birdz4i Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons disagree with the idea they have little to play for in Sunday’s final regular-season game against Tampa Bay.The Falcons (13-2) have home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs, and a big goal this week is for Ryan to carry his hot streak into the post-season.Ryan threw seven touchdown passes with no interceptions the past two weeks while completing 80 per cent of his passes. He was selected to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday.Coach Mike Smith said that ranks as the fifth-year quarterback’s best back-to-back games.Centre Todd McClure said this is the perfect time for Ryan to be peaking.“You look the past few years at teams that have had success in the playoffs, the quarterback has gotten hot at the right time,” McClure said. “Our quarterback definitely is hot and we’ve got to keep him that way.”Ryan has completed 69 per cent of his passes this season. Only San Francisco’s Alex Smith, who has played in only nine games, has a higher completion rate, according to STATS LLC.Ryan’s franchise-record 4,481 yards passing ranks fifth in the NFL, and he’s also fifth with 31 touchdown passes and his 100.2 quarterback rating.Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano said Ryan deserves to be mentioned with the league’s top quarterbacks.“I think he’s in the elite status,” Schiano said. “I think he’s at that level with the kind of field command he has and the way he directs the operation. To me, there are a lot of guys who have big arms and guys who are mobile and all that, but it’s the way they lead and the command they have over their offence which makes them elite.”The best news for the Falcons is Ryan is gaining momentum for the post-season. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 34-0 rout of the New York Giants two weeks ago. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 279 yards with four touchdowns and no picks in last week’s 31-18 win at Detroit.Smith said he hasn’t seen the quarterback play better in consecutive weeks.“He’s done a really good job with good plays at the right time and he’s got us out of some bad plays. He’s looked very comfortable in the pocket and going through his progressions and getting the ball to the guy we need to get it to most of the time.”McClure said Ryan’s mastery of the offence and confidence in his skills show in his performance.“He’s learned the game better,” McClure said. “He’s learned our offence. Now he’s just confident with where everybody is on the field. He knows where everybody is at any given moment. Right now he’s making all the throws and that’s why he’s playing really well.”Ryan, who will be joined by tight end Tony Gonzalez and wide receiver Julio Jones in the Pro Bowl, said improved consistency has boosted his confidence.Probably the biggest difference with where we’re at now and a couple years ago is the maturity of the football team“I feel like my confidence the entire year has been as high as it’s ever been,” he said. “I’ve felt good each week. One of the things I’ve always strived for is consistency. I try to be consistent week in and week out. I think I’ve been better with that the last couple of weeks and really the entire year.”This is the second time in three years the Falcons will be the NFC’s top seed in the playoffs. They were 13-3 in 2010, but lost to Green Bay in the playoffs.Atlanta lost to the Giants in the first round of the playoffs last season, leaving Ryan 0-3 in the post-season.Ryan said this team is more mature and better prepared for the playoffs.“Probably the biggest difference with where we’re at now and a couple years ago is the maturity of the football team,” Ryan said.“I think at this point everybody understands we’ve put ourselves in good position but we still have a lot of work to do. Nobody is content with where we’re at and I think that’s a little bit different than where we’ve been in the past.”http://sports.nation...he-post-season/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCEagleATLFalcon Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 It feels different going into the play-offs this year. The last two years, we sort of stumbled in (even with our 13-3 season, it was the lackluster effort against NO that demanded we win the final Carolina game). This year, we're going in looking impressive. Extremely excited for Jan 12/13th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4dabirds Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I don't think we'll have any problems scoring points in the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sideline Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I'm very excited. Been to all of the playoff games under the Smith regime. Unfortunately, I will miss this one but will be at the NFC championship for sure!The most nervous I've been was against NO. Stood up entire 1st qtr. was so anxious. Sure I will be that way on the 12th as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonDaLuvMaker Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Ryan is starting to revert back to early season Ryan.Opposing defenses will suffer come playoff time.This year definitely feels different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Muskokas Finest Locker for Ryan straight up with a trade I'm still laughing at that thread it rings out in my mind whenever I see Ryan related threads I can't stop laughing about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconsFor6 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Seeing Ryan look shell-shocked during pre-game warm-ups and after the defense rattled him was one thing that used to drive me crazy...His first game in Tampa Bay is the one game that burned that look on his face in my memory banks...Every game where I saw that look on his face gave me the bubble guts...This year I have yet to see that look on his face even in the 2 losses...When we win the Super Bowl this year, his confidence is going to be in the next solar system... