Arizona Cardinals set to nickel and dime Matt Ryan and the Falcons

Usually when you're getting nickled and dimed to death it takes a considerable amount of time for the other guys to enjoy the big payoff.

It could take fewer than 60 minutes for the Cardinals to pull it off.

That's because they're likely to nickel and dime Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons all afternoon Sunday in the Georgia Dome, knowing their collection of cornerbacks and safeties can not only cover Atlanta's receivers, but force Ryan into turnovers.

Since the Falcons don't have much in the way of a running game, the Cardinals can focus most of their attention on the passing game and rely on variations of their nickel and dime defensive packages to win the game.

An extra defensive back here and there could suffocate Atlanta's offense the way that mulch fire still burning Friday in the West Valley was choking many of those who live nearby.

"Yeah, because they play a lot of four wideouts and they got four good ones and Matty likes to spread it around," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. "So yeah, all our guys — our whole secondary — will have many opportunities to cover, play zone, do it all. Yeah, we'll have a lot of guys out there."

Ryan has seen enough Cardinals defensive backs the past two seasons that he's probably seeing double anyway. In 105 career starts, the quarterback has endured just two games in which he's been intercepted at least four times.

Guess who was the opponent each time it happened in 2012 and 2013?

"The Arizona Cardinals," Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson said.

And how many total picks he threw in those two games?

"Nine," Peterson said, adding with a laugh, "and I don't have any of them. I don't have one."

Sunday just might be his time to shine. Peterson's 14 interceptions since his rookie season in 2011 are the third-most in the NFL over that span. Teammate Antonio Cromartie's 13 picks during that time frame are tied for fourth.

But nine interceptions in his past two games against the Cardinals? That has to play on Ryan's mind.

"I believe at some point in time it probably will leave his head," Peterson said, "but leading up to the game it'll be like, 'OK, this team is my nemesis; I can't get over the hump against these guys.' I'm quite sure he's definitely worked extra hard this week to get over that hump and now that he's got Julio (Jones) and Roddy (White) back at the same time, it should make it a little more easier for him."

White is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. So is the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald, although he maintains that it's "highly likely" he will play.

Arizona's defensive backs wouldn't miss this game for the world. Not when they can smell blood.

"Our secondary is definitely going to have a big impact on this game," safety Rashad Johnson said. "It's because their primetime players play wide receiver. Besides Julio and Roddy, they've got Harry Douglas. He's been hurt, but he's back. And they've got speed in Devin Hester.

"So they've got a lot of weapons but, yeah, out secondary is going to play a huge part in the success we have in this game. We've got to be able to lock down, play some one-on-one, some man-to-man, and we've also got to be able to switch it up at times."

Looking back at last year's game, a 27-13 loss to the Cardinals in which he was intercepted four times, Ryan said it simply wasn't the Falcons' day.

"We'll take a look at it, schematically, to see some of the things they did," he said on a conference call. "Personnel-wise, they're a little bit different than when we were playing them last year. And personnel-wise, we're a little different than we were. It'll be a little bit different matchup and hopefully, we can be a little bit better."

Whether they are or they aren't, you can expect the Cardinals to nickel and dime Ryan and the Falcons all afternoon.

"It's going to be interesting," Peterson said. "I don't know the whole method behind him throwing his four interceptions twice in a game and both of them coming against us. I don't know what it is. We don't practice any different when we play them.

"I just think we're in the right place at the right time or they just love the Arizona Cardinals' defense, one of the two."

Notes

The Cardinals have ruled defensive tackle Ed Stinson (toe) and linebacker Kenny Demens (hamstring) out against the Falcons. Listed as probable are quarterback Drew Stanton (ankle), running back Andre Ellington (hip/foot), receiver John Brown (teeth) and linebackers Lorenzo Alexander (knee) and Marcus Benard (shoulder).

The Falcons announced cornerback Robert Alford (wrist) won't play and that defensive tackle Paul Soliai (not-injury related) joins White as questionable. Listed as probable for Atlanta are Douglas (foot), tackle Jonathan Scott (hamstring) and safety William Moore (shoulder).

Arians said Fitzgerald would be a game-time decision. Fitzgerald practiced on a limited basis Friday and is making progress, Arians said, "but we'll see how he is on Sunday."

Arians confirmed that guard Jonathan Cooper will continue to take snaps in max-protection packages as an extra tackle. The coach wouldn't say how newly acquired running back Michael Bush might be used on Sunday, saying, "We'll wait and see until game time."