Falcons Drive Past the Cardinals, 20-17 : NFC: Wilson comes off bench to lead Atlanta on game-winning march against Phoenix.

Atlanta quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver did something Sunday he said he has never done before and never will again.

Tolliver argued with Falcon Coach Jerry Glanville when Glenville went with Wade Wilson on the final drive, one that led to Norm Johnson’s 35-yard field goal with 50 seconds left in a 20-17 victory over the Phoenix Cardinals.

“Billy Joe is a competitor,” Glanville said. “That’s why I love him.

“Every time you take Billy Joe out of a game, you’ve got to be ready to fight. He said he wasn’t coming out, and we had to remind him who makes the decisions.”

The Falcons drove 48 yards in nine plays behind Wilson, who completed three passes for 31 yards and ran for four yards in two carries during the winning drive.

“When I go in, I take advantage of my opportunity,” Wilson said. “It was the kind of situation I’ve been in a lot of years in my career--a backup. Having been around for 12 years, I thought I could handle the pressure.”

The Falcons (4-6) came up with four turnovers, two inside their 10, and blocked two field goals. The Cardinals (3-7) lost for the first time in three games.

“I really feel that we kind of gave the game away today,” Cardinal defensive lineman Eric Swann said. “We had a lot of opportunities that we really didn’t capitalize on.”

The Cardinals tied the score, 17-17, with 7:39 to play when Robert Massey intercepted a pass by Tolliver and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. It was Massey’s third interception return for a score this season.

The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead three minutes later after Mike Jones sacked Tolliver, forcing a fumble that Jock Jones recovered on the Atlanta 29.

Darion Conner’s sack of Chris Chandler for a seven-yard loss forced the Cardinals to go for a field goal, and Greg Davis’ 53-yard attempt fell short with 4:22 remaining.

The Falcons tokk a 17-10 lead on Andre Rison’s second touchdown reception from Tolliver, a seven-yarder at the start of the fourth quarter.

Tolliver connected with Rison on a 30-yard touchdown pass play in the first quarter, and Johnson kicked a 27-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.

The Cardinals bunched their other scoring in the final minute of the first half to gain a 10-10 tie at intermission.

Chandler connected with John Jackson on a five-yard scoring pass to end an 81-yard drive one minute before halftime, cutting the Falcons’ lead to 10-7.

The Cardinals got the ball back with 40 seconds left when Mike Pritchard fumbled at the end of a 22-yard reception and Lorenzo Lynch recovered at midfield.

Chandler hooked up with Johnny Bailey for a 22-yard play to the Atlanta 36, and two plays later Davis kicked a 49-yard field goal with five seconds remaining.