Sunday 15 January 2017 08:49, UK
Matt Ryan threw two touchdown passes as the Atlanta Falcons dominated the Seattle Seahawks, running out 36-20 winners.
In 140 characters...
The Seahawks suffered injuries early but this was a dominant performance by Atlanta, on both sides of the ball.
MVP
Quarterback Matt Ryan was outstanding, continuing his MVP year. The Falcons passer had 26 completions for 336 yards and two touchdowns, but reading the game was Ryan's strength, utilising eight different receivers to stretch the Seattle defence.
Game-changer
After a big stop by the Seahawks, punt returner Devin Hester ran the ball 79 yards to the Falcons' 10-yard line. However, the play was negated for offensive holding, and instead Seattle conceded a two-point safety, handing all the momentum to Atlanta.
Stat of the night
2 - Ryan only has two play-off wins in his career. Both came against the Seahawks.
The game
Seattle took 14 plays on their opening drive, holding the ball for almost nine minutes. Running back Thomas Rawls had six carries for 29 yards, before Russell Wilson threw short to the left side, where tight end Jimmy Graham stretched his arms into the end zone for the seven-yard score.
The Falcons equalised on their first drive of the night, focusing the attack through Julio Jones as they motored down field. After seeing out the first quarter, Tevin Coleman opened the second with a six-yard run, before Jones caught a ball in the centre of the field and burst through two defenders, to convert from 10 yards out.
Paul Richardson thought he had regained the lead for the Seahawks. After catching a 33-yard pass, the wide receiver got up and continued his run to the end zone, with the officials originally siding with Seattle that the player had not been down by contact. However, replays showed defender Jalen Collins had got to Richardson, and the score was chalked off.
Instead, it was kicker Steven Hauschka who was asked to convert the 33-yard field goal, after Wilson was sacked and the Seahawks drive faltered.
After forcing the Falcons into a three-and-out, Hester took the ball back 79 yards, only to get called back for a holding penalty. Instead, the Seahawks began inside their own 10-yard line. It got worse, as Rees Odhiambo stood on Wilson's foot, causing the QB to stumble into the end zone for a Falcons safety.
Atlanta then took the lead through a 35-yard field goal, before Coleman extended their advantage to seven points. From his own one-yard line, Ryan led the offence 99 yards in nine plays before firing to a wide-open Coleman in the end zone.
They made it 19 consecutive points to open the second half, as Devonta Freeman finished a 75-yard drive, battling through Seahawks defenders to dive over for a one-yard score.
Wilson and the Seahawks offence got a break after an illegal formation penalty gifted them a first down, but they could only manage a field goal.
Matt Bryant added his third field goal of the night, to re-establish Atlanta's 16 point advantage, and put the Falcons 29-13 ahead to start the fourth quarter.
As time wound down, the Seahawks were forced into risks. Wilson was sacked, before throwing the first interception of the night to safety Ricardo Allen. The Falcons took advantage, as Ryan found Mohamed Sanu in the end zone.
However, Seattle weren't finished, as Hester took another opportunity, returning the kick off for 78 yards. With this one standing, Wilson then threw 31 yards to the end zone, where Doug Baldwin made the touchdown catch.
But the Seahawks' second turnover came with two minutes to play, as the ball was wrestled away from Luke Wilson, and linebacker Deion Jones plucked it out of the air, running it to Seattle's 15-yard line and ending the game.
It was a fantastic performance on both sides of the ball from Atlanta, who progress to the NFC Championship game next Sunday. One concern will be the health of wide receiver Jones, who left the game in the second half with a foot injury.
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