Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons are having trouble scoring touchdowns when they get close to the end zone. The way the defence is playing, it doesn't really matter.

DeAngelo Hall returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown, Jerious Norwood broke off a 78-yard scoring run and 46-year-old Morten Andersen kicked five field goals in Atlanta's 32-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Falcons (3-1) head into their bye week having allowed only one touchdown on defence this season. Arizona's lone TD was a 99-yard interception return by Adrian Wilson _ the longest in franchise history.

It wasn't nearly enough to prevent the Cardinals (1-3) from their third straight loss. Neither was a quarterback change.

Matt Leinart took over with 13 minutes remaining for Kurt Warner, who had another woeful game and was replaced by the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner. On the rookie's second play, Grady Jackson blew by his blocker to knock the ball away from the quarterback before he could even hand off on a running play.

Rod Coleman recovered for the Falcons to set up Andersen's final kick, a 28-yarder that matched his career high for field goals in a game. The second-oldest player in NFL history also connected from 34, 40, 36 and 26 yards.

The Falcons also got a field goal from Michael Koenen, who lost his kicking job to Andersen after making only two of eight attempts. The second-year player, who still handles punting and kickoffs, came on to hit a 51-yarder _ a little out of Andersen's range.

Vick had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and seventh of his career, extending his own NFL record for quarterbacks with 101 yards on 11 carries. But the Falcons quarterback didn't have an especially memorable game, failing to produce a touchdown on six trips inside the Arizona 20-yard line.

His ugliest play came with six minutes left in the first half, when he tried to force a pass for Michael Jenkins in the end zone. Wilson picked it off in front of the goal line and streaked down the sideline to give the Cardinals a short-lived lead of 10-9.

Atlanta came into the game ranked 26th out of 32 teams in red-zone efficiency, which is sure to go lower after they dropped to 3-for-17 on the season.

But the Falcons are playing as well defensively as any team in the league. The only touchdown they have surrendered came on a trick play by New Orleans last week (the other two against Atlanta came on a blocked punt and Wilson's return).

Linebacker Michael Boley had a huge game, tipping the pass that Hall returned for a touchdown, forcing a fumble, and coming up with an interception of his own on another tipped ball. Patrick Kerney equalled his career high with three sacks. Coleman recovered a pair of fumbles.

The Falcons also had their third 200-yard rushing game of the season, piling up 262 yards. The rookie Norwood set a career high with 106 yards on six carries _ most of them on the longest run from scrimmage in Falcons' history, breaking a 77-yard run by Byron Hanspard in 1997.

Warner was 11-of-20 for 128 yards with an interception and two fumbles. Edgerrin James was held to 41 yards on 20 carries as the Cardinals managed just 31 yards on the ground.

© The Canadian Press, 2007