BIG GAME 2017 | HOW THEY GOT HERE
Atlanta Falcons
R
iding an all-time great offense and a stingy young defense, the Atlanta Falcons
are one win away from their first Super Bowl championship in team history.
Quarterback Matt Ryan and
wide receiver Julio Jones have
mystified opposing defenses
all season long, positioning
the Falcons as among the 10
best all-time in the National
Football League.
Atlanta soared to two home
playoff victories — over the
Seattle Seahawks and Green
Bay Packers — to make it to
the big game in Houston. For
a team that not too many
prognosticators tabbed as
favorites to win their own divi-
sion, the Falcons have given
their fan base supreme confi-
dence heading into their
showdown with the New
England Patriots.
INCREDIBLE OFFENSE
Yes, Ryan and Jones com-
bined to form a fearsome duo
all season long. Ryan, in fact,
is favored to win the league’s
Most Valuable Player award.
But the best-kept secret about
the Falcons’ offense may be
their running game. Atlanta’s
Devonta Freeman and Tevin
Coleman combined for 2,482
yards in the regular season
with 24 touchdowns. This via-
ble ground game kept defens-
es honest and opened up wide
open passing lanes for Ryan.
Jones finished the regular
season with six touchdowns
and more than 1,400 yards
receiving, many of which
came during a 300-yard per-
formance against the Carolina
Panthers early in the season.
pg 8 2017 BIG GAME
THOMSON200/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
YOUNG YET STURDY D
part to the defense-shudder-
Atlanta’s defense hasn’t
ing quarterback Aaron
demanded as many headlines Rodgers and his crew of wide
as the offense throughout the receivers. Rodgers was sacked
season, but it has shaped into twice and threw an intercep-
quite a challenge for opposing tion on a day where his
quarterbacks. Take the team’s receivers and running backs
National Football Conference struggled to find any room to
run. Second-year linebacker
title win over the Green Bay
Vic Beasley and longtime vet-
Packers.
eran Dwight Freeney have
The Falcons cruised to a
44-21 victory thanks in large
helped turn the defense into a
strength this season in
Atlanta.
CLOSING OUT THE
GEORGIA DOME
The Falcons turned out
some sold-out crowds during
their postseason run as fans
celebrated the history of the
Georgia Dome. The longtime
home of the Falcons will be
replaced next year by
Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The multi-purpose retract-
able roof stadium is currently
under construction in Atlanta
and will be ready for play
ahead of the 2017 season.
Estimated at $1.5 billion, the
stadium will host Super Bowl
LIII in 2019 and will replace
the famed Georgia Dome,
which has hosted Falcons
games since 1992.