Wednesday 24 January 2018 18:23, UK
With one game, Matt Ryan could change his standing in NFL history forever.
From a solid, career quarterback who made multiple Pro Bowls but never made 'the next step', to a Hall of Fame contender with a ring to prove his quality.
In a team game, the entire Atlanta Falcons organisation should take credit for the improvement over the last two years, that has led them to Super Bowl LI.
But 'Matty Ice' stands out, after an incredible season that saw him win the 2016 regular season MVP award. But who is Matt Ryan? Sky Sports reflects on QB's career so far, from high school to Super Bowl.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Ryan was a three-sport athlete, playing American football, baskteball and baseball in High School. In each of his three years as starting quarterback, Ryan was selected as an All-League selection.
He grew up in a family of Philadelphia Eagles fans, who still support their local city team, despite Ryan's success, outside of Pennsylvania.
In 2003, after receiving a number of scholarship offers, Ryan elected to go to Boston College over Iowa. He redshirted his freshman year, sitting out the season to learn the team's playbook and hone his physical skills.
Ryan was named as the starting QB before his second year began, but only played seven games as Paul Petersen displaced him. Throwing just two touchdowns, Ryan struggled to break through, and also started the 2005 season as second choice quarterback.
However, he was given his chance midway through that year, when he replaced Quinton Porter and became the team's starter. He threw for 1,514 yards and eight touchdowns, including three in Boston College's end-of-year Bowl game.
In his final two years as a starter, Ryan missed only one game, despite spraining his ankle and breaking his foot, in two separate incidents.
Ryan's senior year propelled him into contention as a top round draft pick, accumulating 31 passing touchdowns to set a school record. He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and Manning awards, both in recognition of his performances to become the nation's top college QB.
After a phenomenal senior year, and producing the highest intelligence score of that year's draft class, Ryan's stock continued to rise, and he was selected third overall by the Falcons, and the first quarterback. He signed a six-year, $72m deal, making him the fourth highest paid QB, despite having never played a snap in the NFL.
Named the starter in his rookie season, there was great expectation on Ryan. Not only did he have to live up to the huge contract he had been given, but there was also the task of replacing Falcons hero Michael Vick.
However, he immediately endeared himself to the fans, completing a 62-yard touchdown pass with the first throw of his NFL career.
It was a great debut season for Ryan, who became the first rookie to lead his team to the play-offs (Joe Flacco also achieved the feat that year). He set an Atlanta record with 3,440 rookie passing yards, and was named Rookie of the Year.
League success continued as Ryan, made captain in his second year, led the team to five straight winning seasons. Before his arrival, the team had never managed back-to-back successful years.
Ryan set franchise records for attempts, completions, and produced the organisation's most wins in a single season (13), twice. He became the team's all-time leader in passing yards.
Despite relative success, Ryan has struggled with inconsistency, and a lack of success in the post-season. Following the Falcons' five-year winning run, the team went two years with a losing record.
Even after a 5-0 start last year, Atlanta collapsed to finish 8-8 and miss the play-offs for a third straight campaign.
With every interception and lost fumble, the noise began to grow that maybe Ryan wasn't the future in Atlanta, and that he wouldn't make it into the 'elite quarterback' category.
In his second year with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, the quarterback found his groove, silencing the doubters with an impeccable season which led to MVP honours.
Spearheading a diverse and creative attack, Ryan's Falcons led the NFL in points scored, whilst accumulating 4,944 yards, to set a new franchise record. He threw touchdowns to 13 different receivers - the highest in NFL history, and took his team back to the post-season.
Eighty points in two games banished any thoughts of Ryan choking in the play-offs, and now he stands just one game away from creating yet more history for himself and the franchise.
The Falcons haven't been to the big game since 1998, and have never lifted the Vince Lombardi trophy. For a 31-year old quarterback that has set records and won accolades throughout his career, he now needs the biggest game of his life, to cement himself as a true MVP.
Sky Sports is your home of Super Bowl LI. Watch all the build up, action and reaction live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports Mix, from 10pm this Sunday.
