Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan leads victory over Lions for NFC’s top seed
DETROIT—Any opponent coming to the Georgia Dome in the playoffs will have to deal with the Falcons and their sizzling quarterback.
Matt Ryan staggered the Lions early and finished them off late for a 31-18 Falcons victory Saturday night at Ford Field. The Falcons (13-2) will be the NFC’s top seed with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Now the Falcons will try to parlay the NFC’s top seed into postseason success. They couldn’t do it in 2010, when they also posted the NFC’s best record only to lose 48-21 to the Packers in the divisional playoffs round.
“It’s in the back of our minds,” Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud said of that game. “But we know we are a different team than we were two years ago with the passion we play with and the play-making ability is much higher than we had two years ago.”
Atlanta’s victory over Detroit rendered moot the result of next Sunday’s regular-season finale against Tampa Bay at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons now will sit back and watch the rest of the NFC’s playoff contenders fight it out for the five other seeds.
The Lions (4-11) lost their seventh consecutive game and could only take solace in wide receiver Calvin Johnson breaking Jerry Rice’s season-single record for receiving yards (1,848). Johnson, the former Sandy Creek High and Georgia Tech standout, needed 182 yards for the mark and finished with 11 catches for 225 yards.
The Falcons will ride into the playoffs with Ryan and the passing game back to their early-season forms. After Ryan carved up the Giants in a 34-0 victory on Sunday, he was 25 for 32 for 279 yards and four touchdowns against the Lions.
Ryan was 15 of 16 for 184 yards with three touchdowns in the first half as the Falcons raced out to a 21-6 lead. When the Lions rallied to within 21-16 early in the final quarter to energize their fans, Ryan quieted them by leading Atlanta on a 10-play touchdown drive.
Ryan completed six straight passes during drive, including a 15-yard pass to Roddy White to convert a third down. Ryan also had 16-yard scramble on second-and-17 and finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Michael Palmer.
“Matt made some big-time throws for us in that drive,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “That’s what Matt has done for us all season long.”
Ryan’s fourth touchdown pass gave him 31 for the season. That ties the franchise single-season record set by Steve Bartkowski in 1980.
Ryan started the game by completing his first 12 pass attempts for 156 yards, including touchdown passes of 44 and 39 yards to White. Ryan’s next pass fell incomplete to leave him two short of the NFL record for consecutive completions—he’d connected on his final 10 attempts against the Giants.
That ended up being Ryan’s only missed pass in the first half. He was 15 for 16 with 184 yards and added a 16-yard touchdown toss to Jones after the two-minute warning.
But Detroit kicked a field goal to trim the lead to 21-6 before halftime and Atlanta’s offense bogged down to start the second half. After the Falcons went three-and-out on their opening possession, the Lions answered with a 10-play, 60-yard drive capped by Mikel Leshoure’s touchdown run.
The Falcons managed just 18 yards on their second possession of the half. The Lions drove to a first-and-goal at Atlanta’s six-yard line to open the fourth quarter but the Falcons held them to a field goal that made it 21-16.
Ultimately the Lions lost because they were the latest opponent that couldn’t stop Atlanta’s passing game even though the Falcons didn’t run the ball effectively.
In the days before the game, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said the Falcons no longer are the power-running team from years past. Now the Falcons air it out with Ryan, Jones, White, tight end Tony Gonzalez and new coordinator Dirk Koetter.
White had eight catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns and Jones had seven receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Gonzalez’s had just one catch but the nine-yard reception converted a third down on the touchdown drive that put the Falcons up 28-16.
“In our offense, I feel like it can be any one of those three guys to step up and make the plays week in and week out,” Ryan said. “Roddy in the first half had some unbelievable plays for us, some explosives. I’m fortunate to have all of those guys around me.”
Falcons players are off until Wednesday. They’ll have a relatively relaxed two weeks as the rest of the NFC playoff picture shakes out and then the wild card teams open the playoffs in two weeks.
The lowest-seeded team to advance from the wild card round will play the Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 12 or 13. As things stand now, Atlanta’s first playoff game most likely will be against either the Seahawks or the eventual winner of the NFC East from among the Redskins, Cowboys or Giants.
