2016 NFC Championship Victory

Lore & Background

The Falcons never trailed in the game, scoring 31 unanswered points until Rodgers threw a touchdown pass halfway through the third quarter to give Green Bay its first points. Matt Ryan threw 4 touchdown passes. His 392 yards were the second-most ever thrown in a Championship Game. Julio Jones had 9 catches, 180 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 73-yard tackle-breaking catch. The Falcons' defense forced 2 turnovers: a fumble forced by Jalen Collins and recovered by Deion Jones on Aaron Ripkowski, and an interception by Ricardo Allen on a 3rd and 21 pass by Rodgers.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome was thick with anticipation as the Falcons celebrated their massive lead. Fans began to chant 'Super Bowl' before the clock even hit double digits. But as the Patriots marched down the field, the atmosphere shifted from jubilation to dread. The final seconds of regulation saw a desperate fourth-down play that defied all logic, sending the game into overtime where the dream finally died under the bright lights.

Reader's Guide

This was the Falcons' final game ever in the Georgia Dome after 25 seasons, as the team moved into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017. The win sent Atlanta to Super Bowl LI, where they faced the New England Patriots.

Did You Know?

• The Falcons won the NFC Championship for the first time since their 1998 season.
• Matt Ryan's 392 passing yards were the second-most ever thrown in a Championship Game, behind his own 396 yards in the 2012 NFC Championship.
• The Falcons' defense held MVP-candidate Aaron Rodgers in check most of the game, forcing several hurries and drops.