ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Falcons' fall has taken them from the Super Bowl to one of the worst records in the league.

Arizona's flop has been less severe, but just as disappointing for the Cardinals.

The teams meet Sunday at the Georgia Dome under very different circumstances from a year ago. Both clubs have performed below expectations.

The Falcons (3-11) are playing to avoid further embarrassment. The Cardinals (6-8), and losers of two in a row, still are holding out a slim chance of making the postseason despite their record.

"It should be a good matchup; two playoff teams from last year struggling this year," said Atlanta coach Dan Reeves, who coached the 1990 Denver Broncos to a 5-11 mark after a Super Bowl appearance the previous season. The Falcons could take possession of the dubious distinction of an even bigger collapse.

"I'm more concerned about getting our football team playing well," said Reeves. "Records don't mean anything to me. It's more important to see that you're going in the right direction, because right now we aren't."

One bright spot for the Falcons will be the return of starting quarterback Chris Chandler, who has missed four full games and parts of four others with various injuries.

Chandler, who hurt his ribs two weeks ago, did not play in Sunday's 30-17 loss to Tennessee. Danny Kanell, who started in place of Chandler, tore medial collateral ligaments in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season. Tony Graziani will be the backup Sunday.

"Chris hopefully will be ready to go," said Reeves. "He feels like he is ready to go."

Chandler, who resumed practicing on Wednesday, said he felt better and expects to start.

"I don't anticipate it (the ribs) being a problem," he said.

The Falcons, who close the season with two home games _ the finale on Jan. 3 against San Francisco _ oppose a team coming off a loss to Buffalo and which plays its final two games on the road, the other on Jan. 2 at Green Bay.

"It's been a disappointing season for them, too, being in the playoffs last year and winning in the first round of the playoffs," said Reeves.

"I think everybody looked at them as a team to be reckoned with, too. I think mathematically they are still alive, but certainly have been very inconsistent throughout the year."

Arizona coach Vince Tobin couldn't agree more.

"It's been an up and down season. We were 2-6 at one time, then won four in a row, but now we've lost two in a row and are hanging on by our fingernails," he said.

Tobin said he hasn't given up hope of making the playoffs as a wild card, but the Cardinals must win the last two games to have a chance.

"That's our No. 1 priority. The only thing we can do is find a way to beat the Falcons, find a way to beat Green Bay and then see what happens."

What gives him hope is that no team in the NFC East has run away.

Wide receiver Rob Moore is still optimistic, too.

"We've still got two games left and I don't think anybody wants to go into this thing with a losing season," said Moore. "Furthermore, maybe we still have something at stake here. With everybody losing, maybe we have a chance."

Arizona will be counting on quarterback Jake Plummer, who has 11 game-winning comebacks to his credit in only three years in the league. In his rookie seson he threw a 1-yrd TD pass to Larry Centers with five seconds left to give the Cardinals a 29-26 win over the Falcons.

"He is always dangerous late in the game," said Reeves.

"We've just got to keep playing. The season is not over," said Plummer, who missed four games when he fractured the ring finger on his right hand. In the 10 games he's played, Plummer has thrown only seven touchdown passes with 19 interceptions.

"He injured his hand and I think that has really has had an effect on the way he throws the ball," said Reeves.

ARIZONA Season schedule and results

ATLANTA Season schedule and results

September 12 @Philadelphia W 25-24 September 19 @Miami L 16-19 September 27 San Francisco L 10-24 October 3 @Dallas L 7-35 October 10 NY Giants W 14-3 October 17 Washington L 10-24 October 31 New England L 3-27 November 7 @NY Jets L 7-12 November 14 Detroit W 23-19 November 21 Dallas W 13-9 November 28 @NY Giants W 34-24 December 5 Philadelphia W 21-17 December 12 @Washington L 3-28 December 19 Buffalo L 21-31 December 26 @Atlanta 1:00pm ET January 2 @Green Bay 1:00pm ET

September 12 Minnesota L 14-17 September 20 @Dallas L 7-24 September 26 @St. Louis L 7-35 October 3 Baltimore L 13-19 October 10 @New Orleans W 20-17 October 17 St. Louis L 13-41 October 25 @Pittsburgh L 9-13 October 31 Carolina W 27-20 November 7 Jacksonville L 7-30 November 21 @Tampa Bay L 10-19 November 28 @Carolina L 28-34 December 5 New Orleans W 35-12 December 12 @San Francisco L 7-26 December 19 @Tennessee L 17-30 December 26 Arizona 1:00pm ET January 3 San Francisco 9:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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