The Atlanta Falcons shredded the Green Bay Packers for 493 yards of offense en route to a 44-21 win at the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon, advancing to the Super Bowl!
Matt Ryan and Julio Jones had a day to remember. Jones finished with 180 receiving yards on nine catches, hauling in two touchdowns. Ryan threw for 392 yards and four TDs, completing 27 of 38 passes.
The Falcons led 24-0 at the half, and stretched the lead to 31-0 in the third quarter before Green Bay finally got on the board.
Atlanta put the game in the bag when forcing the Packers to a three and out to start the second half, then putting the game out of reach with a Ryan to Jones 73-yard touchdown, which featured a great catch by Jones and shoving aside a couple of would be tacklers on his way to the end zone.
Ryan, an MVP front-runner, also added his first rushing touchdown since 2012 in the onslaught. The Falcons closed out the Georgia Dome in style with the win, as they say goodbye to their home since 1992.
Atlanta has never won a Super Bowl, but played in the game in 1999 (1998 season), when the “Dirty Birds” lost to the Denver Broncos 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Super Bowl LI is slated for February 5 in Houston, TX, and features the Falcons and the winners of the Patriots/Steelers game late Sunday night.
