NFL Divisional Playoffs: Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons

But if Seattle has had one ace up its sleeve in the Pete Carroll era, it’s that ability to pull out the big play that blind-sides postseason opponents. Seattle’s line also will have to do its job against the Falcons’ running game, which was fifth in the league at 120.5 rushing yards per game. While the Seahawks’ offense ranked 17th in both season-long (-2.7 percent) and weighted (-2.1 percent) DVOA, the Falcons’ defense rises from 27th (8.1 percent) to 22nd (5.6 percent) when recent games are more heavily weighted.

Seattle had forced Atlanta into a three-and-out possession early in the second quarter with a 10-7 lead.

Matt Ryan was spectacular all season, but the Atlanta Falcons quarterback elevated his performance down the stretch of the season, as his team pushed for a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Chiefs’ ability to pressure the quarterback has not been good this season, ranking 28th in sacks this season. That’s 338 yards with three touchdown passes.

How does a team run 79 yards and lose two points? But Wilson’s adjusted yards-per-attempt didn’t increase meaningfully after that interview.

All others on the Seahawks’ active roster are deemed healthy and full go for Saturday’s chance to advance to next weekennd’s conference championship game. There was a pass that cornerback DeShawn Shead almost picked off that he could have returned for a touchdown, too. Sure, the Steelers are downplaying it, but if you take the Chiefs at -1 now you get guaranteed value if the injury is affecting Big Ben at all.

The play in question came on a Devin Hester punt return in the second quarter.

While it’s unclear exactly why Bennett was so ornery throughout the game, it seemed he thought Schraeder was blocking him at the knees.

“Crazy situation”, said the quarterback, who was forced to press for much of the second half.

That’s a novelty for a Seahawks’ game. The Patriots scored 24 points in their Week 10 loss. Instead, his counterpart with the Seahawks, the always challenging Russell Wilson, was semi-contained to the tune of 208 net passing yards and two interceptions.

Why watch: This is a rematch of the thriller earlier this season where the Seahawks defeated the Falcons by two.

Ryan’s flawless touchdown pass on the ensuing drive to Mohamed Sanu, leaping over Seahawk Jeremy Lane in the end zone, ended the game. Wilson targeted wideouts on just 43.2 percent of his attempts; according to Pro Football Reference’s charting, he attempted only two passes deeper than 14 yards all day. This one is in Atlanta.

It kept getting worse, too.

Atlanta punctuated the first half with a 99-yard drive that was impressive for just how easy it was. Their first drive, which consumed nearly nine minutes, couldn’t have been scripted better.

Since the Seahawks will be on the road in Atlanta to take on the Falcons in a divisional playoff game this Saturday, there will be no ceremony at the team’s home stadium.

The Falcons will be looking to Matt Ryan to be their inspiration today though.

Then came the play that changed the momentum in the Falcons’ favor.

In all, eight players caught passes from Ryan. By halftime it was 19-10 after a Ryan touchdown toss to reserve running back Tevin Coleman and, in Quinn’s words, “The fans lit it up for us tonight”. The Falcons couldn’t punch it into the end zone, however, settling for Bryant’s 31-yard field goal to make it 29-13 with 14:57 left in the game. Each of those drives spanned 75 yards or more. “But we can’t look ahead”. The resulting first down sustained what was a field-goal drive that provided a lifeline for the Seahawks. The talented duo lived up to that compliment Saturday, combining for 204 yards from scrimmage – 102 on the ground, 102 through the air – and scoring one touchdown apiece.

It was an 86-yard penalty. Score: Falcons 26, Seahawks 13.