Arizona found a way to ice Matty Ice.

Too bad it couldn't thaw out its own offense.

Ryan threw a career-high five interceptions and the Falcons committed six turnovers, but the Cardinals could not make them pay behind an anemic passing game as Atlanta moved to 9-1 with a 23-19 win on Sunday.

After Arizona (4-6) was forced to punt for the sixth time with 9:44 left in the game, desperately clinging to a 19-16 lead, Atlanta went 70 yards in seven plays, capped off by a 1-yard Michael Turner touchdown.

With a passing game led by a cold rookie -- Ryan Lindley, who took over for John Skelton after Skelton started just 2 of 7 for six yards -- Arizona had less momentum than a boulder in quicksand. The Cardinals finished with just 41 net passing yards as Lindley could do little to lift the team. He especially set the team back with a fumble on his third play: Atlanta's Jonathan Babineaux scooped up the ball and raced it back 15 yards for the touchdown.

Arizona got to Ryan early, as in the first play of the game, as Rashad Johnson gave the Cardinals great field position after intercepting Ryan and taking it to the 9-yard line. LaRod Stephens-Howling, who went on to have his best game for Arizona, ran it in two plays later for the touchdown, and the Cardinals took the surprising early lead.

Arizona eventually closed the first quarter up 13-0, but Atlanta shifted the game with a 16-3 second quarter that tied things up before the half. But despite opportunity after opportunity, Arizona could not avoid a sixth straight loss.

When the game turned: Whenever the Cardinals had to play offense. You can argue that the game was in doubt for Atlanta until Turner's short touchdown, but with the way the Arizona passing game played, it seemed just a matter of time until the Falcons caught up. 

Highlight moments: Stephens-Howling provided the only semblance of game-breaking ability with two runs of more than 40 yards, including a 52-yarder, but that was just about the only offense Arizona got all day. ... Each of Ryan's interceptions was impressive for the sound Cardinals' defense, but he still finished with 301 yards, including a nice 37-yard connection with Roddy White. Perhaps none had the pizazz of Arizona linebacker Daryl Washington's late-third quarter pick, which set up the last of four Jay Feely field goals.

Top-shelf performances:

  • RB Stephens-Howling -- Stephens-Howling used Arizona's bye week to rest his aching body, and it worked, as he gained 127 yards on 22 carries.

     
  • WR Roddy White -- The Falcons' venerable star had eight catches for 123 yards and was the only impact player for an Atlanta offense that looked perhaps worst than it has all year.
     

  • K Jay Feely  -- As poor as the Arizona offense looked, can you imagine if it didn't have the leg of Feely? Feely's 4-for-4 field-goal day kept the Cardinals in the game, even if they would've loved a touchdown -- or four -- instead.

     
  • LB Daryl Washington -- He was the Cardinals' leading tackler with 10 and provided the woulda, coulda, shoulda interception that might have led to a game-sealing score -- if Arizona could pass the ball.

What they said about the game:

  • John Skelton: "Tough loss. Defense did a hell of a job. Offensively, we didn't do our part. Utterly disappointing in so many ways."

Numbers you should know: Arizona converted just 2 of 16 third-down attempts. As if the Cardinals' offense needs any reminders, Arizona managed just 13 percent on third downs, and that's a big reason for a total of seven first downs. ... Atlanta averaged five yards per play. Clearly turnovers were the big issue, but it's not as if the Falcons went nowhere on the Cardinals. Atlanta managed 354 yards of total offense and Ryan had 296 net passing yards on the day as the Falcons averaged five yards per play.

Injury updates: Atlanta -- WR Julio Jones aggravated an ankle injury and left the game in the third quarter. ... CB Asante Samuel exited in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.

Going forward: Cardinals -- After a gauntlet that included San Francisco, Green Bay and Atlanta, the Cardinals come back down to earth a bit with a home showdown against Arizona. Falcons -- Atlanta has a tough follow-up test as it travels to division-rival Tampa Bay.

For more news and analysis from Cardinals blogger Jon Gold, follow @CBSCardinals on Twitter.

For more Falcons coverage, follow Mike Singer @CBSSportsNFLATL.