Atlanta Falcons: Playoff Preview and How to Run the Table
By Kit Anderson
Who will the Atlanta Falcons play in their first playoff game?
The Atlanta Falcons put themselves in a great position with Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints. They have clinched a first round bye in the playoffs and will host a game in the second round of the playoffs.
With a week to get healthy the Falcons have plenty of time to practice and prepare for a win or go home game at the Georgia Dome. Three different scenarios can happen that would send the Seahawks, Packers, or Giants to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday January 14th at 4:35 EST on FOX.
The most likely scenario for the Falcon’s playoff game will be a grudge match between the Seattle Seahawks (Who face the slumping Lions in round one) and the Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks have struggled to finish out the season giving up the second seed to the Falcons after a surprising loss to the Arizona Cardinals. A Seahawks team that cannot run the ball and whose defense has taken a large step back would be a good matchup and give Atlanta a chance to settle a score after being robbed on an obvious pass interference call in Seattle.
Regardless of their opponent if the Falcons win in the first round of the playoffs they will be one victory away from heading to Houston and could host the NFC Championship if Dallas falls in their first playoff game in Dallas. If both the Falcons and the Cowboys were to win in the first round the Falcons would head to Dallas to take on the Cowboys with the winner heading to Houston to take on the AFC Champion.
If the Falcons hope to keep rolling throughout the playoffs their defense is going to have to take a step forward and continue to put pressure on the quarterback and create turnovers. The Falcon’s defense struggled for the majority of the season but has shown signs of improvement down the stretch making big plays and getting pressure on the opposing quarterback with regularity.
While the defense taking a step forward is important for the Falcon’s playoff chances what will be even more important is for Matt Ryan to continue his MVP worthy season and change his playoff history. If Matt Ryan doesn’t play like the MVP he has been for most of the season. If he takes a step back Atlanta will not be able to move past the first round.
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Taking a step back is a possibility but a doubtful one with the tear that Matt Ryan has been on for the majority of this season. Houston here we come!