But a lot still can change because the 49ers and Packers are the only other NFC teams that have clinched a playoff spot. The 49ers (10-3-1) are the NFC’s No. 2 team at the moment but the Packers (10-4) still can catch them and earn a first-round bye and a home game in the divisional round.
The Falcons no longer have to worry about playoff positioning.
“We are right where we wanted to be,” Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson said. “When we started talking about it in training camp, we wanted to be a good team by the end of the year and control our own destiny. So far things are working out. We have just go out and finish the deal.”
The Falcons will seek to end a three-game losing streak in the playoffs.
In 2008 they lost 30-24 at Arizona in the wild-card round. After losing to Green Bay in the 2010 playoffs, they fell 24-2 to the Giants in the wild-card round last season.
“I think we are definitely a different football team than we’ve been the past couple of years,” Ryan said. “Right now I think our confidence is high and our experience in the past, both good and bad, have helped us get to the point we’re at. I think the key is to continue to keep the focus where it’s been.”
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137 comments Add your comment
Stay home #7 suporters .........
December 23rd, 2012
7:56 am
Enter your comments here
Stay home #7 suporters .........
December 23rd, 2012
8:01 am
This team should mark the end of fools wearing #7 jerseys to the dome……..
Matty “The Man” Ryan will be remembered as a TRUE winner in Falcons lore, not the convicted dog murderer..
Any one wearing a #7 jersey should be badgered and showered with a beer until he removes a worthless piece of laundry from a horrific past.
Let’s give credit where credit is due. Stay the h e l l home and wear your garb.
Falcon fan
December 23rd, 2012
8:07 am
I think with alot of these fans its more about flying the Falcon colors than rooting for #7. A jersey…is a jersey…is a jersey….
imho…
GOooooooooooooooooooo Falcons…!!!!
papadawg
December 23rd, 2012
8:07 am
Ol 33 just stop running and cost the Birds a saftey. Time to get younger at RB
booger
December 23rd, 2012
8:17 am
Totally agree with ‘Stay home #7 supporters’.
Quit show ignorance by living in the past. This is probably the best team since 1998 Birds, 1980 Bartkowski/Andrews bunch which should of won it all . They were better than the Eagles that year, that loss was devistating to Dallas, thanks to the ‘prevent defense’.
Go Coons !!!!!
booger
December 23rd, 2012
8:18 am
(Quit showing)
A Wise Falcon's Fan
December 23rd, 2012
8:19 am
On you FALCONS to the SUPERBOWL Championship. I hereby mandate victory. Coach Smith if you need me I am available as a running back or offensive lineman. However, my wife is against it since I will be 71 in February hopefully.
Big Al
December 23rd, 2012
8:27 am
Bring Dah Packers back to town. They will cool down the Frigging Falcons. Have done it before.
Loyal Falcon
December 23rd, 2012
8:35 am
As long as the defense don’t give up touchdowns I don’t care if the other team gets a 1000 yards. We are top five with points allowed . I will take that any day.
old man
December 23rd, 2012
8:36 am
Coach, let’s keep our skill starters sharp for one half, then let’s see Antone Smith and the first string O-line for one quarter. We need to see what this guy can do.
We may need someone in the playoffs. What if Quizz gets hurt? Rely completely on Turner?
old man
December 23rd, 2012
8:37 am
Ryan made some unbelievable throws in this game. He was in complete control, despite some pretty tough pressure. He did not have “Tom Brady” time in the pocket to throw.
Loyal Falcon
December 23rd, 2012
8:38 am
Some people where those #7 jerseys because they don’t want to buy a new one. I guess as long as it says falcons they are ok.
Jackson
December 23rd, 2012
8:39 am
I still think Konz’s best role will be the future center. Fits his physical make up better than guard though he does hold his own for the most part. I would like to see Holmes pan out and maybe Baker goes to right guard. But, OL coach has done a good job with this group. They seem to have gelled through the season. They have faced several good DL’s the past few weeks and kept MR upright. Just think what we could do if OL became a strength!
Jackson
December 23rd, 2012
8:41 am
And speaking of Baker, great game, especially that downfield block that sprung Roddy for that TD!
