Atlanta Falcons rewatch: 2013 NFC Divisional round

With sports networks turning to re-air past games and apps offering extended free trials to their services, I decided to use NFL Game Pass to rewatch the Atlanta Falcons take on the Seattle Seahawks in the 2013 playoffs.

The Atlanta Falcons entered into the divisional weekend as the number 1 seed in the NFC and lead by the league’s best offense. Matt Ryan had one of his best years. Not to mention, having the best receiving core in Atlanta Falcons history, even considering more recent rosters in Atlanta. The receiving group was headlined by Roddy White, Julio Jones, Harry Douglas, and Brian Finneran. You also cannot forget Michael Turner at running back and the future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez at tight end. Our 2012 offense was scary.

Funny enough, the Atlanta Falcons will retain the same offensive coordinator used in 2012 for 2020. While Dirk Koetter was poor in 2019, the Falcons tend to do better in four-year stents.

The game itself

Seattle was coming off of a classic game on wildcard weekend against the Washington Redskins. That game is remembered by most for two reasons. The Trent Williams punch to Richard Sherman in post-game and the mishandling of RG3‘s knee that ultimately ruined his entire career. The Seahawks found themselves down 14-0 after the first quarter ended and went on a 24-0 run to advance to Atlanta.

While looking at the halftime scoreline of 20-0 in favor of the Atlanta Falcons, you would have strong reasons to believe this game was completely one-sided. The Atlanta Falcons got numerous breaks in the first half by way of a 4th and 1 stop within the red zone and sacking Russell Wilson right before half not allowing for Seattle to kick a field goal to get points. Matt Ryan also threw an early interception that leads to a Marshawn Lynch fumble a few plays later.

The Atlanta Falcons built a 20 point lead due to a great sideline catch by Finneran to bring the Falcons within the five-yard line. This was followed up by a play-action pass to Gonzalez in the back of the endzone. After netting a field goal the following possession, the Atlanta Falcons followed that possession up by a bomb from midfield from Ryan to White to bring the Falcons ahead by 20.

The Atlanta Falcons defense still struggled to stop the Seahawks as they marched downfield and scored on their opening drive of the second half. Tack on a shovel pass from Ryan to Jason Snelling for a three-yard score and you have the Atlanta Falcons ahead 27-7 near the end of the third. It’s almost like foreshadowing into the future, this time the Falcons end up on top.

After the Snelling score, Seattle marched downfield again and Wilson ran it in himself near the goalline. With the score being 27-14 at this point, without the breaks in the first half, this is a much different ball game and turns much worse when Ryan throws his second interception of the game going to White in double coverage. Big plays made by Sydney Rice and Robert Turbin allowed for Seattle to come to within six via a Zach Miller score.

The Seahawks got another chance deep into the 4th quarter and took advantage of it by going ahead by one via a big catch and run by Lynch followed up but a four ard score the next play. This left only:31 left in the game, but plenty of time for the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan connected with Douglas and Gonzalez and brought the Falcons well within field goal range. As you’d expect, Money Matt connected on the kick to send the Atlanta Falcons to the NFC Championship Game by a score of 30-28.

It’s very easy to see that the Seahawks outplayed the Atlanta Falcons. However, first-half blunders set the Seahawks back too far and couldn’t complete the comeback.