The Atlanta Falcons booked their place in the Super Bowl with a dominant 44-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes, and Atlanta jumped out to an early lead, keeping Green Bay off the scoreboard until midway through the third quarter.
In 140 Characters...
Atlanta dominated from start to finish, and Aaron Rodgers never had a chance to work his magic. The Falcons make their first Super Bowl since 1998.
MVP
Earlier in the week, Julio Jones said his toe injury was causing him no concern. He proved it with a two-touchdown night, including a 73-yard scoring run down the sideline. The Packers simply couldn't find a way to stop the five-time Pro Bowler.
Game-changer
With the Falcons up 10-0, Rodgers marched his Green Bay unit back up the field, into the red zone, and it looked as though it was going to be a close affair. However, Aaron Ripkowski fumbled, handing possession to Atlanta, and the Packers never recovered.
Stat of the night
This time four years ago, the Falcons played the San Francisco 49ers for a place in the Super Bowl, but came up short with the 49ers running out 28-24 winners.
On that night, Jones had two touchdowns and 180 yards. Against the Packers, the wide receiver recorded exactly the same statistics, but a different result as the Falcons punched their ticket to Texas.
The game
Atlanta scored on their opening drive for the eighth-straight game, as Patrick DiMarco's 31-yard catch and run play set up Mohamed Sanu for a two-yard touchdown pass.
It took the Packers just five snaps to get into Atlanta's red zone, but after making 23 straight post-season field goals, including last weekend's clutch kick against the Dallas Cowboys, Mason Crosby sent the 41-yard attempt wide.
There was no mistake for Falcons kicker Matt Bryant, who extended Atlanta's lead to 10 with a 28-yard field goal conversion at the end of the first quarter.
It looked as though Green Bay might get themselves on the board, but a fumble by fullback Aaron Ripkowski handed possession back to the home team. Ryan took full advantage, taking his team 80 yards in nine plays before running in for a 13-yard score himself, only the sixth rushing touchdown of his career.
Julio Jones made it 24-0 at the end of the half, getting his feet in bounds at the edge of the end zone, to complete the scoring drive. Green Bay had their chances, but missed opportunities to claim turnovers, and only managed to stop the Atlanta offence once all half.
The home side continued where they left off in the second half. On their second play, Ryan connected with Jones on the right-hand side, and the wide receiver shook off two tackles, tiptoeing down the touchline for a 73-yard score.
Green Bay finally found the end zone, five minutes into the third quarter. Rodgers found Davante Adams from two yards out for their first score of the night, but they couldn't build momentum as Atlanta came straight back.
Ryan led an eight-play drive, aided by a pass interference penalty on Morgan Burnett, which moved the Falcons to the one-yard line. The Falcons QB then connected with Devonta Freeman who, on review, managed to get the ball into the end zone, to put his side up 37-7.
Jordy Nelson grabbed a three-yard pass and Ripkowski ran in the two-point play, but the Packers had no answer for Atlanta's relentless offence. Ryan's attack scored on their fourth consecutive drive, as Tevin Coleman ran in from three yards untouched
The dominant performance further strengthens Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's position as front-runner for the San Francisco 49ers' head coach job.
The Packers had one more score - a one-yard grab to Jared Cook - but it was too little too late for an injury-depleted Packers team. Atlanta now compete for their first Super Bowl since 1998, having never lifted the Vince Lombardi trophy.
In a battle of the two regular season MVP quarterbacks, Ryan got the better of Rodgers, throwing for 392 yards, four scores and running in a touchdown. The eight-year veteran looks favourite to get the award, and can now add a Super Bowl appearance to his career year.
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