The Atlanta Falcons were a just an extra point away from possibly tying the game and snapping a brutal four-game losing streak. Instead, the Cardinals escaped with a 34-33 win.
Matt Bryant has a resume loaded with clutch kicks and is usually automatic within 50 yards, but this year he has struggled at times with consistency.
"I told him 'we love him,'" said head coach Dan Quinn on what he told Bryant after the missed kick. "In many cases, he's made a bunch more for us on this team this year, and he's one of the more mentally tough guys that I've ever coached."
The defensive game plan for the Falcons was to contain Kyler Murray. That plan was not executed as Murray threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns.
The Falcons secondary allowed pass plays of 51, 38, 31 and 30 yards in the first half.
"They had their chances for big, explosive plays, and that's what they had against us in the first half, and we knew that coming in that could not be the case," Quinn said.
The offense finally got rolling with Matt Ryan throwing for 356 yards and 4 touchdowns. Austin Hooper (117 yards and 1 touchdown) and Julio Jones (108 yards) were his primary targets, and Devonta Freeman caught a touchdown. Freeman also rushed for 88 yards - the most he's rushed for this season so far.
The Falcons have a tough schedule ahead with one win under their belt and hoping to avoid losing their sixth consecutive game.
"More than anything, we get a chance to fight in front of our home fans and that always means a lot to do that," Quinn said. "There's no moral victories, there's no things of that such other than finding our ways to fight and get our football team the wins we need to get."
They host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday at 4:00 p.m.