The Seattle Seahawks have been the most surprising team in the NFL this season and will out it all on the line as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in the NFC Divisional playoffs.
The Falcons are the No. 1 seed in the conference and will be looking to take care of business for quarterback Matt Ryan and head coach Mike Smith, who has yet to win a playoff game in three tries. Last season the team lost 26-2 in the first round against the New York Giants and fell two years ago against the Packers at home when they also were the top seed in the conference.
"We're a much more mature team because of our experiences," Smith said to the Associated Press. "I think you learn from your previous experiences in the playoffs. This is a team that has been very focused from the very beginning of the season and we've got a lot of guys who have experienced the playoff atmosphere. They're going to be able to help some of the younger guys who haven't."
Matt Ryan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league this season, but the biggest knock on the quarterback so far through his career is his inability to win in the playoffs. All the pressure in this game will be on the Falcons to get that first playoff win and end the losing streak.
Ryan has thrown for 3,728 yards and 26 touchdowns with 12 interceptions while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. He will have a range of options to look for on offense, with tight end Tony Gonzalez (who has never won a playoff game in his career) as well as wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones, who combined to score 17 touchdowns this season.
The Falcons have been one of the most efficient teams in the NFL under first-year offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and Ryan has benefited the most, finishing tied with Peyton Manning with a league-best 68.6 completion percentage and putting up career highs in passing yards and touchdowns.
"I might be in the minority, but I look at it as strength on strength," Koetter said. "Heck, let's go. They've got a good defense, and we have a good offense. I know their team is running hot right now, and I know our guys are looking forward to the challenge."
The Seattle secondary is one of the best in the league and will be able to matchup against the receivers with cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman, who was tied for second in the NFL with eight interceptions. The Falcons have speed all over the field in Jones and running back Jacquizz Rodgers, but will need to do better at running the ball after ranking 29th in the league during the regular season.
Michael Turner has had a disappointing year, rushing for just 800 with 10 touchdowns and hasn't reached 100-yards in the past five games. Turner has a nose for the end zone, scoring four times in the past five games, and will be key if the Falcons want to keep drives alive against Seattle.
The Seahawks have been the hottest team in the NFL, winning their last six games, including five in the regular season and last week against the Washington Redskins on the road in the Wild card playoff round.
This is the only game of the playoff weekend that is not a regular-season rematch and will be a tough test since Seattle has to travel to the east coast for the second time in two weeks. Quarterback Russell Wilson has been fantastic all year during his rookie season and was key last week against the Redskins, throwing for 187 yards and one touchdown while protecting the ball and throwing zero interceptions.
Over the past five games Wilson has thrown for eight touchdowns and just two interceptions and has been able to extend plays in the pocket. Running back Marshawn Lynch has a solid matchup against an Atlanta defense that allowed over 120 yards per game this season. Lynch was third in the league in rushing with 1,590 yards and 11 touchdowns and has scored six times in the past five games.
The Seattle defense has been extremely impressive this season and was ranked first I the league in scoring defense with 15 points allowed per game. The team also snapped an eight-game road playoff-losing streak with the 24-14 victory at Washington last Sunday.
"We haven't been as solid as we are now," coach Pete Carroll said. "We're much more solid in our thinking and mentality and just the resolve about everything we're doing."
The Seahawks will be a bit weaker on the defensive line after losing Chris Clemons to a serious knee injury last Sunday, but have depth and athleticism all over the field and should be able to recover from the loss. The Seahawks are tying to become just the second team, joining the 1989 Los Angeles Rams, to win back-to-back playoff games on the East Coast as a West Coast team.
" It's not like they're going to be going to the moon or anything," tackle Tyson Clabo said. "They have a schedule they follow when they travel and I'm sure they're going to keep it the same."
Seattle started the season 1-5 on the road, but has won three in a row behind Wilson and Lynch, who have helped the team average nearly 230 rushing yards per game during that stretch.
Prediction: Seattle 28, Falcons 24. The Falcons could win this game and probably should, but there is just something about this Seahawks team. Seattle is hotter than anyone in the NFL except for Denver and will be loose and energetic against a Falcons team that has all of the pressure after going 0-3 in the postseason under Ryan and coach Mike Smith. The Seattle defense is ready to shut down an already weak Falcons running game after dominating the Washington running offense, allowing just 80 yards on the ground to Alfred Morris. The Seahawks won't be discouraged if they fall behind to the Falcons after coming back from a 14-0 deficit against the Redskins and will be prepared for the loud noise in the Georgia Dome.