NFL Notebook | Michael Turner helps 11-5 Falcons make games a rush hour

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Atlanta Falcons might run away with a wild-card victory over Arizona on Saturday, if regular-season history means anything.

The Falcons, led by Michael Turner, have one of the best rushing games in the league. The Cardinals have the worst.

"It's no secret. We know what they're going to come in and try to do," Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby said.

Turner went from San Diego backup to a Pro Bowl powerhouse in Atlanta, helping the Falcons turn a tumultuous 4-12 finish last season into a playoff run this season. He rushed for 1,699 yards, second to Minnesota's Adrian Peterson in the league and 521 yards more than the entire Arizona team.

"That's at the core of our belief as a coaching staff, that you have to be able to run the football and control the line of scrimmage, because when you do that, it opens up the rest of the offense," Atlanta coach Mike Smith said.

Turner said the Falcons (11-5) don't need to resort to tricks or big surprises.

"The team that makes the least amount of mistakes is going to win the football game," he said. "Some guys try to make the game seem like they've got to make that extra play or something like that, but just stick with what got us here. If we execute, we'll be fine."

The Cardinals (9-7), last among 32 league teams in rushing, have returned to Edgerrin James as their lead back after banishing him to the bench for seven games. James gained 100 yards in Arizona's 34-21 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday to move ahead of Franco Harris into 11th on the league's career rushing list.

James acknowledges he never bought in to Arizona's pass-happy offense.

"They did what they had to do, but at the end of the day, that's all over with," James said after Thursday's practice. "Now it's time to get serious. We're through playing around. Everything is serious and I'm here to try to make plays and try to help this team move forward."

When Arizona is out of the playoffs, James knows he is gone from the Cardinals.

"I think the feeling's mutual," he said, laughing. "It's something I'm going to contest."

But James, who will be appearing in his 10th playoff game, insists he is not motivated to show that he still has what it takes to succeed.

"If I felt I couldn't play, I wouldn't play," he said. "I don't have to play this game. I've done everything the right way. I'm not in a situation where I'm financially strapped or I don't have the statistics or whatever. I play this game because I like to play this game, because I can, and because I want to."

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, The Associated Press offensive rookie of the year, said having Turner and backup running back Jerious Norwood has been invaluable for his success.

"That's a huge part of it," Ryan said. "I think that anytime, regardless of whether you're a rookie or a veteran, anytime you have a run game that's been as successful as ours has been this year, it helps you as a quarterback."

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said he recognizes much of Atlanta's offense because he and Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey were together on coach Bill Cowher's staff in Pittsburgh.

Whisenhunt was tight-ends coach before succeeding Mularkey as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator.

"They've got a couple of good running backs. Their offensive line works very well together, and they work hard to finish blocks," Whisenhunt said. "They have a lot of confidence in their running game. Even if they don't get a lot of positive carry early, they'll stay with it and eventually they'll break one."

Tomlinson, Gates

sit out practice again

SAN DIEGO — San Diego standouts LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates missed a second consecutive practice Thursday as the Chargers continued to prepare for their home wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night.

It sounds as if running back Tomlinson, who has a strained groin, is in better shape than tight end Gates, who has a sprained ankle.

"If we were playing today, he probably wouldn't play," coach Norv Turner said of Gates.

And L.T.? "Yeah, I think he would," the coach said.

"Both of them are a lot better than they have been," Turner said. "It really will be a Saturday decision, how they feel. We'll get them out there and run around and see how they feel. I'm optimistic about both of them."

Tomlinson, the 2006 league most valuable player, said he felt better than he did Sunday night, when he was hurt in San Diego's 52-21 victory Denver that clinched the AFC West for the Chargers (8-8).

By Saturday night, "hopefully it will be good enough to be productive," Tomlinson said.

Indianapolis (12-4) and San Diego are meeting for the fourth time in two seasons. Last season, the Chargers beat the Colts 28-24 in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning enters on a roll — he has completed 90 of 110 passes for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns, with zero interceptions, in the last four games.

The Colts started 3-4, partly because of knee problems that kept Manning out of camp and limited him early in the season. During the team's nine-game winning streak, Manning is 209 for 290 for 2,248 yards and 17 touchdowns, with three passes that have been intercepted.

Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera said, "Now you see the timing, you see the ball being put where it needs to be put, and you see the receivers in sync with him. That's what we, as a group, have got to be able to handle. He's going to put the ball where it needs to be."

Notes

• Fired coach Mike Shanahan's successor in Denver will inherit an explosive offense that might be one healthy running back from greatness. He will also take over a dreadful defense.

Shanahan's 14-year tenure as Broncos coach ended with the franchise mired in mediocrity: a 24-24 record over the last three seasons. Denver was second in the league in yardage this season but the defense ranked 29th and allowed a league-high 448 points.

The first two candidates who will interview for the Denver job are Steve Spagnuolo, New York Giants defensive coordinator, and Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary coach.

• Scott Pioli, who has helped build the New England Patriots into a powerhouse, met Wednesday with Browns owner Randy Lerner about Cleveland's vacancy at general manager. It is not known if Lerner, who also is conducting coaching interviews this week, offered the 43-year-old Pioli the job.

Lerner met with Spagnuolo, who has an interview with the New York Jets scheduled Saturday. Spagnuolo is also likely to meet with Detroit officials.