Seahawks 21-Point 4th Quarter Not Enough As Matt Ryan Leads Falcons To NFC Title Game.
If you don’t think Russell Wilson is a top-3 leading candidate for rookie of the year after tonight’s game, you need to re-evaluate your IQ. For the final NFC divisional playoff game over the weekend, we saw the Seahawks of Seattle travel to the Georgia Dome and face-off against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons would win the coin toss and immediately start their dismantlement of the Seahawks early in the game as Matt Bryant would score a 39-FG from the Seahawks 21. As the Seahawks would get their first of many three-and-outs during this game, Matt Ryan would throw an interception intended for Tony Gonzalez and picked off by Tony Gonzalez. The Seahawks wouldn’t capitalize off the given opportunity as Marshawn Lynch would immediately fumble the ball on Seattle’s third play of their next ensuing possession.
Not showing any signs of discouragement from their last possession and encouraged by the Seahawks fumble, Matt Ryan would finish off a 8-play 57-yard drive as Matt Ryan would connect with Tony Gonzalez for a 1-yard TD pass to make the score 10-0.
Jumping to the 2nd quarter, Atlanta would score yet again with a 37-yard FG from Matt Bryant to make the score 13-0 followed by another score midway through the quarter as Matt Ryan would make a deep pass to Roddy White for 47-yards to jump to a 20-0 lead.
Coming out of halftime, the Seahawks held their heads high and would give us the best post season game on the 2013 horizon of NFL thus far as Russell Wilson would connect with Golden Tate for a 29-yard pass. The Seahawks were onto something coming out of halftime but would the Falcons would immediately answer back before the third quarters end as Matt Ryan would connect with Jason Snelling for a TD pass to make the score twenty-point lead once more at 27-7.
Skipping to the 4th quarter where those of you who hadn’t watched the Seahawks this year would find out the hype of “number 3” Russell Wilson as he would score Seattle’s second score of the game on a scramble touchdown at Atlanta’s one yard line.
With Seattle down only 13 points in the 4th quarter, they would immediately become motivated forcing the Falcons for a quick three-and-out Zach Miller would cap off a 4-play 62-yard drive elapsing nearly only two minutes as Wilson would complete his 2nd TD pass of the game to bring Seattle to within 6 points of the game.
Two possessions later, Seattle would score once more and take their first lead of the game as Marshawn Lynch would rush for 2-yards with 31-seconds left in the game to give the Seahawks a 28-27 lead. With the crowd at the Georgia Dome stunned, the home team had only 0:23 seconds left to make one last effort at continuing their 2013 playoffs.
Matt Ryan would become “Mr. Clutch” as he would pass for two quick 41-yard plays to set up a 49-yard FG. With the game on the line, Matt Bryant would give the crowd in Atlanta a big sigh of relief and breaking the hearts of the Seahawk faithful chipping the 49-yarder.
The Falcons now move ahead to the NFC championship game where they will host the San Francisco 49ers pitting a match-up of the no. 1 and no. 2 seeds. Seahawks fans out there should be convinced their team will eventually make the jump to becoming a legitimate elite team for years to come with a proven young QB gaining confidence every week and defense steadily making improvements every down.
Even though I’m picking the winner of the AFC championship game to win the Super Bowl, I will definitely be paying attention the 49ers next week to see if they’re ready to make the next step in their franchise.