ATLANTA _ Falcons wide receiver Taylor Gabriel ignited the offense in a 38-19 victory against the Arizona Cardinals before 69,243 boisterous fans on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
Gabriel was the answer to the Cardinals' exotic blitzes as he scored on two screen passes and had a long-gainer on a reverse. He finished with four catches for 75 yards and touchdown receptions of 35 and 25 yards.
The Falcons, who are in first place in the NFC South, improved to 7-4. The Cardinals, who reached the NFC Championship game last season, dropped to 4-6-1.
Here are the five things we learned:
1. Lightning in a bottle. The Falcons have some lightning packed into the 5-foot, 8-inch and 165-pound Gabriel.
With the score tied at 10 with 2:28 left in the second quarter, the Cardinals sent an all-out blitz.
Quarterback Matt Ryan flipped the ball outside to Gabriel on a quick screen at the 40-yard line. He picked up a block from tight end Levine Toilolo on Arizona cornerback Marcus Cooper. He cut inside and then put a move on Arizona safety D.J. Swearinger. Gabriel cut back outside and outran Arizona linebacker Chandler Jones to the end zone.
Gabriel helped to put the game out of reach when he scored on another screen from 25 yards out with 8:48 to play in the game.
Gabriel made the first defender miss and then flashed his speed before diving into the end zone from about 4 yards out. His second touchdown capped a 10-play, 60-yard drive and give the Falcons a 31-13 lead.
2. Run attack shut down. The Falcons were hoping that the return of running back Tevin Coleman would help spark the rushing attack.
With the Falcons holding a 17-13 halftime lead, Devonta Freeman had rushed five times for 16 yards and Coleman had one carry for minus five yards.
The Falcons' longest run from scrimmage was a 27-yard reverse by Gabriel.
Freeman finished with 16 carries for 60 yards and a 5-yard rushing touchdown with 2:07 left. Coleman finished with eight carries for 9 yards.
3. Upshaw at home. Defensive tackle Courtney Upshaw, who's been converted from linebacker this season, continued to shine against the Cardinals.
He had several hurries and shared a sack with Brooks Reed.
Upshaw helped to shut down the Cardinals' rushing attack. David Johnson had 58 yards on 13 carries.
This was the first game since the defense gave up 208 yards rushing against Philadelphia.
4. Wile up to the task. Punter Matt Wile, who played at Michigan and was making his NFL debut, handled the punting and kickoff chores with Matt Bosher out with a hamstring injury.
Wile was signed to the 53-man roster on Tuesday.
Wile was a four-year letterman and appeared in 52 games as a kickoff specialist and punter for the Wolverines. He appeared in 18 games as a punter and placed 29 punts inside the 20.
After the 2015 draft, Wile was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent. He was in camp with the Cowboys in 2015.
Bosher suffered a hamstring injury against the Eagles and couldn't finish the game. Kicker Matt Bryant took over and punted twice and had a 33.5 average.
Bosher has played in 90 consecutive regular-season games since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Wile's kickoffs were not returned and he boomed punts of 57 and 59 yards with good hang time.
Quarterback Matt Schaub handled the holding duties on extra points and field goals.
5. Corner back shuffle. Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant, who suffered a torn pectoral and shoulder injury against Tampa Bay on Nov. 3, is set to have season-ending shoulder surgery early next week, according to the Falcons.
"Trufant has another appointment this week and could this week and could have season-ending surgery this week," a team spokesman wrote in a text to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday.
Trufant practiced in a limited role all week and was listed as questionable. He didn't play against the Cardinals.
Although he practiced, Trufant was pretty sure that he wouldn't be able to play.
"I feel good," Trufant said on Monday. "Been a long three weeks just trying to get back to this point."
After the Tampa Bay game, he missed the contest the following week against Philadelphia (5-5), which the Falcons dropped 24-15. Second-year cornerback Jalen Collins took over most of Trufant's role against the Eagles.
Trufant said he felt comfortable with his range of motion, but being such a "twitchy player" who moves his arms a lot could be a factor.
"It's just a mental thing at this point, I think I felt the worst of it when it happened," Trufant said. "It just comes down to how much (pain) can I take."
Trufant is pretty sure now that he'll have the surgery.
He added that the decision to try and return this season was not simple and that he needs to be "smart" going forward no matter how much he may want to play.
