by

The Associated Press

Rn T.Com

BUFORD — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan says he doesn’t mind working as a player and a coach during the NFL lockout.

Such is life when players are not allowed to report to work and can’t talk to their bosses.

But the lockout hasn’t kept Ryan from trying to bring his teammates together. He gathered about 30 players for 7-on-7 drills — offense vs. defense — in a scripted session Tuesday on an immaculate practice field at Buford High School, 15 minutes south of the Falcons’ training complex.

“This is just something to keep us sharp,” Ryan said. “We’ve all been doing it long enough to understand what’s beneficial. You kind of put on your coaching hat and work on some things you want to work on.”

It was the Falcons’ first time together on a field since losing to Green Bay in the playoffs.

Atlanta draft pick Julio Jones, taken No. 6 overall, has attended some of the passing sessions Ryan has held with Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White. Neither receiver came Tuesday.

Falcons backup quarterback John Parker Wilson indicated that Jones still isn’t running at full speed. The former Alabama standout had a foot stress fracture discovered in February, but he still ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds a couple days later at the NFL combine.

Jones underwent surgery in Tuscaloosa when he returned from the combine.

“He looks skinnier on TV than he is in person,” Ryan said of the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Jones. “When I first met him, he was enormous. I was like, ‘This guy is a monster.’ But he’s smart, intelligent and we talked about some offensive football.

“I think he’ll be really good in our system.”

Michael Jenkins, the incumbent starting receiver opposite White, knows he will have to work hard to keep Jones from taking his job.

“You knew at some point we were going to get another receiver with a high pick,” Jenkins said. “It’s all about the business, and you know how it is. Added competition makes everybody better.”

Wilson, who played with Jones at Alabama when the Crimson Tide went 12-2 in 2008, believes Atlanta fans shouldn’t worry about Jones’ health.

“He’s gotten a lot bigger, and it looks like he’s gotten a lot stronger,” Wilson said. “He was catching balls the other day, and his reach is still so amazing. It’s pretty sweet. He couldn’t run. He’s still working on his foot from when he messed that up, but he looks good. He looks really good.”

Without White, Jones or tight end Tony Gonzalez present, Ryan threw passes to Jenkins, Harry Douglas, Brian Finneran and others. Fullback Ovie Mughelli was on the field, too.

Defensively, five starters — cornerback Brent Grimes, safety Thomas DeCoud and linebackers Curtis Lofton, Sean Weatherspoon and Mike Peterson — ran the coverages. Lofton is still half-speed as he recovers from two arthroscopic surgeries on the same knee, but he still made some calls before Ryan took the snap.

Lofton also attends some of the four-day-a-week conditioning sessions hosted by Falcons linebacker Coy Wire in nearby Cumming.

“It’s good to have players out here doing this because nobody has to be out here right now,” Lofton said. “It says a lot about this team. We’ve got something special going on here. We’ve just to keep working hard and hopefully get to a championship some day.”

During brief time when the NFL lockout was lifted, Ryan spoke on the phone with coach Mike Smith, coordinator Mike Mularkey and new position coach Bob Bratkowski to help the quarterback map out some practice sessions with no official team supervision.

“We’ve got the same offense coming back,” Ryan said. “We’ve got a lot of guys on the defensive side of the ball out here, so the calls are going to be the same. We just need to polish some things up and get a little bit of work in together. Fortunately enough, we’ve got a lot of guys who live here during the offseason and that’s not the case in every organization, so I think that helps.”

Although we (and I’m talking virtually everyone in the media and fans) have been talking about how the Falcons need to add a speed receiver in the draft, they might already have their guy in place. General manager Thomas Dimitroff said the 2010 season wasn’t a full indicator of what Douglas can do and said his situation is very similar to Jerry’s.

Both players were coming back from major knee injuries and made minor impacts last season. Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith said they expect the impact of both players to be much greater this season.

Much has been made about how the Falcons didn’t have a lot of explosive passing plays last season, even though Douglas was part of that receiver corps. But Dimitroff said a fully-healthy Douglas could provide a big boost.

Douglas showed plenty of promise as a rookie in 2008, catching 23 passes and averaging almost 14 yards a catch. He then suffered a training-camp knee injury in 2009 and missed the entire season. Douglas was expected to come back and be a threat as slot receiver last season, but he got off to a slow start. Part of it was because starting receiver Michael Jenkins was injured and missed the first six games and that forced Douglas to have to do more than just be a slot receiver. Part of it also might have been because Douglas wasn’t 100 percent early in the season.

But Dimitroff said there were encouraging signs as last season went on.

“Just about halfway through the season, Harry was healed,’’ Dimitroff said. “There was no more issue there. I saw an increased explosiveness that I didn’t see in the beginning of the season and more confidence. We would have continued to throw to him and get him more and more involved if we had advanced in the playoffs. He understands this is also a big year for him.’’

But let’s look a little more closely at why the Falcons need help and what type of receiver they might be looking to add. The short answers are they could use a speed receiver to stretch the field and help the entire offense.

Atlanta has one of the league’s best all-around receivers in Roddy White. No. 2 receiver Michael Jenkins missed part of last season with an injury and is more of a role player. He’s a big and physical guy, who helps the offense as a possession receiver and a run blocker.

The Falcons had hoped Harry Douglas would have a breakout season as a slot receiver. But that didn’t really happen. There still is some hope that Douglas can blossom because last season marked his return from a significant knee injury. The Falcons also think they might be able to get some more big plays out of Eric Weems, who starred as a return man. At the moment, Douglas and Weems are the two guys who might be able to help White and quarterback Matt Ryan stretch the field. Kerry Meier is coming back from an injury that forced him to miss his rookie year, but he’s projected to fill the jack-of-all-trades role of veteran Brian Finneran. At the moment, Finneran is not under contract and the Falcons didn’t make any attempt to re-sign him before the lockout.

Are Weems and Douglas enough to solve this? Well, if they step up, maybe. But they were part of last year’s receiving corps and these numbers from ESPN Stats & Information aren’t very complimentary of Atlanta’s deep passing game.

