Matt Ryan Quarterback Core

Lore & Background

Atlanta started the season 8–0, a franchise best for a start to a season. By beating the Detroit Lions during Week 16, the Falcons clinched homefield advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC for the second time in three years, and made it to the NFC Championship for the first time since 2004, where they lost 28–24 against the San Francisco 49ers. It was the third straight year in which they did not lose two consecutive regular season games.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed against the humid Georgia night at Bobby Dodd Stadium, but inside the huddle, the air was crisp and focused. Matt Ryan clutched the game plan, his eyes scanning the defensive alignment one last time before signaling the snap. There was no panic in his voice, only a steady command that had become the rhythm of this team for over a decade. As the ball left his hand, spiraling perfectly toward the end zone, it wasn't just a play; it was the culmination of thousands of hours of repetition, a testament to an era where Atlanta finally found its quarterback.

Reader's Guide

The Falcons did not have a first- or fourth-round selection in the 2012 draft. The team traded its first and fourth-round selections, as well as its first-, second-, and fourth-round selections in 2011 to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Cleveland's first round selection in 2011, used to select wide receiver Julio Jones. The team also traded its original seventh-round selection (#229 overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for cornerback Asante Samuel.

Did You Know?

• The Falcons started the season 8–0, a franchise best.
• They clinched homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs for the second time in three years.
• They made it to the NFC Championship for the first time since 2004.
• It was the third straight year without losing two consecutive regular season games.