Atlanta Falcons First Take

Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux anchored an Atlanta Falcons defensive line that was tasked with containing a stout 49ers rushing offense. Babineaux recorded four tackles and was a big part of keeping the San Francisco's mobile quarterback in check.

Quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 396 yards in a losing effort Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers scored 14 second-half points and advanced to the Super Bowl by a score of 28-24.

Head coach Mike Smith talks about the crushing defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez had played in the NFL for 16 seasons and tried five times for that elusive playoff win. He finally got it Sunday when the Falcons beat the Seattle Seahawks 30-28.

With eight seconds left on the clock and the Atlanta Falcons down by one point, Matt Bryant lined up for a 49-yard field goal and nailed the game winner after being iced by Seattle head coach Pete Carroll.

Not only did defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux have a sack and three tackles, he also anchored a defensive line that help Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch to 46 yards on the ground.

Matt Ryan threw for 250 yards Sunday, but none were more crucial that the 41 yards on the Falcons' final drive to two receivers to get Matt Bryant into field goal range. Ryan continued his comeback success under center.

Head coach Mike Smith talks about his team fighting back in the final moments of Sunday's playoff game. Atlanta's 30-28 win was Smith's first playoff win at the helm of the Falcons.

Quarterback Matt Ryan talks about Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and about breaking Steve Bartkowski's single-season franchise record with 32 touchdown passes.

With his third-quarter touchdown run, Michael Turner became the only running back in Atlanta Falcons history to score 10 or more rushing touchdowns in five consecutive seasons.

Head coach Mike Smith talks about losing 22-17 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and what the Falcons will take from the game as they prepare for the playoffs.

Wide receiver Harry Douglas caught four passes for 21 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season Sunday in the Georgia Dome against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also returned returned four punts on special teams.

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon led the Atlanta Falcons with eight tackles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday and had multiple bone-jarring hits on ball carriers.

Free safety Thomas DeCoud talks about the strategy involved in covering Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who set a single-season record for the most receiving yards Saturday.

Defensive end Kroy Biermann made his presence known everywhere on the field Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit. Biermann wreaked havoc in the pass rush, against the run and in coverage in Atlanta's 31-18 win over the Lions.