Page 20 - aruba-today-20170123

A20 SPORTS
Monday 23 January 2017

Super Falcons: Atlanta routs Packers 44-21 for NFC title

PAUL NEWBERRY Ryan finished it off with
AP Sports Writer some surprisingly nimble
ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Ryan running skills, faking out
and Julio Jones teamed one defender with a pump
up for a dominant playoff fake before diving into the
performance, and the end zone for a 14-yard
Atlanta Falcons ignored all touchdown. It was Matty
those ghosts from the last Ice’s first rushing touchdown
half-century. since Week 1 of the 2012
Next up: Super Bowl 51. season and sparked an
Ryan threw for 392 yards uncharacteristic outburst
and four touchdowns from the normally even-
in another MVP-worthy tempered quarterback.
showing, while Jones shook Ryan gave the ball a
off a toe injury to haul in thunderous spike and let
nine catches for 180 yards out a scream that made
and two scores, leading the it clear he wanted this
Falcons to a 44-21 blowout game more than anything
of the storied Green in his career. The guy who
Bay Packers in the NFC had a 1-4 record in the
championship Sunday. playoffs over his first eight
Atlanta (13-5) will face seasons has finally earned
either New England or his spot on the biggest
Pittsburgh in the Feb. 5 title stage of them all.
game in Houston. It will DON’T FORGET THE DEFENSE
be only the second Super Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan runs for a touchdown during the first half of the NFL football NFC Atlanta’s defense, an
Bowl appearance in the championship game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Atlanta. afterthought compared to
Falcons’ 51-year history, the Associated Press the other side of the line,
first coming 18 years ago brutal stiff-arm on the way and it feels really good.” incompletion. Mason kept the Packers out of the
with a team known as the to a 73-yard touchdown. The Packers, riding an Crosby, who hit two field end zone until the game
“Dirty Birds.” Not bad, considering he eight-game winning streak goals longer that 50 yards in was essentially locked up.
They have never won an took it easy much of the and coming off a thrilling the closing minutes against Rodgers finished 27 of 45
NFL championship. week because of his sore upset of the top-seeded the Cowboys, pushed a 41- for 287 yards and three
If Ryan and the league’s left foot. Dallas Cowboys , got a yard attempt right of the TDs, but he also threw
highest-scoring offense “I didn’t practice that much taste of what they’d be in upright to snap a playoff- an interception, was
keep playing like this, the throughout the week,” for on Atlanta’s very first record streak of 23 straight sacked twice and faced a
AFC winner will sure have Jones said, “but today I possession. field goals. relentless Falcons rush.
its hands full in the Lone came out and gave it all I Driving 80 yards in 13 plays, The Falcons drove the The Falcons finished with a
Star State. The Falcons led had.” the Falcons converted other way, settling for Matt 493-367 edge in total yards.
24-0 at halftime against In the final game at the three third downs, the last Bryant’s 28-yard field goal DOME FINALE
the Packers (12-6), perhaps Georgia Dome, Ryan when Ryan scrambled and a 10-0 lead. Then, with What a send-off for the
the league’s hottest sparked more delirious away from pressure and Green Bay poised to make Georgia Dome, the
team, and essentially put chants of “MVP! MVP! flipped a shovel pass to a game of it, Atlanta’s Falcons’ home since 1992,
the game away on their MVP!” as he carved up Mohamed Sanu for a much-maligned defense — which will be torn down
second offensive snap of an injury-plagued Packers 2-yard score. one of the lowest ranked in and replaced next season
the second half, a play secondary that had no way Aaron Rodgers and the the NFL — came through a by $1.5 billion Mercedes-
that showed every one of of stopping a team that Packers came right back, momentum-swinging play. Benz Stadium.
Jones’ remarkable skills . averaged nearly 34 points moving quickly down the Fullback Aaron Ripkowski With the home team
He blazed down the a game during the regular field in what was expected was breaking tackles and comfortably ahead, the
middle of the field, shook season and romped to to be a back-and-forth rumbling toward the end raucous crowd of more
off LaDarius Gunter’s a 36-20 victory against shootout. Top receiver zone when Jalen Collins than 71,000 basically
attempt to grab him on Seattle’s Legion of Boom Jordy Nelson hauled in a stripped the ball from partied through the whole
a cut toward the sideline, last week. 27-yard pass after missing behind and fell on it just second half, bouncing
hauled in the pass from For good measure, Ryan the victory at Dallas with a across the goal line for a along to rap music that
Ryan, broke Gunter’s diving also ran for a touchdown. rib injury. touchback. turned the stadium with
attempt at tackle, and “We played great,” he But, on third-and-4 at the On the ensuing possession, the big top-like roof into
defiantly knocked away said. “We did exactly what Atlanta 23, the Falcons Ryan hooked up with Jones the world’s largest dance
Damarious Randall’s with a we’ve been doing all year hurried Rodgers into an three times for 56 yards. club.q