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Brasky Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Got dam, I am freaking pumped for the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarterback Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Ryan selected to another pro bowl is reaping havoc upon a select few agendas here. What will they do should he win one, two, or even three playoff games this season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FALCOHOLIC93 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Im ready. This is our year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcons007 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I hope its true this year. I saw similar momentum articles after big beat downs falcons gave to Bucs (2011) and Panthers(2010) only to get one and done in playoffs. I do believe the team is different with new Coordinators who can game plan for any opponent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific_Falcon Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Muskokas Finest Locker for Ryan straight up with a trade I'm still laughing at that thread it rings out in my mind whenever I see Ryan related threads I can't stop laughing about it.This is like the 3rd time I have heard this. Sounds like he is almost being put in the same boat as daddy's home and swift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconsd56 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 a 400+ yard 4 td performance would be a great way to cap off the 2012 regular season to get ready to knock the bejeezus out of who ever we play in the 2nd round.I personally hope its greenbay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific_Falcon Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 It feels different going into the play-offs this year. The last two years, we sort of stumbled in (even with our 13-3 season, it was the lackluster effort against NO that demanded we win the final Carolina game). This year, we're going in looking impressive. Extremely excited for Jan 12/13th.It's not so much the players as the coordinators. If we had 2 Julios and 2 Roddy's it wouldnt matter if we ran 8 yard curls on 3rd and 12. The biggest thing is the defense, to me. Our offense is better but even when our D looks bad at times they still play well enough to win. That was never the case with VanPornstache. I really hope we get rodgers and the Pack in the NFC championship. I get the be careful what you wish for thing, but I want to see how smug he is this time around after the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hustle Up Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Seeing Ryan look shell-shocked during pre-game warm-ups and after the defense rattled him was one thing that used to drive me crazy...His first game in Tampa Bay is the one game that burned that look on his face in my memory banks...Every game where I saw that look on his face gave me the bubble guts...This year I have yet to see that look on his face even in the 2 losses...When we win the Super Bowl this year, his confidence is going to be in the next solar system...This is a great observation. I like to look at a QB's eyes before the game, it usually tells me where their heads at. I haven't seen that deer in the headlights look from Matt even in the games he's struggled which is very encouraging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconsd56 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 which I know it would not be initially..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citsalp Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) Ryan selected to another pro bowl is reaping havoc upon a select few agendas here. What will they do should he win one, two, or even three playoff games this season?It will be like one of those zombie movies... Edited December 28, 2012 by citsalp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific_Falcon Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 a 400+ yard 4 td performance would be a great way to cap off the 2012 regular season to get ready to knock the bejeezus out of who ever we play in the 2nd round.I personally hope its greenbay.can't happen. but if we both get to the NFC champ game, we will once again be hosting the pack. as long as we get past Sea/Wash, that's not unlikely. probably gonna be the vikes or bears going to SF, im hoping bears get in, beat the 49ers (at which point the media will jump all over the QB thing) at SF, and we get them at home. The bears stink, they went from what 7-1 to struggling to get in? Most likely we get the Seahawks at home which is probably going to be a pretty crazy game (Pete Carroll is bananas and we gonna have a hard time stopping Lynch). But we should take care of business at home and unless we get lucky and Bears or Vikes beat SF at home (Bears might do it but LOL at vikings), we got seattle and SF is going to lambeau where they will probably get slaughtered because Kaepernick is a chump. That said, you never know. Bears D might be good enough to limit Gore and they are good at generating turnovers, and against a 1 week wonder in Kaepernick, that could bode well for them. With the VIkes, unless AP has like a 400 yd game, it's a wrap, Ponder sux and they got nothing really. 49ers packers might be interesting just because SF defense and Gore should be able to keep them in it. But SF giving up a grip of points to the seahawks doesn't bode well when you thinkg about going into lambeau, but it should be miserable enough there to where a good running game can have a big impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FALCOHOLIC93 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 If we go one and done this year ill probally fking cry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hustle Up Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 If we go one and done this year ill probally fking cry.Please, not the O phrase. This is an O phrase free zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citsalp Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 This is like the 3rd time I have heard this. Sounds like he is almost being put in the same boat as daddy's home and swift.Muskokas isn't that bad, he just doesn't see the reasoning behind the the glass half empty vs. the glass half full Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da Bird is Da Word Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 If we go one and done this year ill probally fking cry.Dude if this happens I'll probably stop watching Falcons football until like September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Long Shot Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 This is the year. It must be. I'll believe it to the very end of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Negatorris Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I find the lack of Swift appearances lately coincidentally happens when Ryan starts playing well. As well as the other regular trolls. Where's that dumbass Osiruz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 ^^^^^^As above the resident realists as they like to be known as seem to go MIA when our QB plays well and only come out to play when the team or Ryan stumble..Go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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