Matt Ryan is 0-3 in the playoffs.
Ryan put up gaudy numbers this season, one where his team had trouble getting a running game going, yes.
Sure, he had the second-highest completion percentage among quarterbacks in the final two minutes of either half, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Yes, his team went 13-3, and took 7 out of 8 at home.
Until he wins a playoff game? None of that will be remembered.
The third overall pick in the 2008 draft will have his work cut out for him Sunday, as the Falcons will host a Seattle team that has won six straight, including a 24-14 road playoff win against the Redskins last weekend.
It's no surprise that many pundits are taking the Seahawks in this one, as they present a nightmare for opposing coaches looking to gameplan against them.
According to ESPN, since the Seahawks shifted to the pistol, read option, shotgun-heavy offense in Week 13, they have averaged 7.8 yards per attempt on option runs.
Another scary fact, thanks to our friends at ESPN: since Week 7, Russell Wilson has not thrown an interception against a blitzing defense. Put simply, Wilson is a rookie QB who hasn't played like a rookie QB since Week 7.
One more factoid from ESPN: Matt Ryan attempted the second-most screen passes in the league this year, likely because his team struggled to run the ball. Seattle had the second-best screen pass defense in the league this year, allowing only 3 yards per attempt against the play.
If you want to find a silver lining for the Falcons, it could very well be the fact that the Seahawks lost their best pass rusher, Chris Clemons and their kicker, Steven Hauschka, for the season, both seemingly casualties of the playing surface at FedEx Field last weekend.
With the weapons that he has at receiver, going against a team that lost arguably its best player, you can see why the Falcons remain favored to win this game.
In crunch time, when the lights are on bright, can "Matty Ice" get it done? We'll find out Sunday.
Ryan put up gaudy numbers this season, one where his team had trouble getting a running game going, yes.
Sure, he had the second-highest completion percentage among quarterbacks in the final two minutes of either half, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Yes, his team went 13-3, and took 7 out of 8 at home.
Until he wins a playoff game? None of that will be remembered.
The third overall pick in the 2008 draft will have his work cut out for him Sunday, as the Falcons will host a Seattle team that has won six straight, including a 24-14 road playoff win against the Redskins last weekend.
It's no surprise that many pundits are taking the Seahawks in this one, as they present a nightmare for opposing coaches looking to gameplan against them.
According to ESPN, since the Seahawks shifted to the pistol, read option, shotgun-heavy offense in Week 13, they have averaged 7.8 yards per attempt on option runs.
Another scary fact, thanks to our friends at ESPN: since Week 7, Russell Wilson has not thrown an interception against a blitzing defense. Put simply, Wilson is a rookie QB who hasn't played like a rookie QB since Week 7.
One more factoid from ESPN: Matt Ryan attempted the second-most screen passes in the league this year, likely because his team struggled to run the ball. Seattle had the second-best screen pass defense in the league this year, allowing only 3 yards per attempt against the play.
If you want to find a silver lining for the Falcons, it could very well be the fact that the Seahawks lost their best pass rusher, Chris Clemons and their kicker, Steven Hauschka, for the season, both seemingly casualties of the playing surface at FedEx Field last weekend.
With the weapons that he has at receiver, going against a team that lost arguably its best player, you can see why the Falcons remain favored to win this game.
In crunch time, when the lights are on bright, can "Matty Ice" get it done? We'll find out Sunday.
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