On passes of 21 yards or more downfield, Ryan completed 38.5 percent of his passes to White and three of them went for touchdowns. When throwing that same distance for other receivers, Ryan only completed 16 percent of his passes for one touchdown.

Average that out and Ryan completed 23.7 percent of his passes of 21 yards or more and that ranked No. 28 in the league. In fact, the Falcons attempted 38 passes of 21 yards or more, which tied them for 30th in the league and had only nine receptions, which tied them for 31st in the league.

Not sure yet if we’ll roll through the entire division today or if we’ll do the Falcons and Panthers for now and save the Saints and the Bucs for Sunday. Either way, stay tuned.

Kishon in Long Island said he loved the article about Vidal Hazelton and asked if the Falcons might give him a shot.

Pat Yasinskas: Let’s be real objective about Hazelton. Even if he lights it up at his pro day, he probably will be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent. He’s a guy with a world of talent, but he didn’t get to play a lot of college football because of his transfer from Southern California to Cincinnati, and injuries. But he had a high profile coming out of college, and teams are going to keep an eye on him. Hazelton spent part of his life in Georgia, has family there and has made it clear he’d love to play for the Falcons. I think Atlanta could be looking at other receivers earlier in the draft. But Hazelton is the kind of guy the Falcons and a lot of other teams could take a chance on very late in the draft or sign as an undrafted free agent. There’s not a lot of downside because he’s not going to cost much. And there’s big upside if Hazelton can stay healthy and finally live up to his potential.

Pat Yasinskas: I never like to say never, because anything is possible. Teams will surprise you, like the Carolina Panthers did when they signed Jeremy Shockey. But I would say Harris is a long shot. The Falcons don’t have a huge need at defensive tackle. They have a very good veteran in Jonathan Babineaux, and they believe Peria Jerry can make an impact next season as his knee continues to get stronger. They’re also pretty pleased with Corey Peters, a third-round pick last season, who wound up as a starter.

Pat Yasinskas: Entirely possible, but we’ll have to see what happens with the labor situation. We all know the Falcons want to improve their pass rush, and that might come in the draft. But the Falcons have been pretty deliberate under coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. They might only make one or two moves via free agency or trade per offseason, but they usually are pretty big ones. Edwards certainly fits the profile of what might be Atlanta’s biggest need – a pass-rusher up front.

Pat Yasinskas: Short answer: No. Long answer: The Falcons aren’t looking for Jenkins to be anything like White. They’re two very different types of receivers. Jenkins is a role player. He’s a big guy, and is considered one of the top blocking receivers in the NFL. That alone gives him an important niche in Atlanta’s offense. He also is a decent possession receiver who makes some catches when needed. But he’s clearly the No. 3 option in the passing game behind White and tight end Tony Gonzalez. The Falcons might look for a speed receiver in the draft, but Jenkins’ role in this offense is valued a lot more by the coaching staff than most people realize.

Pat Yasinskas: I think Grimes already qualifies as a very good player. Can he become elite? Probably not. He has one big limitation. That’s his height. The reality is Grimes is really about 5-foot-8. He does a nice job of making up for that with his athleticism and leaping ability. But NFL coaches are smart, and they’re going to try to set up as many matchups as possible where Grimes has to cover a 6-4 receiver. He’s going to lose some of those battles. But Grimes has become more of a player than anyone ever expected when he came out of college. If Grimes were 6-1, he might be the best cornerback in the league. But he’ll never be 6-1, so he just has to continue making the most of the hand he was dealt. So far, he’s done a nice job with that.

ATLANTA – Brett who? Aaron Rodgers has turned these NFL playoffs into his own showcase.

Carving up the NFC’s top-seeded team, Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and led the Green Bay Packers to their second straight postseason road victory with a stunning 48-21 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night.

The Packers (12-6) will have to win one more on the road to complete their improbable run from sixth seed to the Super Bowl, but nothing looks out of the question the way Rodgers is playing. He’ll lead Green Bay into the NFC championship game at either Chicago or Seattle next weekend.

“That’s what you dream about,” Rodgers said. “This just feels so good right now. To be able to put up an offensive performance like that, it’s just incredible.”

Rodgers completed 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards, more than Brett Favre – the guy he replaced in Green Bay – ever threw for in a playoff game. After knocking off Michael Vick and the Eagles in Philadelphia, then dominating Matt Ryan and the Falcons in Atlanta, Rodgers is creating his own legacy in Titletown USA.

This was the most points ever scored by the Packers in a playoff game. They could’ve left punter Tim Masthay at home. He was never needed.

Green Bay scored 35 consecutive points, including Tramon Williams’ 70-yard interception return on the final play of the first half that left the Falcons (13-4) and a crowd of more than 69,000 in a state of shock as the teams headed to the locker room.

“It was one of those nights,” Rodgers said. “I felt like I was in the zone.”

Ryan, who beat out Rodgers for a spot in the Pro Bowl, had a miserable night. He also was picked off in the end zone, costing Atlanta another scoring chance early on that might’ve changed the complexion of the game, and lost a fumble attempting a simple sneak. In two career playoff games, Matty Ice is 0-2 with six turnovers and a safety.

The Falcons went into the playoffs as the NFC’s top-seeded team for only the second time in franchise history. The result was the same as the first time: one and done.

At least the fans didn’t have to deal with the heartache of blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, the fate suffered by the 1980 Falcons in their 30-27 loss to Dallas. This game was pretty much over when Rodgers guided the Packers on an 80-yard drive to open the second half, running the last 7 yards for the TD that made it 35-14.

When Rodgers drove the Packers on yet another scoring drive, capped off with a 7-yard pass to John Kuhn late in the third quarter, thousands of red-clad fans headed for the exits, not even bothering to hang around for the final period of a magical season than turned into a green nightmare in the playoffs.

The Falcons simply couldn’t stop Rodgers, who carved up the Atlanta defense on four drive of at least 80 yards.

Time after time, Rodgers ducked a shoulder or pulled off a nifty spin move to get away from a rusher, leaving him grasping at air. Rodgers put that extra time to good use, inevitably finding the open man in what became an increasingly tortured night for the Falcons.

