One team is hoping to prevent a second-half slide like the one that derailed its season a year ago.The other is just trying to keep its head above water, knowing that one more loss could effectively end any chance it has left of making the playoffs for a third straight year.That and more are on the line Sunday at the Georgia Dome when the Arizona Cardinals (4-5-1) visit the Atlanta Falcons (6-4) in a pivotal NFC battle.This marks the seventh time in the past 11 years that the teams met, with each splitting the previous six meetings.Its a chance for the Falcons to extend their slim lead in the NFC South over the Buccaneers, Saints and Panthers. Its a chance for the Cardinals to possibly salvage their season -- at least for another week.Asked if his team had a sense of urgency, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, who had to spend a night in the hospital because of chest pains following his teams latest loss -- a 26-20 defeat at Minnesota -- just scowled.Oh yeah, he said. If you dont have one right now you dont belong in the business, and you damn sure dont belong in this locker room.The Cardinals have been searching for answers all season after a 13-3 regular season a year ago in which the offense set multiple franchise records and quarterback Carson Palmer was in the conversation for MVP candidacy upon setting several career firsts.Palmer and the offense, however, went missing in 2016 and other than second-year running back David Johnson, who ranks third in the league in rushing with 863 yards, there hasnt been any of the same consistency Arians and the Cardinals are used to enjoying.Palmer said theres only one thing on the teams mind as it gets ready for the Falcons.To win one game, he said. Cant worry about seeding or standings or division records; nothing matters other than this game. As leaders, as the older guys in the locker room, you just keep everybodys focus on one day at a time, finishing today. Weve got the practice part done. We have a lot of meetings and a lot of tape to watch. You finish day after day after day, and thats the mindset that we have.As for the Falcons, they still have last season on their mind. Atlanta began 6-1, but scuffled their way to a 2-7 finish over their last nine games to finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs for the third straight season.Another second-half collapse wouldnt only be punishing, it could lead to more changes once again for a franchise that hasnt been able to finish what it started. Head coach Dan Quinn acknowledged that still resonates across the organization, but that last seasons second-half fail could propel the Falcons moving forward.Well, we certainly hope so, Quinn said. The scars that you get when you finish poorly, they definitely leave a mark. Were a way different team than our 2015 team -- our mental toughness, our resilience; were just tighter, were better, were more complete in that way.Thats, I think, the biggest difference. Although we didnt finish all of them like wed like to this year, I would say were quite a bit different outfit than we were at the end of 2015.Atlanta boasts one of the leagues best offenses. Its ranked first in points per game (32.0), yards per play (6.7), passing yards per play (8.9) and touchdowns scored (36). Overall, the offense is ranked third, averaging 416.6 yards per game.Quarterback Matt Ryan is enjoying one of his finest season to date, ranking second in passing yards (3,247), third in passing touchdowns (24) and fourth in completion percentage (68.2). His favorite target, wide receiver Julio Jones, leads the league in receiving yards (1,105) and has been difficult for everyone to slow down.Jones had 10 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown in his last game against the Cardinals two years ago, torching Arizonas All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson. That was the season in which Peterson, however, was dealing with diabetes and it had to be diagnosed, which led to his worst season in the pros.Peterson is a completely different player now, however, and Jones can see that on film.He dropped that weight, looks like hes in better shape, Jones said. Hes always a good athlete, a guy who can make plays. He can pretty much do a lot of great things.Peterson will shadow Jones throughout the game, something other teams have tried and failed to do against Jones this season.Teams have been trying to do that, but theyve been playing a lot of two-man while they were doing it, Jones said. Theyll take their OK corner and put him over me and then just have safety help, and try to put the better corner on the other side, try to let him lock that side down. Pat P, its just usually one-on-one. Its always been great matchups between us.The Cardinals get Tyrann Mathieu, their playmaking safety, back this week after the Honey Badger missed the last two games because of a shoulder subluxation. His addition could make the leagues top-ranked defense, which is allowing a league-low 287.4 total yards per game as well as the fewest passing yards per game (190.2), that much more dangerous.As good as Arizonas defense has been, Mathieu said it hasnt been good enough.I think we could play better, he said. Every game, theres like three or four plays where were just giving up touchdowns or giving up big plays. Weve got to continue to create turnovers, weve got to create more turnovers, weve got to find a way to score and shorten the field for our offense.Mathieu said the Cardinals will have their hands full with Ryan, Jones and Atlantas running back tandem of Davonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, who is finally healthy.Theyre a dominating offense, obviously, he said. Matt Ryan is playing tremendous right now, Julio, it goes without saying, and theyve got two running backs that are definitely going to try and hurt us in the run and the pass game, so our front has to play well, our linebackers have to play well and then on the back end, weve got to do a good of containing Julio. Custom Bernie Williams Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. Didi Gregorius Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custom-wade-boggs-jersey-large-334i.html . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Joe DiMaggio Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Alex Rodriguez Jersey Large . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Kimi Raikkonen says a number of small factors have contributed to him closing the gap to Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel this year.Raikkonen is currently seven points behind Vettel in the drivers championship, compared to the 99-point gap he had to his teammate after the same amount of races last year. In qualifying he has beaten Vettel five times in 14 races and at the last five rounds has outqualified Vettel three times.Asked how he has closed the gap to Vettel this year, Raikkonen said: Its a lot of small things. The car has to be good for making good lap times, I work with a great group of people but there are so many small things involved that even if a very small thing is not correct the lap time or the race distance is not there.I think we learned a lot from difficult things in the past few years and this year has been more as it should be.ddddddddddddAt the start of the year Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene requested the car be better suited to Raikkonens driving style. The Finn had complained that the 2014 and 2015 Ferraris did not give him the confidence and feedback he desired when turning into corners. The 2016 Ferrari has a more positive front end and Raikkonen says he feels more comfortable with the car.The driving has been pretty OK but I still feel we can improve more in all the details. Theres a lot of details to work on to be more comfortable and know what the car will do, so we can push more, but theres no one thing you can say you can change and that will turn things around or pull yourself around. Its a lot of small details. ' ' '