North GA Mtn Man
December 23rd, 2012
8:50 am
What about the Detroit guy that took a knee on the punt after the safety. The Detroit HC looked like he was seeing things. I think that was a sign of Detroit’s whole season.
Jackson
December 23rd, 2012
8:53 am
Yes No Ga Mtn man, that was hilarious.
GT
December 23rd, 2012
9:05 am
Congrats to Mr. GT Calvin Johnson!. Class act on and off the football field. But if the Falcons can’t figure the run game out we could be in a world of hurt in the playoffs.
GT
December 23rd, 2012
9:06 am
Kudos to Matty Ice! He is an elite QB. So glad that other guy is gone! Can’t even remember his name anymore. Only that he was a loser!
Still Gritz Blitz'n
December 23rd, 2012
9:07 am
Man, must have a transplant here bein’ trifle, let ‘em go back up to the rotunda w/all the cheeseheads, these birds are a different breed compared to the last 5 yrs. because we have the coordinators who scheme way beyond the old coordinators of the past 5 yrs. Bring on the cheeseheads, aaron rodgers& company, we got em’ in our sights for some Get Back that’s past due, wen want em’ man, bring em’ on, we love us some cheese, my fav’ is da’ pepperjack, coated w/ Red N’ Black Baby!
TBALL
December 23rd, 2012
9:08 am
Congrats FALCONS!!!!!! Mike Smith has this team right where they need to be. Can’t ask more of a coach are Team. RISE UP!!!!!!!
Bill
December 23rd, 2012
9:08 am
Ok, I am not expert, but it looks to me like Michael Turner gets very tentative when he is about to be hit. At first, I just thought he was looking for a hole. But often it is obvious there is no hole. Instead of squaring up and powering forward, he seems to wait to be hit.
Tarryuga
December 23rd, 2012
9:16 am
We know ATL is in, BUT it only takes ONE loss. CANNOT AFFORD THAT.
Just click at every facet of the game!!!!
O line: PLEASE BLOCK!
D: bend, don’t break!
GO FALCONS!!! SUPERBIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maddawg
December 23rd, 2012
9:22 am
Defend the Dome!
Bushwhacker
December 23rd, 2012
9:25 am
The Falcons took care of business. Winning on the road in the NFL is difficult no matter the opponent. I would like to see more of Snelling next week. The D got very little pressure on Stafford. Expect to see a vanilla game next week. Everyone who is dinged up will have 3 weeks to rest.
Tarryuga
December 23rd, 2012
9:29 am
Waiting to see how Seattle does against SF, they might be the next match-up. Doubt they score 50 today!
GO FALCONS!!
loel
December 23rd, 2012
9:30 am
Just why didn’t the falcons just run three quarterback sneaks at the end from the two yard line?????. There was only 1:41 seconds left. They could have run the clock out with no chance of being tacked in the endzone. The lions could have stopped the clock once. Instead, we hand off to Turner five yards deep in the endzone and “what a surprise, he gets tackled in the endzone and only a couple of seconds run off the clock and we punt”.
ricocarty21
December 23rd, 2012
9:34 am
Great win!! Still concerned a little about the running game. D looked pretty good!! The game should have never got to close but Falcons pulled away when it mattered. Got to like what you see for the most part right now!! Go Falcons!!
fantotheend
December 23rd, 2012
9:35 am
Great game, now we use the Tampa game to work on the running game, win not required. Run the ball using Snelling Rogers, finnish second half Turner
MONK ATL
December 23rd, 2012
9:37 am
Stay HEALTHY, Stay FOCUSED, Stay HOME in the GA. DOME… GO to the SUPER BOWL> WIN.
GT
December 23rd, 2012
9:39 am
When you are the first seed and you played the team that ends up winning the whole thing in the first round what are the odds of that? A little more of a warm up game would be nice this time. The world acts like we never win a playoff game playing average teams first round. We had to play the Giants in NY last year. What looked like a bad loss both years were loses every other team in the league either had or would have had.
MONK ATL
December 23rd, 2012
9:41 am
RISE UP ATLANTA, SUPPORT YOUR FALCONS!!! FLY to the LOMBARDI TROPHY, BIRDS , and bring it BACK to the ATL!
