Seahawks at Falcons: Highlights, recap and more

The Atlanta Falcons dominate the Seattle Seahawks 36-20 to win their NFC Divisional Round Game to advance to the 2016 NFC Championship Game.

Seattle would orchestrate a magnificent 14-play drive to chew up over eight minutes off the clock in the Seahawks’ first series of the day. The Seahawks used a nice combination of runs to open up the pass, converting a few key first downs.

Inside the Falcons’ red zone, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson would find tight end Jimmy Graham for a seven-yard touchdown. The made Steven Hauschka PAT would make it 7-0 Seahawks.

Atlanta would respond with another lengthy drive of its own. The Falcons got into the end zone on a seven-yard quick pass from Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan to wide receiver Julio Jones. It capped off a 13-play drive for Atlanta. Falcons kicker Matt Bryant would make the PAT to tie it up at seven points apiece.

On their second possession of the day, Seattle would have get into great field position almost immediately. Wilson would heave a fantastic 33-yard pass to wide receiver Paul Richardson to get to the Atlanta 19-yard line. It looked like a touchdown at first, but Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins did down Richardson inside the 20. Seattle wouldn’t do much after that, but regained the lead on a made 33-yard field goal to make it 10-7 Seahawks.

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Atlanta would go three and out on its next offensive possession. Punter Matt Bosher would boot it to a determined return man in Devin Hester, who wanted nothing more than to torch his former team. Hester would have a 79-yard punt return negated by a Seahawks block in the back.

In atrocious field position at the Seattle four-yard line, running back Thomas Rawls would get stuffed on a three-yard loss. The next play was very strange. Wilson would get stepped on by his center, tripped and was sacked for a safety by Falcons tackle Ben Garland. Atlanta would get within one on the defensive points, 10-9 Seahawks.

Seahawks punter Jon Ryan executed the ensuing free kick and Falcons return man Eric Weems would get an 18-yard return. Atlanta would take the lead on a 35-yard made Bryant field goal to make it 12-10 Falcons a little over six minutes left in the first half. The Falcons’ abbreviated five-play drive would be set up by a 37-yard pass from Ryan to Gabriel.

On Seattle’s ensuing possession, the Seahawks would go three and out. Wide receiver Doug Baldwin would be stopped just shy of the first down marker by Falcons cornerback Robert Alford. Ryan would execute one of the best playoff punts ever: a 60-yarder downed millimeters from the Atlanta goal line.

Despite being trapped deep in their own end zone, Ryan would put together a nine-play, 99-yard touchdown drive. Ryan would use about three minutes worth of clock, hitting running back Tevin Coleman wide open in the back of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown reception. Bryant’s made PAT would make it 19-10 Falcons. This drive was almost completely undone early, as Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead almost pick-sixed Ryan on a quick out pass to Falcons running back Devonta Freeman.

Seattle would have another promising Hester return mitigated by a block in the back to set up back field position for the Seahawks inside of a minute left in the half. The Seahawks would run two conservative run plays to enter halftime down 19-10 to Atlanta on the road.

Since Atlanta deferred to receive in the second half, the Falcons would begin the third quarter with the football. The Falcons would chew up a ton of clock on this possession, going 75 yards on 13 plays. Ryan and company would march down the field, capping it off on a one-yard Freeman touchdown run. The Bryant PAT would make it 26-10 Falcons.

On that series, the Seahawks would lose a player it could not afford to see go down with injury. Defensive back DeShawn Shead would twist his knee in a non-contact. He would walk off on his own accord, but had to be carted off to the locker room once he got to the sidelines.

Blogging Dirty

Seattle would respond with a scoring drive on the ensuing offensive series. The Seahawks would benefit from an illegal formation penalty on Falcons linebacker Philip Wheeler on a punt attempt. Wilson would connect on another brilliant vertical pass to Richardson for 40 yards to get into field goal range. The Seahawks couldn’t get into the Atlanta end zone on their next six plays. Hauschka would make a 26-yard field goal to make it 26-13 Falcons.

Atlanta would get those three points back seven plays later. The Falcons would extend its lead to 29-13 on the 31-yard Bryant field goal at the start of the fourth quarter. Atlanta’s scoring drive was set up by a 53-yard reception by Freeman, who completely owned the Seahawks with a powerful juke mid-field.

The Falcons defense would force a three-and-out on the Seattle offense, having Wilson running for his life to create time for himself in a constantly collapsing pocket. He would take it himself on third and 15. Being that he made himself a runner, Falcons cornerback Bryant Poole would lay a bruising upright hit on the Seattle star signal caller.

Atlanta would run five plays before having to point. Ryan would fumble the football on a sack by Seattle defensive lineman Frank Clark. The Falcons were fortunate that right guard Chris Chester was there to recover the loose ball. Falcons punter Matt Bosher didn’t do a great job on this attempt, as he was affected by Baldwin on the punt block attempt.

Seattle needed to get into the end zone on the ensuing drive. Again, Wilson was bewildered behind a decaying Seattle offensive line. He would make his first mistake of the game on a desperation heave on third down. Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen would pick off Wilson and return it 45 yards in the other direction.

Atlanta milked four and a half minutes off the clock on an eight-play drive resulting in Ryan’s third touchdown pass. Ryan would feed wide receiver Mohamed Sanu on an impressive three-yard leaping reception. The Bryant PAT would make it 36-13 Falcons.

Seattle wasn’t going to give up easy. Hester would take Bosher’s ensuing kickoff for a 78-yard gain. Two plays later, Wilson would hit Baldwin in stride for a ridiculous 31-yard touchdown reception. The Hauschka PAT would make it 36-20 Falcons.

Hauschka would have to attempt the on-side kick. It sailed right into the hands of a leaping Sanu for the Atlanta recovery. Atlanta would go three-and-out in only 30 seconds, but using up Seattle’s final two timeouts in the process.

Wilson would try to orchestrate a furious comeback near the two minute mark. He would try to hit tight end Luke Willson for a short pass. Willson wouldn’t come down with it and thanks to a De’Vondre Campbell tipped, Falcons linebacker Deion Jones would have a 28-yard interception return.

This set up the Falcons in the Seattle red zone to close this game out by pounding the rock through two minutes. After a near-touchdown run by Freeman, Atlanta would align in victory formation to win this ball game 36-20 to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Three Stars

1. Matt Ryan: Ryan played like an MVP on Saturday night. He completed 26 of 37 passes for 338 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
2. Devonta Freeman: Freeman was the perfect all-purpose back for Atlanta on Saturday. He had 14 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown on the ground. As a pass catcher, Freeman had four catches for 80 yards.
3. Julio Jones: Jones played through pain with an ailing toe. He would still have six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Highlights

Next Game

The Falcons will play the winner of the other NFC Divisional Round game between the No. 4 Green Bay Packers (10-6) and the No. 1 Dallas Cowboys (13-3) in the 2016 NFC Championship Game.

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The loser of this game will be eliminated from the NFC Playoffs. Their next meaningful game will be in Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season against an opponent yet to be decided.