Early on, Rodgers spent plenty of time picking on Falcons nickel back Christopher Owens, who was filling in for injured Brian Williams. Owens was twice called for penalties in a desperate bid to slow Rodgers and his deep receiving corps.

But no one on the Atlanta defense did much to stop Rodgers after the opening drive, when Stephen Nicholas chased down Greg Jennings from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by Brett Grimes around midfield.

Atlanta quickly drove for the opening score, a 12-yard run by Michael Turner. Unfortunately for the Falcons, they had to give the ball back to Rodgers. And, as everyone soon discovered, there was no stopping No. 12. A 13-play, 81-yard drive evened the score, Rodgers finishing it off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson.

The Falcons last gasp, as it turned out, was Eric Weems’ 102-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, the longest return in NFL playoff history.

Rodgers went right back to work, even after the Packers bobbled the next kickoff out of bounds at the 8-yard line. That just gave their quarterback more room to work, and this time he guided the Packers 92 yards in 10 players for Kuhn’s 1-yard plunge that made it 14-all.

Ryan was the first to crack in this quarterback duel. He had the Falcons in scoring position again, but threw up a ball in the corner of the end zone for Michael Jenkins. When the receiver slipped, Williams jumped up for an easy interception.

Back to Rodgers, who needed only seven plays to torch the Falcons on an 80-yard drive. The touchdown was a perfectly thrown pass to James Jones along the side of the end zone, allowing the receiver to leap over shorter cornerback Brent Grimes for a 20-yard score with 48 seconds left in the first half.

At that point, it was still a game, the Packers up 21-14.

It wouldn’t be that way for long.

Atlanta hustled into position to try a field goal before halftime, thanks to a pair of pass interference penalties. But Ryan was sacked by Clay Matthews with 10 seconds to go, forcing the Falcons to call their final timeout.

That would be a backbreaker for the Falcons. Instead of sending out Matt Bryant to attempt a 53-yard kick, coach Mike Smith wanted to get it a little closer. Bad move. The Packers knew Ryan had to throw it near the sideline to stop the clock, and Williams read the play perfectly.

The cornerback, who sealed the win over the Eagles by intercepting Vick in the end zone, stepped in front of a quick out pass intended for Roddy White, made a nice cut around midfield and was gone on a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the half.

The crowd sat in stunned silence as the Packers knocked through the extra point then headed off the locker room with a 28-14 lead.

The second half was just one long victory lap for the Packers, whose hefty contingent of fans was able to move down right near the edge of the emptying Georgia Dome and serenade their team with “Go, Pack, Go!” chants.

For the Falcons, nothing but misery.

A long pass completion was overturned with a replay. Ryan turned it over for the third time, fumbling a snap while attempting a sneak on third-and-short. Michael Jenkins lost the ball after a catch, Atlanta’s fourth turnover of the night.

And perhaps most painful to watch, Tony Gonzalez was injured on a catch late in the third quarter.

The guy who’s caught more passes than any other tight end in NFL history came to Atlanta looking for the first playoff win of his career and perhaps his last shot at reaching the Super Bowl. But those hopes had long been dashed by the time he limped off the field, favoring his right leg. He eventually returned to the bench, but there was nothing he could do as he sat solemnly on the bench, watching his postseason hopes dashed again.

ATLANTA — Brett who? Aaron Rodgers has turned these NFL playoffs into his own showcase.

Carving up the NFC’s top-seeded team, Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and led the Green Bay Packers to their second straight postseason road victory with a stunning 48-21 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night.

The Packers (12-6) will have to win one more on the road to complete their improbable run from sixth seed to the Super Bowl, but nothing looks out of the question the way Rodgers is playing. He’ll lead Green Bay into the NFC championship game at either Chicago or Seattle next weekend.

“That’s what you dream about,” Rodgers said. “This just feels so good right now. To be able to put up an offensive performance like that, it’s just incredible.”

Rodgers completed 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards, more than Brett Favre — the guy he replaced in Green Bay — ever threw for in a playoff game. After knocking off Michael Vick and the Eagles in Philadelphia, then dominating Matt Ryan and the Falcons in Atlanta, Rodgers is creating his own legacy in Titletown USA.

This was the most points ever scored by the Packers in a playoff game. They could’ve left punter Tim Masthay at home. He was never needed.

Green Bay scored 35 consecutive points, including Tramon Williams’ 70-yard interception return on the final play of the first half that left the Falcons (13-4) and a crowd of more than 69,000 in a state of shock as the teams headed to the locker room.

“It was one of those nights,” Rodgers said. “I felt like I was in the zone.”

Ryan, who beat out Rodgers for a spot in the Pro Bowl, had a miserable night. He also was picked off in the end zone, costing Atlanta another scoring chance early on that might’ve changed the complexion of the game, and lost a fumble attempting a simple sneak. In two career playoff games, Matty Ice is 0-2 with six turnovers and a safety.

The Falcons went into the playoffs as the NFC’s top-seeded team for only the second time in franchise history. The result was the same as the first time: one and done.

At least the fans didn’t have to deal with the heartache of blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, the fate suffered by the 1980 Falcons in their 30-27 loss to Dallas. This game was pretty much over when Rodgers guided the Packers on an 80-yard drive to open the second half, running the last 7 yards for the TD that made it 35-14.

When Rodgers drove the Packers on yet another scoring drive, capped off with a 7-yard pass to John Kuhn late in the third quarter, thousands of red-clad fans headed for the exits, not even bothering to hang around for the final period of a magical season than turned into a green nightmare in the playoffs.

The Falcons simply couldn’t stop Rodgers, who carved up the Atlanta defense on four drive of at least 80 yards.

Time after time, Rodgers ducked a shoulder or pulled off a nifty spin move to get away from a rusher, leaving him grasping at air. Rodgers put that extra time to good use, inevitably finding the open man in what became an increasingly tortured night for the Falcons.

Early on, Rodgers spent plenty of time picking on Falcons nickel back Christopher Owens, who was filling in for injured Brian Williams. Owens was twice called for penalties in a desperate bid to slow Rodgers and his deep receiving corps.