Bushwhacker
December 23rd, 2012
9:43 am
The only team that scares me is Green Bay. AR can carve up any defense including ours. Don’t expect to get any love until we exercise those demons.
Still Gritz Blitz'n
December 23rd, 2012
9:50 am
Mr.Blank & Sir Thomas, Sirs, asked once before, ask again, please take care of our new coordinators Coach Koetter & Coach Nolan after the season, I realize they have head coaching experience, & other teams would come calling, it’s part of the deal, but if you reward them quite hansomely, that would weigh in their decisions to go or stay, which we hope they choose the lighter, you & mr. Dimitroff have brought 2 that as far as many of the bird nation sees, they’ve brought us to much greater status than what the ATL hasn’t seen in quite some time. They’ve utilized the talent that the past coordinators could not even bring out productively. The scheming & game planning has been beyond measure, whether we win the superbowl or not, it’s brought the Atl fan base to believing again, even though those looking in from the outside may not see it yet, but they are realizing these birds are of a different breed because of the difference Coach Koetter & Coach Nolan have brought here. The play calling hasn’t been as predictable as the past, both offensively & Defensively. Sirs, Do what you can to keep the staff intact. & Coach Smiths leadership is relentless, so this is one Atl Bird fan that is very passionate about this team & the course ya’ll set forth looks strong & undaunted. Looks like the statement & the path of these Birds are rising up! for the highest perch for a long time here on out. The Chemistry, the confidence, the focus, is what these birds possess. A profound statement to keep as a reminder, “Everything Rises And Falls On Leadership. Keep this machine intact & Running. Keep adding the pieces that is the framework of a championship organization. We(who believe) are very excited & proud to be a Falcon Fan! One request, I’d love to see those Red Helmets back even on the road, if considered, Love those Red Helmets. Bring back the more traditional uni’s if considered, they can be made tight to todays standards if considered, but hey, Ya’ll have brought a Great excitement this cities been hungry for a long time, we say THANK YOU! & Keep it going.
The Real Dirty Bird!
December 23rd, 2012
10:03 am
We must win in the second Season!
The next game would be a great time to get QB- DD in the game and leave all the running to Rogers, Snelling and yea get Smith in the mix as well! You could find your sleeper.
Rise Up
December 23rd, 2012
10:05 am
Live Atlanta, Cheer Atlanta!!
Joe
December 23rd, 2012
10:22 am
Great win Falcons! Doo they tich spilling and gremmer in Georgia schuls.?
TUG MAN
December 23rd, 2012
10:22 am
great win guys.we or the beast from the east.and we love the dome.A T L!!!!!!!!!is our home.fly high big birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ah
JD
December 23rd, 2012
10:26 am
Great win for the Falcons away from home. Congrats to Calvin Johnson. The great Ga Tech receiver has now become a Hall of Fame NFL player. Hardest working and nicest guy. Not a trash talker or primadonna. Unusual when everyone (including Matty Ice) who plays against him, says how nice a guy he is. A testament to his Mom and Dad.
FalconFan
December 23rd, 2012
10:32 am
Great win and great season for the Falcons. I really think this is the year we make a run. Credit to our coaching staff, especially the coordinators. Before the season Matt Ryan was listed by most at around 10th best QB in NFL. I think he has shown that he is better than that.
Don’t fret our run game. We run it okay but we are now a passing team like all of the great teams are now. Hard to even name the top RBs in the last few Super Bowls. I’d love a back like Adrian Peterson or Frank Gore but those teams would love a receiver like White or Jones.
Anyway Go Falcons
The Real Dirty Bird!
December 23rd, 2012
10:40 am
Great Job Calvin Johnson!
Newnan Ga. is proud of you!
NFL Fan
December 23rd, 2012
10:46 am
What a great game!
Ryan could not have thrown the ball any better and the receivers, White and Jones, caught everything thrown their way. Konz did a good job keeping Suh in check. We all know he is a beast on the field.
Hats off to Megatron. That’s a great record to break.
Good luck to the Falcons in the play-offs.
Still Gritz Blitz'n
December 23rd, 2012
10:49 am
Congrats to Georgia’s own CJ; All of Ga. much Love for ya man! HOF future brother, Falcon Nation is very proud of ya! VERY PROUD!
