Kickoff: 4:35 EST Location: University of Phoenix Stadium The upstart Atlanta Falcons, led by the legs of Michael Turner and the arm of rookie of sensation Matt Ryan, are already in Arizona preparing for their playoff battle against the Cardinals, powered by Kurt Warner's timeless arm and deadly trio of receivers, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and the oft-forgotten Steve Breaston, all of whom have topped 1,000 yards receiving this season. General consensus seems to favor the Falcons, but, as I'm sure they are all aware, nothing is a given. So just what will it take for the Falcons to pull off this win and extend this already unlikely post-season? First of all, the have to run the ball, run the ball, and then to change things up, run the ball. Michael Turner is one of the toughest running backs in the league, and Jerious Norwood has demonstrated time and time again in his NFL career that he can be a game changer. Arizona has a mediocre rush defense, so the Dirty Birds should be able to keep things moving forward at all times on the ground. Time-of-possession will be a major factor for the Falcons in this game, as the best way to shut down Arizona's powerful passing attack is to keep Warner and the gang on the bench. If the running game gets off to a strong start, the Cards will be forced to stack the line and keep eight men in the box. This should open up Ryan's passing game and give Roddy White and Michael Jenkins a good chance to burn the defense. Matty needs a few timely receptions to get his confidence up and running, as his last couple of outings were not as great as many of his previous games. He needs to remain smart with the ball, because Kurt Warner will most likely be able to capitalize on any mistakes Ryan makes. Third, get pressure on Warner with the front four on defense. It doesn't help that Jamaal Anderson isn't likely to play, but John Abraham will be good to go, following his half-game break this past Sunday. If Abraham is able to harass Warner, Kurt will have to get the ball away quicker, and keep his talented wide-outs closer to home. Better yet, if big Grady Jackson can get one sack in, and land his 365 pound body on Warner, he just might be rattled enough to make mistakes. With that in mind, don't count on Warner to be making many mistakes. The secondary will likely give up a few yards, so they will have to play smart, avoid penalties, don't get frustrated, and most importantly, stick their tackles. Anquan Boldin is a monster in yards-after-catch, and Fitzgerald isn't too shabby, either, so this game can get out of hand quickly if they are able to slip away from their coverage. Don't forget about Breaston, either. Dominique Foxworth, Chris Houston, and Chevis Jackson will have their hands full from start to finish. Stop the run with as few players as possible. Falcons will probably spend a lot of time in the nickel package, so if Keith Brooking and Michael Boley, along with the D-line can shut down Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower, Lawyer Milloy and Erik Coleman will be free to drop back into coverage and aid the corners. Lastly, the special-teams play of this team has been nothing shy of amazing. Giving up just 49 punt-return yards all season, and being quick to the ball on both punts and kickoffs, this kicking squad just needs to keep doing what they've done all season. If Norwood and Harry Douglas are able to keep control of the ball, the Falcon's return game will be sturdy as well, giving Matty Ice and his crew great field position all day.