:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52868929/usa_today_9832423.0.jpg)
The Atlanta Falcons are your NFC Conference Champs and are going to the Super Bowl. Having watched this team since 1980, this may be the most impressive Falcons team I’ve ever watched, including the team that went to the 1998 Super Bowl. In two straight weeks, they’ve man-handled two tough teams in dominating fashion. Both wins were so dominant, that the game was nearly over at the beginning of the fourth quarter for both games. Here are some key takeaways from this dominating victory over the “red hot” Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers.
Hello defense
Coming into the game, nearly every single person agreed that this was going to be a shoot-out. Most people “hoped” the Falcons defense could muster one turn-over or get one key stop. Instead, they got two turnovers, shutout the Packers in the first half and limited them to 20 points total.
The early FG attempt by the Packers was forced by a perfect blitz by Deion Jones. The 17-0 lead was made possible by a forced fumble and recovery by Jalen Collins. All day long, this Falcons defense flashed their speed and put an incredible amount of pressure on Aaron Rodgers, who looked rattled early. They made tackles, deflected passes and forced turnovers.
Incredibly, this defense isn’t even “fully baked” yet. This was arguably their best game yet, but they are still getting better and next year figures to be another leap for this unit. They showed up at the perfect time and they are a key part of this victory.
Unstoppable offense
For all the talk of how “unstoppable” Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were coming into this game, you could easily make the case that Matt Ryan and company were just as hot (if not hotter). The media couldn’t get enough of Aaron Rodgers “calling his shot,” but Ryan did the same thing at the beginning of the season when he said this offense could score over 30 points per game (which they did). In fact, most people laughed at the notion.
We all know the various records Ryan set throughout the year, and putting 44 points up in the NFC Championship game was the perfect exclamation point to a tremendous season. This offense has been nothing short of amazing, and with one game to go, there’s no reason to believe they can’t continue along those lines.
Superbowl baby
What more needs to be said?
WE. ARE. GOING. TO. THE. SUPER BOWL.