Jeff Gross / Getty Images

Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald leaps for a 42-yard touchdown over Lawyer Milloy (36) and Chris Houston (23) during the first quarter.

But Warner completed passes to Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Stephen Spach, then the Cardinals ran out the clock.

When it was over, Whisenhunt ran along the front row of the stadium, exchanging high-fives with fans. The Cardinals didn’t sell out the game until Friday, but the throng was loud and boisterous throughout.

Ryan’s first pass of the playoffs was intercepted by Ralph Brown, leading to Warner’s 42-yard TD to Fitzgerald on a flea-flicker. Early in the second quarter, Warner threw short to Boldin, who beat safety Lawyer Milloy and ran down the sideline on a 71-yard scoring play.

Boldin hurt his left hamstring on the play. He played the next series, then left for good.

Atlanta scored twice in the final 2:55 to take a 17-14 halftime, then got the ball on the second-half kickoff.

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was the disruptive force on the crucial fumble.

“I just jumped the snap count, man,” he said. “I needed to make a play. We needed a spark. We were down and that was the play that turned this whole thing around.”

Dockett hit Turner just as Ryan was trying to hand off the ball. The ball bounced off Turner’s forearm and into the hands of Rolle, who raced to the end zone.

The Cardinals mustered their first extended drive of the game later in the third quarter. Moving the ball with James’ running and Warner’s short passes, Arizona used up 7:43, going 76 yards in 14 plays. Warner’s 14-yard pass to Breaston on third-and-3 set up Tim Hightower’s 4-yard run that made it 28-17.

Notes: The Falcons had the ball for 21:19 in the first half, the Cardinals had it for 21:21 in the second. ... It was a nice day outside but the Cardinals kept the roof closed at University of Phoenix Stadium. The stadium is far louder with the roof closed. ... Each team was without a starting defensive end because of injuries, Jamaal Anderson for Atlanta and Travis LaBoy for Arizona. ... Arizona is 13-4 at home since Whisenhunt became coach.

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