Matt Ryan lights up Niners, but Falcons fall
Matt Ryan - QB - Atlanta Falcons
Jan. 20, 2013 - 6:15 PM ET
Matt Ryan completed 30-of-42 passes for 396 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in the Falcons' NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers.
Ryan opened the game by finding Julio Jones wide open on a busted coverage for an easy 46-yard touchdown bomb. San Francisco struggled mightily to generate pressure, and Ryan took advantage again with a 20-yard scoring strike to Jones at the start of the second quarter. Ryan's third score came on a 10-yard dart to Tony Gonzalez between 49ers ILB Patrick Willis and SS Donte Whitner. Ryan made back-to-back mistakes in the third quarter, however, throwing an interception to 49ers LCB Chris Culliver and fumbling a snap on the ensuing drive. San Francisco didn't take advantage of either turnover as David Akers shanked a 38-yard field goal and Michael Crabtree fumbled at the goal line. Atlanta's defense simply couldn't stop Colin Kaepernick's Niners, however, and Ryan failed to execute in the red zone on the final meaningful possession down 28-24. Ryan finished the regular season as the No. 7 overall fantasy quarterback. We'd expect him to stay in that range in 2013.
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