Macongo
December 23rd, 2012
10:51 am
Great offense birds but with the defense tackling like girls you were lucky.
Falcon Old Timer
December 23rd, 2012
10:55 am
Congratulations Falcons on another win and securing HFA throughout the play offs!! However, I still have major concerns that this team is for real. They played well in the first half and then sleepwalked through the third and first part of the fourth quarters – only managing 1 first down while the Lions were tearing us apart on both sides of the line. Poor offensive line blocking schemes, a virturally non existant pass defense and rushing defense along with huge gaps up the middle for them to run their ground game and poor tackling across the board are NOT hallmarks of a team with GREATNESS written across it’s chest. Unless and until these areas are addressed and the team play shows consistancy for a complete four quarters rather than taking a breather half way through the game – then and only then will they be able to take the field as having attained te level of greatness that is bestowed on the elite teams of pro football. Until then – I, along with most others who are not only fans of the Falcons but those who are impartially evaluating the rise of the Falcons, will watch with that ever looming question bouncing around in our heads – “Are these Falcons just lucky or are they on the brink of greatness”?
RMikel58
December 23rd, 2012
10:55 am
Seems like everytime we play somebody they end up breaking records on us. Whether its their QB/RB/TE/WR teams use us like step childs.
Frankly i cant see us going beyond the 2nd round because our running game is awful. Our defense cant stop the run and we cant put any pressure on the QB.
Trade that sorry number# 33. What a joke he is. Go after that RB from the Vikings. Theres your missing link! Also the way our DB’s tackle is like Pop Warner football.
You guys think you can tackle without wrapping up a player? ask our 3 great LB’s how to properly administer a tackle. I’d love to be a RB and get thru to the secondary to face you guys.
I hope Mike Smith doesnt give you time off between playoffs so you can go home and get cozy and relaxed and rusty and become unfocused, as you wait to see who youll play in the 2nd round.
You can rest after you lose or win it all because looks to me youre not a 13-2 team out there and the secxondary needs to quit taking estrogen pills and go back to learning the fundamentals of football.
Where are the Ronnie Lotts of football anymore?
Falco-Mania
December 23rd, 2012
11:02 am
Can you imagine how good our offense would be with a legit running back. Turner is way to slow, and comes down way to easily. Snelling should be the starter hands down. He runs much harder and definitly faster than Turner. On the safety Turner should have cut left, but instead ran right into the teeth of the D. Had a lane to the left to atleast avoid a safety. He’s washed up but Smith just doesn’t want to admit it. How about Ryan’s pass to Palmer for the TD. That shows how much he’s matured as a NFL QB. Yrs. past no way does he make that pass. He played at an All Pro level last night. What a great game and big win. GOOOOOOOOOO FALCONS.
JB7659
December 23rd, 2012
11:16 am
Another impressive performance by the Falcons, no excuses this year as this team has the explosive offense and ball hawking defense to go to the Super Bowl. Our D gives up yards, but they make the big plays when they need to, we are 4th in scoring defense in the league at 18 pts/game and that is what counts. Tony G disappeared in this game for some reason, maybe they were focusing their defense on him, but he will be the key guy in the playoffs when we need a big first down or TD.
Oh and about Calvin Johnson’s nickname, MegaTron. He gave than name to himself, somebody asked him why he picked Megatron, he said because it’s AWESOME. Can’t argue about that, the guy is a machine.
booger
December 23rd, 2012
11:24 am
Final Warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT EVER- I MEAN EVER WEAR A #7 JERSEY TO THE DOME .
unless someone GREAT is wearing it ……….
H E L L Y E S, I’M SERIOUS …………..
GB's Hamburgers
December 23rd, 2012
11:50 am
Ryan looked like the last Falcon quarterback to get us to the Super Bowl … Chris Chandler. Chris always worked and moved the team while under great pressure … Matt did that last night. He’s turned into a great quarterback.
Vince Doodley
December 23rd, 2012
11:53 am
As fun as this Falcons team has been to watch this year, they are in desperate need of a feature running back. Hope we are able to pick one up in the draft or by free agency in the off season. I’d love to see a Steven Jackson at ATL next year!!!