Falcons Fail on Trip to Super Bowl

After getting their first postseason win in the Mike Smith/Matt Ryan Era last weekend, the Falcons were back to their old playoff ways on Sunday. They had a 17-0 lead, but let the San Francisco 49ers come back to beat them, 28-24.
The 49ers pulled off the biggest comeback ever in an NFC Championship game. After being down 17-0, they fought back to make it 24-14 going into the half. After halftime, the 49ers defense kept the Falcons scoreless and the offense added two more scores for the final tally. Running back Frank Gore had a big day, carrying the ball 21 times for 90 yards and the final two touchdowns for the 49ers. The other scores came on a LaMichael James fifteen yard run and a four-yard touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick to tight end Vernon Davis.
Davis had a huge game catching five passes for 106 yards and his touchdown, this is after Kaepernick had neglected to throw the ball in his direction for most of the second half of the season. Patrick Willis led the 49ers defense with eleven tackles. Isaac Sopoaga came up with a sack, it was only the second sack for him all season. Chris Culliver came up with an interception, one of two turnovers the 49ers forced in the second half. The other was a fumble by Ryan that Aldon Smith recovered for San Francisco. The 49ers move on to the Super Bowl to face the Baltimore Ravens.
The Falcons blew a big lead for the second time in two weeks. After leading the Seattle Seahawks by 20 last week and blowing the lead, they led by 17 today and blew the lead again, except this time they couldn't comeback. It shows the Falcons need to improve their defense over the off season. All the scoring came in the first half on three touchdown passes by Ryan and a field goal by Matt Bryant. Julio Jones caught two of the touchdown passes and Tony Gonzalez caught the other. The second half, Ryan threw and interception and fumbled a snap, two very costly turnovers. Also, the 49ers received some calls from the officials that went their way, including a bogus roughing the passer call on defensive end Cliff Matthews when he braised Kaepernick's face mask.
Ryan had a great day other than the turnovers. He completed 30 of his 42 pass attempts for 396 yards and his three touchdowns. Jones caught eleven passes for 182 yards and his two scores and Roddy White caught seven passes for 100 yards. Gonzalez, who played in what possibly could be his last NFL game, caught eight passes for 78 yards and his touchdown. He did say that if he returns, he will only return in a Falcons' uniform next season, but most likely his playing days are over.
The Falcons final record for the year, regular season and playoffs, is 14-4. They accomplished their goal of winning a playoff game, but fell short of the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. Next year appears to be bright though for Atlanta, and that Super Bowl goal could be in sight.

The Falcons' Tony Gonzalez walks off the field dejected after their loss to the San Francisco 49ers. This was most likely Gonzalez's last NFL game as he is expected to retire.
Photo Courtesy of news.yahoo.com