But no one on the Atlanta defense did much to stop Rodgers after the opening drive, when Stephen Nicholas chased down Greg Jennings from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by Brett Grimes around midfield.

Atlanta quickly drove for the opening score, a 12-yard run by Michael Turner. Unfortunately for the Falcons, they had to give the ball back to Rodgers. And, as everyone soon discovered, there was no stopping No. 12. A 13-play, 81-yard drive evened the score, Rodgers finishing it off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson.

The Falcons last gasp, as it turned out, was Eric Weems’ 102-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, the longest return in NFL playoff history.

Rodgers went right back to work, even after the Packers bobbled the next kickoff out of bounds at the 8-yard line. That just gave their quarterback more room to work, and this time he guided the Packers 92 yards in 10 players for Kuhn’s 1-yard plunge that made it 14-all.

Ryan was the first to crack in this quarterback duel. He had the Falcons in scoring position again, but threw up a ball in the corner of the end zone for Michael Jenkins. When the receiver slipped, Williams jumped up for an easy interception.

Back to Rodgers, who needed only seven plays to torch the Falcons on an 80-yard drive. The touchdown was a perfectly thrown pass to James Jones along the side of the end zone, allowing the receiver to leap over shorter cornerback Brent Grimes for a 20-yard score with 48 seconds left in the first half.

At that point, it was still a game, the Packers up 21-14.

It wouldn’t be that way for long.

Atlanta hustled into position to try a field goal before halftime, thanks to a pair of pass interference penalties. But Ryan was sacked by Clay Matthews with 10 seconds to go, forcing the Falcons to call their final timeout.

That would be a backbreaker for the Falcons. Instead of sending out Matt Bryant to attempt a 53-yard kick, coach Mike Smith wanted to get it a little closer. Bad move. The Packers knew Ryan had to throw it near the sideline to stop the clock, and Williams read the play perfectly.

The cornerback, who sealed the win over the Eagles by intercepting Vick in the end zone, stepped in front of a quick out pass intended for Roddy White, made a nice cut around midfield and was gone on a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the half.

The crowd sat in stunned silence as the Packers knocked through the extra point then headed off the locker room with a 28-14 lead.

The second half was just one long victory lap for the Packers, whose hefty contingent of fans was able to move down right near the edge of the emptying Georgia Dome and serenade their team with “Go, Pack, Go!” chants.

For the Falcons, nothing but misery.

A long pass completion was overturned with a replay. Ryan turned it over for the third time, fumbling a snap while attempting a sneak on third-and-short. Michael Jenkins lost the ball after a catch, Atlanta’s fourth turnover of the night.

And perhaps most painful to watch, Tony Gonzalez was injured on a catch late in the third quarter.

The guy who’s caught more passes than any other tight end in NFL history came to Atlanta looking for the first playoff win of his career and perhaps his last shot at reaching the Super Bowl. But those hopes had long been dashed by the time he limped off the field, favoring his right leg. He eventually returned to the bench, but there was nothing he could do as he sat solemnly on the bench, watching his postseason hopes dashed again.

POSTED: 10:45 pm EST January 15, 2011

UPDATED: 11:53 pm EST January 15, 2011

ATLANTA (AP)—Brett who? Aaron Rodgers(notes) has turned these NFL playoffs into his own showcase.

Carving up the NFC’s top-seeded team, Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and led the Green Bay Packers to their second straight postseason road victory with a stunning 48-21 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night.

The Packers (12-6) will have to win one more on the road to complete their improbable run from sixth seed to the Super Bowl, but nothing looks out of the question the way Rodgers is playing. He’ll lead Green Bay into the NFC championship game at either Chicago or Seattle next weekend.

“That’s what you dream about,” Rodgers said. “This just feels so good right now. To be able to put up an offensive performance like that, it’s just incredible.”

Rodgers completed 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards, more than Brett Favre(notes)—the guy he replaced in Green Bay—ever threw for in a playoff game. After knocking off Michael Vick(notes) and the Eagles in Philadelphia, then dominating Matt Ryan(notes) and the Falcons in Atlanta, Rodgers is creating his own legacy in Titletown USA.

This was the most points ever scored by the Packers in a playoff game. They could’ve left punter Tim Masthay(notes) at home. He was never needed.

Green Bay scored 35 consecutive points, including Tramon Williams’(notes) 70-yard interception return on the final play of the first half that left the Falcons (13-4) and a crowd of more than 69,000 in a state of shock as the teams headed to the locker room.

“It was one of those nights,” Rodgers said. “I felt like I was in the zone.”

Ryan, who beat out Rodgers for a spot in the Pro Bowl, had a miserable night. He also was picked off in the end zone, costing Atlanta another scoring chance early on that might’ve changed the complexion of the game, and lost a fumble attempting a simple sneak. In two career playoff games, Matty Ice is 0-2 with six turnovers and a safety.

The Falcons went into the playoffs as the NFC’s top-seeded team for only the second time in franchise history. The result was the same as the first time: one and done.

At least the fans didn’t have to deal with the heartache of blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, the fate suffered by the 1980 Falcons in their 30-27 loss to Dallas. This game was pretty much over when Rodgers guided the Packers on an 80-yard drive to open the second half, running the last 7 yards for the TD that made it 35-14.

When Rodgers drove the Packers on yet another scoring drive, capped off with a 7-yard pass to John Kuhn(notes) late in the third quarter, thousands of red-clad fans headed for the exits, not even bothering to hang around for the final period of a magical season than turned into a green nightmare in the playoffs.

In the locker room afterward, Falcons coach Mike Smith(notes) tried to make sense of it for his players.

“I know they’re disappointed. I’m disappointed. We’re all disappointed,” he said. “But we will learn from it. That’s the important thing. We will learn from what took place this evening. I also told ‘em, as bad as they feel right now, remember the whole body of work we put out there this year. We can’t forget that either.”

The Falcons simply couldn’t stop Rodgers, who carved up the Atlanta defense on four drive of at least 80 yards.

