with starting quarterback Kyler Murray.
Despite these setbacks, tight end Trey McBride and receiver Michael Wilson have been bright spots, combining for meaningful production in a beleaguered passing game. McBride leads all tight ends in receiving yards with just over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett has filled in capably for the injured Murray, relying heavily on McBride to make his life easier.
At quarterback, the Falcons are relying on Kirk Cousins under center, who led Atlanta's comeback win over Tampa Bay last week. Cousins has played well for the most part since replacing Michael Penix Jr. Cousins is playing to audition for a starting job elsewhere next season and will be highly motivated in this game.
Arizona’s Brissett has a losing record as a starter this season, but has arguably been better than Kyler Murray in the games he has appeared in this year. Brissett’s ability to spread the ball to targets other than McBride and Wilson will be critical if Arizona hopes to challenge Atlanta in this matchup.
Score Projection: Falcons 24 – Cardinals 27
Win Probability: Falcons 46%, Cardinals 54%
The Falcons came back to beat the Bucs last week, but they looked terrible on both sides of the ball for most of that game. They should struggle for the most part in this road game as well. I'll take the Cardinals to cover the number as an underdog, as I project them winning outright on Sunday.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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