Julio Jones’ big day leads Falcons

ATLANTA (AP) — Patrick Peterson wanted to cover Julio Jones again, adding he had won most of their earlier matchups.

Peterson got his wish, and this time he couldn’t deny Jones got the best of him.

Jones’ career-best game helped lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 29-18 win over Peterson and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in an improbable matchup of first-place teams.

Jones had 10 catches for a career-high 189 yards and a touchdown for the Falcons (5-7), the NFC South leaders.

The Cardinals (9-3) have lost two straight, cutting their lead to one game over Seattle in the NFC West.

“It’s going to be a long plane ride home,” Peterson said.

Peterson played for LSU, Jones played for Alabama, and the rivalry that started in college has continued in the NFL.

“He won a couple battles, and I won a couple battles, but for the most part I believe I won the majority of those battles,” Peterson had said on Wednesday.

That boast caught Jones’ attention.

“Supposedly, Pat said he won most of the battles between me and him,” Jones said, adding he made sure he had “proper rest” to ensure “everything was down” in his timing with quarterback Matt Ryan.

“I am pretty sure it was a statement game for Julio,” Atlanta’s Devin Hester said. “He told me that every night, and every day he thought about it, so I do not know if it stirred him up, but he showed it on the field.”

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians clearly wasn’t happy Peterson couldn’t back up his boast.

“You better watch out when you call people out,” Arians said after the game. “You better be ready to play. If you want to call him out, call him out, but don’t give up … a career day.”

Peterson said Jones “won the matchup today” and added, “I mean, Cy Young winners give up home runs.”

The Falcons took a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.

Steven Jackson’s 55-yard run — his longest run since 2009 — set up Ryan’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Levine Toilolo. Ryan threw a 32-yard scoring pass to Jones later in the quarter.

Ryan was 30 of 41 for 361 yards and a pair of TDs.

Arizona’s only touchdown until late in the game came on an 88-yard interception return by safety Rashad Johnson in the second quarter.

The Cardinals went more than 11 quarters without an offensive touchdown until Drew Stanton’s 3-yard scoring pass to running back Stepfan Taylor with just over a minute remaining.