Time after time, Rodgers ducked a shoulder or pulled off a nifty spin move to get away from a rusher, leaving him grasping at air. Rodgers put that extra time to good use, inevitably finding the open man in what became an increasingly tortured night for the Falcons.

Early on, Rodgers spent plenty of time picking on Falcons nickel back Christopher Owens(notes), who was filling in for injured Brian Williams(notes). Owens was twice called for penalties in a desperate bid to slow Rodgers and his deep receiving corps.

But no one on the Atlanta defense did much to stop Rodgers after the opening drive, when Stephen Nicholas(notes) chased down Greg Jennings(notes) from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by Brett Grimes around midfield.

Atlanta quickly drove for the opening score, a 12-yard run by Michael Turner(notes). Unfortunately for the Falcons, they had to give the ball back to Rodgers. And, as everyone soon discovered, there was no stopping No. 12. A 13-play, 81-yard drive evened the score, Rodgers finishing it off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson(notes).

The Falcons last gasp, as it turned out, was Eric Weems’(notes) 102-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, the longest return in NFL playoff history.

Rodgers went right back to work, even after the Packers bobbled the next kickoff out of bounds at the 8-yard line. That just gave their quarterback more room to work, and this time he guided the Packers 92 yards in 10 players for Kuhn’s 1-yard plunge that made it 14-all.

Ryan was the first to crack in this quarterback duel. He had the Falcons in scoring position again, but threw up a ball in the corner of the end zone for Michael Jenkins(notes). When the receiver slipped, Williams jumped up for an easy interception.

Back to Rodgers, who needed only seven plays to torch the Falcons on an 80-yard drive. The touchdown was a perfectly thrown pass to James Jones(notes) along the side of the end zone, allowing the receiver to leap over shorter cornerback Brent Grimes(notes) for a 20-yard score with 48 seconds left in the first half.

At that point, it was still a game, the Packers up 21-14.

It wouldn’t be that way for long.

Atlanta hustled into position to try a field goal before halftime, thanks to a pair of pass interference penalties. But Ryan was sacked by Clay Matthews(notes) with 10 seconds to go, forcing the Falcons to call their final timeout.

That would be a backbreaker for the Falcons. Instead of sending out Matt Bryant(notes) to attempt a 53-yard kick, coach Mike Smith wanted to get it a little closer. Bad move. The Packers knew Ryan had to throw it near the sideline to stop the clock, and Williams read the play perfectly.

The cornerback, who sealed the win over the Eagles by intercepting Vick in the end zone, stepped in front of a quick out pass intended for Roddy White(notes), made a nice cut around midfield and was gone on a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the half.

The crowd sat in stunned silence as the Packers knocked through the extra point then headed off the locker room with a 28-14 lead.

The second half was just one long victory lap for the Packers, whose hefty contingent of fans was able to move down right near the edge of the emptying Georgia Dome and serenade their team with “Go, Pack, Go!” chants.

For the Falcons, nothing but misery.

A long pass completion was overturned with a replay. Ryan turned it over for the third time, fumbling a snap while attempting a sneak on third-and-short. Michael Jenkins lost the ball after a catch, Atlanta’s fourth turnover of the night.

And perhaps most painful to watch, Tony Gonzalez(notes) was injured on a catch late in the third quarter.

The guy who’s caught more passes than any other tight end in NFL history came to Atlanta looking for the first playoff win of his career and perhaps his last shot at reaching the Super Bowl. But those hopes had long been dashed by the time he limped off the field, favoring his right leg. He eventually returned to the bench, but there was nothing he could do as he sat solemnly on the bench, watching his postseason hopes dashed again.

by The Associated Press Rn T.Com

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Atlanta Falcons hope their home-field advantage in the playoffs will make up for a shortage of players who have won in the postseason.

The Falcons have no players who have appeared in a Super Bowl. Starting with veterans Tony Gonzalez and Mike Peterson, the roster is filled with players starved for playoff success.

Only three — center Todd McClure and receivers Brian Finneran and Michael Jenkins — were with the team for Atlanta’s last playoff win in 2004.

The Falcons, who have a bye this weekend, are counting on their strong home record and the added experience of quarterback Matt Ryan and other key players who remain from the 2008 team that lost its playoff opener at Arizona.

“I think the playoff experience that we had two years ago will be beneficial for our football team,” said coach Mike Smith, who was a rookie coach in 2008. “Our guys had an opportunity to experience it even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted. I think it was a learning experience for us all, not only the players but the coaching staff.”

The Falcons (13-3) earned the bye by winning the NFC South with the conference’s best record. They will play on Jan. 15 against the Saints, Seahawks or Packers. The winner advances to the NFC championship game.

Atlanta’s only other division titles came in 1980, 1998 and 2004. The team is the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1980.

The Falcons can advance to the Super Bowl with two wins at the Georgia Dome, where they are 20-2 in games started by Ryan over the last three years.

All that recent home success came in the regular season. The Falcons haven’t had a home playoff game since beating the Rams in the divisional playoffs after the 2004 season. Atlanta lost at Philadelphia in the NFC title game.

In addition to the three holdovers from the 2004 Falcons roster, the list of Atlanta players who have won in the playoffs is short: running back Michael Turner (San Diego), cornerback Brian Williams (Minnesota, Jacksonville), defensive end John Abraham (New York Jets) and safety Erik Coleman (Jets).

The Falcons’ list of players still seeking their first playoff win includes two of the team’s most experienced veterans, Gonzalez and Peterson.

This could be the last chance for a playoff win for Gonzalez, who has more catches than any tight end in NFL history, and Peterson, still a productive linebacker.

Gonzalez, 34, lost in each of his three playoff games with Kansas City. Peterson, 34, was 0-for-4 in the playoffs with Indianapolis and Jacksonville. He missed the Jaguars’ 2007 playoffs with an injury.

“I’m just so happy right now,” Peterson said. “I’ve been at this thing for 12 years now and I have never had a feeling like I do right now. I’m just trying to take advantage of it and soak it all in.”

Gonzalez hoped for this playoff opportunity when he was traded from the Chiefs to the Falcons before the 2009 season.

“This is exactly what I envisioned,” said Gonzalez, in his 14th NFL season. “Now that it’s here, it’s great.”

At the time of the trade, Gonzalez said he was optimistic that Atlanta’s offense, which features Ryan, White and Turner, could lead the team to the playoffs.

Ryan, White, Turner, Gonzalez and fullback Ovie Mughelli made the Pro Bowl.

Gonzalez said he will make sure his younger teammates realize that playoff changes are rare, especially as a No. 1 seed.

“Just because you’re 13-3 doesn’t mean much,” he said. “We still have to take care of business.”

Ryan was only 13 when the Falcons lost to Denver in their only Super Bowl appearance following the 1998 season. He was a rookie when the host Cardinals beat the Falcons 30-24.

Ryan now is bolstered by the experience gained in his three seasons, including his first Pro Bowl nod this season, as he prepares for his second try for a playoff win.

“Completely different,” Ryan said when asked to compare the two playoff opportunities. “At this point I have a better idea of what to expect heading into it because it is different. There are things going on that are different than in the regular season. … The atmosphere is really different.”

Ryan had three turnovers, including a fumble returned for a touchdown, and was sacked for a safety in his 2008 playoff debut.

Ryan said he understands it’s important to take advantage of the home playoff games.

“The opportunity doesn’t come around that often,” he said. “Trying to make the most of it, I think all of us will have that in the back of our minds.”

By Charles Odum, Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons hope their home-field advantage in the playoffs will make up for a shortage of players who have won in the postseason.

The Falcons have no players who have appeared in a Super Bowl. Starting with veterans Tony Gonzalez and Mike Peterson, the roster is filled with players starved for playoff success.

Only three — center Todd McClure and receivers Brian Finneran and Michael Jenkins — were with the team for Atlanta’s last playoff win in 2004.

The Falcons, who have a bye this weekend, are counting on their strong home record and the added experience of quarterback Matt Ryan and other key players who remain from the 2008 team that lost its playoff opener at Arizona.

“I think the playoff experience that we had two years ago will be beneficial for our football team,” said coach Mike Smith, who was a rookie coach in 2008. “Our guys had an opportunity to experience it even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted. I think it was a learning experience for us all, not only the players but the coaching staff.”

The Falcons (13-3) earned the bye by winning the NFC South with the conference’s best record. They will play on Jan. 15 against the Saints, Seahawks or Packers. The winner advances to the NFC championship game.

Atlanta’s only other division titles came in 1980, 1998 and 2004. The team is the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1980.

The Falcons can advance to the Super Bowl with two wins at the Georgia Dome, where they are 20-2 in games started by Ryan over the last three years.

All that recent home success came in the regular season. The Falcons haven’t had a home playoff game since beating the Rams in the divisional playoffs after the 2004 season. Atlanta lost at Philadelphia in the NFC title game.

In addition to the three holdovers from the 2004 Falcons roster, the list of Atlanta players who have won in the playoffs is short: running back Michael Turner (San Diego), cornerback Brian Williams (Minnesota, Jacksonville), defensive end John Abraham (New York Jets) and safety Erik Coleman (Jets).

The Falcons’ list of players still seeking their first playoff win includes two of the team’s most experienced veterans, Gonzalez and Peterson.

This could be the last chance for a playoff win for Gonzalez, who has more catches than any tight end in NFL history, and Peterson, still a productive linebacker.

Gonzalez, 34, lost in each of his three playoff games with Kansas City. Peterson, 34, was 0-for-4 in the playoffs with Indianapolis and Jacksonville. He missed the Jaguars’ 2007 playoffs with an injury.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Ryan and the Falcons expect better offensive production in Atlanta’s important final regular-season game against Carolina.

The Falcons can win the NFC South division title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by beating the Panthers on Sunday. A loss wouldn’t be the end to the season, but it definitely would take away much of the luster.

Ryan has thrived in clutch situations this season, but, when his last two passes fell incomplete in Atlanta’s loss Monday night to New Orleans, it put new importance on Sunday’s contest against the Panthers.

Ryan’s nickname gained popularity as he led Atlanta to six wins this season with go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter or overtime. “Matty Ice” needs another strong showing Sunday.

Ryan said the 17-14 loss to the Saints showed that late-game victories can’t be taken for granted.

“There’s nothing given,” Ryan said Thursday. “There’s nothing automatic in this league. But with that said, we have the same expectation that in a tight game, late in the game, we’re going to make the plays that we need to win. We just didn’t do that at the end of the last game. We had some chances and just didn’t make the plays that we needed to.

“It’s a learning experience. It keeps us motivated and hopefully we do a better job of it this week.”

Ryan’s clutch performances helped lead to his first Pro Bowl selection this week. Late-game heroics from Ryan have become so common Atlanta players say they were shocked to see the Falcons stopped late in the loss to the Saints.

“There was never a doubt in our mind we were going to win,” said fullback Ovie Mughelli. “It just didn’t happen in this game. It hurt so much because we’re so used to winning after eight wins in a row. We fully expected to drive down there and somehow to at least get in field goal range. When it didn’t happen, I think a lot of us were stunned.”

The Falcons were held to 215 total yards and Ryan completed 15 of 29 passes for only 148 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

The Saints contained Roddy White, who leads the NFL with 109 catches. He was shadowed by an extra defensive back and had only three catches for 43 yards and one touchdown.

The Falcons say they must do a better job with their running game and passing to tight end Tony Gonzalez and receivers Michael Jenkins and Douglas when defenses focus on White.

The Falcons have five Pro Bowl players on their offense: Ryan, Mughelli, Turner, White and Gonzalez. Ryan said an offense with so many weapons shouldn’t be held to 14 points.

“I think we just need to play better,” he said. “We had opportunities to take advantage of some of the things they were doing against us, and we just didn’t play well enough. I think it comes down to us. … We need to execute better and if we do that we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

Falcons coach Mike Smith said the Panthers may try defensive strategies that worked for the Saints, including extra attention on White.

“That’s been going on for quite some time and over the last couple of weeks probably more snaps of it,” Smith said. “Again, when you’re a Pro Bowl player and you have the production Roddy has, you’re going to get that attention.

“We have to be prepared to make sure we have a plan to offset that. … I think when they take something away they’re going to leave something open, and we’ve got to make sure we can find it and go ahead and execute because they can’t take everything away.”

The Falcons won 31-10 at Carolina on Dec. 12.

If Carolina beats Atlanta and New Orleans beats Tampa Bay, the Falcons would lose home-field advantage and the first-round bye.

Ryan said there’s no danger of taking the Panthers lightly with so much on the line.

“I think everybody in here knows what’s at stake,” Ryan said. “We don’t need to talk about it. I don’t think anybody is looking further than this week.”

Notes: White and LB Curtis Lofton were given routine days off from practice. DT Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder) and center Todd McClure (ankle) also did not practice. DE John Abraham (groin) and DE Kroy Biermann (calf) were limited. … Smith said he was proud to have seven players on the Pro Bowl team. He mentioned Babineaux, PK Matt Bryant and OT Tyson Clabo as also deserving.

Matt Ryan and the Falcons are expecting better offensive production in Atlanta’s important final regular-season game against Carolina.

The Falcons can win the NFC South division title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by beating the Panthers on Sunday. A loss wouldn’t be the end to the season, but it would definitely take away much of the luster.

Ryan has thrived in clutch situations this season, but when his last two passes fell incomplete in Atlanta’s loss to New Orleans Monday night, it put new importance on Sunday’s contest against the Panthers.

Ryan’s nickname gained popularity as he led Atlanta to six wins this season with go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter or overtime. “Matty Ice” needs another strong showing Sunday.

Ryan said the 17-14 loss to the Saints showed that late-game victories can’t be taken for granted.

“There’s nothing given,” Ryan said Thursday. “There’s nothing automatic in this league. But with that said, we have the same expectation that in a tight game, late in the game, we’re going to make the plays that we need to win. We just didn’t do that at the end of the last game. We had some chances and just didn’t make the plays that we needed to.

“It’s a learning experience. It keeps us motivated and hopefully we do a better job of it this week.”

Ryan’s clutch performances helped lead to his first Pro Bowl selection this week. Late-game heroics from Ryan have become so common Atlanta players say they were shocked to see the Falcons stopped late in the loss to the Saints.

“There was never a doubt in our mind we were going to win,” said fullback Ovie Mughelli. “It just didn’t happen in this game. It hurt so much because we’re so used to winning after eight wins in a row.

“We fully expected to drive down there and somehow to at least get in field goal range. When it didn’t happen, I think a lot of us were stunned.”

The Falcons were held to 215 total yards and Ryan completed 15 of 29 passes for only 148 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

The Saints contained Roddy White, who leads the NFL with 109 catches. White was shadowed by an extra defensive back and had only three catches for 43 yards, including a 7-yard catch for a touchdown.

The Falcons say they must do a better job with their running game and passing to tight end Tony Gonzalez and receivers Michael Jenkins and Douglas when defenses focus on White.

The Falcons have five newly named Pro Bowl players from their offense: Ryan, Mughelli, Turner, White and Gonzalez. Ryan said an offense with so many weapons shouldn’t be held to 14 points.

“I think we just need to play better,” Ryan said. “We had opportunities to take advantage of some of the things they were doing against us, and we just didn’t play well enough.

“I think it comes down to us. … We need to execute better and if we do that we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

Falcons coach Mike Smith said the Panthers may try defensive strategies that worked for the Saints, including extra attention on White.

“That’s been going on for quite some time and over the last couple of weeks probably more snaps of it,” Smith said. “Again, when you’re a Pro Bowl player and you have the production Roddy has, you’re going to get that attention.

“We have to be prepared to make sure we have a plan to offset that. … I think when they take something away they’re going to leave something open, and we’ve got to make sure we can find it and go ahead and execute because they can’t take everything away.”

The Falcons won 31-10 at Carolina on Dec. 12.

If Carolina beats Atlanta and New Orleans beats Tampa Bay, the Falcons would lose home-field advantage and the first-round bye.

Ryan said there’s no danger of taking the Panthers lightly with so much on the line.

“I think everybody in here knows what’s at stake,” Ryan said. “We don’t need to talk about it. I don’t think anybody is looking further than this week.”

Notes: White and LB Curtis Lofton were given routine days off from practice. DT Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder) and center Todd McClure (ankle) also did not practice. DE John Abraham (groin) and DE Kroy Biermann (calf) were limited. … Smith said he was proud to have seven players on the Pro Bowl team. He mentioned Babineaux, PK Matt Bryant and OT Tyson Clabo as also deserving.

Matt Ryan and the Falcons are expecting better offensive production in Atlanta’s important final regular-season game against Carolina.

The Falcons can win the NFC South division title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by beating the Panthers on Sunday. A loss wouldn’t be the end to the season, but it would definitely take away much of the luster.

Ryan has thrived in clutch situations this season, but when his last two passes fell incomplete in Atlanta’s loss to New Orleans Monday night, it put new importance on Sunday’s contest against the Panthers.

Ryan’s nickname gained popularity as he led Atlanta to six wins this season with go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter or overtime. “Matty Ice” needs another strong showing Sunday.

Ryan said the 17-14 loss to the Saints showed that late-game victories can’t be taken for granted.

“There’s nothing given,” Ryan said Thursday. “There’s nothing automatic in this league. But with that said, we have the same expectation that in a tight game, late in the game, we’re going to make the plays that we need to win. We just didn’t do that at the end of the last game. We had some chances and just didn’t make the plays that we needed to.

“It’s a learning experience. It keeps us motivated and hopefully we do a better job of it this week.”

Ryan’s clutch performances helped lead to his first Pro Bowl selection this week. Late-game heroics from Ryan have become so common Atlanta players say they were shocked to see the Falcons stopped late in the loss to the Saints.

“There was never a doubt in our mind we were going to win,” said fullback Ovie Mughelli. “It just didn’t happen in this game. It hurt so much because we’re so used to winning after eight wins in a row.

“We fully expected to drive down there and somehow to at least get in field goal range. When it didn’t happen, I think a lot of us were stunned.”

The Falcons were held to 215 total yards and Ryan completed 15 of 29 passes for only 148 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

The Saints contained Roddy White, who leads the NFL with 109 catches. White was shadowed by an extra defensive back and had only three catches for 43 yards, including a 7-yard catch for a touchdown.

The Falcons say they must do a better job with their running game and passing to tight end Tony Gonzalez and receivers Michael Jenkins and Douglas when defenses focus on White.

The Falcons have five newly named Pro Bowl players from their offense: Ryan, Mughelli, Turner, White and Gonzalez. Ryan said an offense with so many weapons shouldn’t be held to 14 points.

“I think we just need to play better,” Ryan said. “We had opportunities to take advantage of some of the things they were doing against us, and we just didn’t play well enough.

“I think it comes down to us. … We need to execute better and if we do that we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

Falcons coach Mike Smith said the Panthers may try defensive strategies that worked for the Saints, including extra attention on White.

“That’s been going on for quite some time and over the last couple of weeks probably more snaps of it,” Smith said. “Again, when you’re a Pro Bowl player and you have the production Roddy has, you’re going to get that attention.

“We have to be prepared to make sure we have a plan to offset that. … I think when they take something away they’re going to leave something open, and we’ve got to make sure we can find it and go ahead and execute because they can’t take everything away.”

The Falcons won 31-10 at Carolina on Dec. 12.

If Carolina beats Atlanta and New Orleans beats Tampa Bay, the Falcons would lose home-field advantage and the first-round bye.

Ryan said there’s no danger of taking the Panthers lightly with so much on the line.

“I think everybody in here knows what’s at stake,” Ryan said. “We don’t need to talk about it. I don’t think anybody is looking further than this week.”

Notes: White and LB Curtis Lofton were given routine days off from practice. DT Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder) and center Todd McClure (ankle) also did not practice. DE John Abraham (groin) and DE Kroy Biermann (calf) were limited. … Smith said he was proud to have seven players on the Pro Bowl team. He mentioned Babineaux, PK Matt Bryant and OT Tyson Clabo as also deserving.

A look at NFL Week 16′s game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons (note: game is 8:30 p.m. ET Monday):

Three story lines to watch

1. Georgia Dome is Ryan’s house: Matt Ryan has posted a 19-1 record at home. He was injured the last time the Saints came to town and left with a 26-23 victory on their way to the Super Bowl title. Ryan has been sharp late in the season. He completed 20 of 35 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against Seattle. But he’s making teams pay on third downs. He was 7 of 9 passing on third down in the first half for 68 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks. He had his pinpoint passing touch at times. Right before the half, he read that the Seahawks were blitzing and had all four receivers running “go” routes. He found Michael Jenkins in the back of the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown pass.

2. Saints run defense: In their last meeting, the Falcons pounded the ball at the Saints in overtime, running it 11 of 13 times to get into field goal range. They were sending the Saints a message about what they thought of their run defense. The Saints will need to tighten up their run defense before arriving at the Georgia Dome because they can expect a heave dose of the run, especially after Baltimore plowed them for 208 yards last week. The Falcons like making that statement about being more physical and running the clock also keeps the dangerous Drew Brees off the field.

3. Drew Brees knows about Brent Grimes: Earlier this season, teams were targeting Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes. But over the last four games he’s playing about as good as any cornerback in the league. Brees knows about Grimes, who picked him off earlier this season. He also had a spectacular interception against Brees last season at the Super Dome. Grimes, the former undrafted free agent from Shippensburg University, is clearly getting more comfortable and is utilizing his athletic ability to get to passes. He batted down five passes last week against Seattle.

Three key Saints

QB Drew Brees. Before running into the Baltimore Ravens, Brees was perhaps the hottest quarterback in the league. The Ravens needed a couple of late stops to keep him from guiding the Saints to their seventh straight victory. Brees completed 29 of 46 passes for 267 yards and brought the Saints back from a 21-7 deficit, before coming up short. It was the first time in six games that the Saints failed to score at least 30 points. Brees has more than 4,000 yards passing for the fifth consecutive season, a feat performed previously by only Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning.

RB Pierre Thomas. The Saints know they need to get more production out of their running game. Thomas is working his way back in to the lineup and has run well against the Falcons in the past. He is battling an ankle injury. Saints coach Sean Payton said that Thomas is doing well and pronounced him ready to take on more of the load in the run game.

WR Lance Moore. If there is a Falcons killer on the roster, it’s Moore. He got loose for two touchdown receptions, including an 80-yarder, in the first matchup. He also busted loose for a 72-yard punt return as he provided the big-play boost for the Saints. The Falcons have had trouble matching up with his speed and have not done a good job of honoring his double-move routes.

Three key Falcons

RB Michael Turner. The Saints can expect to see a lot of The Burner. He rushed 30 times for 114 yards earlier this season and scored a touchdown. He also caught two passes. He is the key to the Falcons plan to burn the clock and pound the Saints smallish defensive front into submission.

RB Jason Snelling. After the Saints get a heavy does of Michael Turner, Snelling will come in to keep the heat on their run defense. Snelling came back against Seattle last week after missing two games. He did not run well and had two fumbles that were recovered by teammates. If he can revert to his early-season form, he is also a formidable running option.

WR Harry Douglas. After they establish the run, the Falcons like to take some shots down the field. They hit a deep pass to Douglas against Carolina and went to an all-go play as a blitz beater on third down. The Saints will likely focus on wide receiver Roddy White, who leads the league with 106 receptions and tight end Tony Gonzalez. That should leave Douglas some room to operate. He is coming back from a severe knee injury that caused him to miss last season. The third-year wideout appears to be rounding back into form.

Bottom line

The Falcons appear to have their eye on the prize: the NFC South title and the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They are 6-0 this season and 19-3 overall at home in coach Mike Smith’s three season in Atlanta. Prediction: Falcons 35, Saints 24

– Sporting News correspondent D. Orlando Ledbetter