Atlanta Falcons needing to end playoff drought vs

patterned BRANCH, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons know what must be done to win in the regular season.

When thinking about the playoffs, That's another story.

Perhaps no team faced a greater burden entering this postseason than the Falcons (133), The NFC's topseeded squad for the second time in three years. They've yet to win a playoff game under existing trio of quarterback Matt Ryan, Coach Mike Smith and gm Thomas Dimitroff oneanddone in all three appearances going back to the 2008 season, any two not even close.

for example, The players keep insisting the prior years don't matter; They're only looking forward to Sunday's divisional game with the streaking Seattle Seahawks (125).

But the senior person in the team, hub Todd McClure, Concedes there may be some additional pressure when the Falcons take the field at the Georgia Dome.

That makes a ramp up crucial to Atlanta's hopes.

"We've been let down a few times, says McClure, Who's been every one of the Falcons for 13 years. "I think we've got guys in this locker room who are hungry and able to get over that hump,

The Falcons have gone 5624 in the normal season since Dimitroff and Smith took over in 2008 and drafted Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick more wins than any team during that span except New England (6020). But the value of five straight winning seasons, Two dividing titles and, at present, A fourth trip to the playoffs has been undermined by a deficiency of success in January.

it was not that big a deal when Atlanta, After astoundingly making the playoffs as a wild card one year after the Michael Vick debacle, Lost to arizona ( az ) in the desert 3024.

But the loss two in the past was a stunner, no. 1seeded Falcons to whom, such as this team, Went 133 and earned a firstround bye trying to get blown out at home in the divisional round by sixthseeded Green Bay 4821.

Then came yr after, When Atlanta went 106 but was considered an underachieving squad, A perception that proved factual in the playoffs when the Falcons' highpowered but inconsistent offense was completely shut down by the gambling, Who romped to a 242 www.nikemiamidolphinsstore.com victory on their way to capturing the Super Bowl www.nikemiamidolphinsstore.com/WOMENS-DION-JORDAN-JERSEY.html title.

taking on around all that baggage, The Falcons can't help but be a little skittish about facing a team that could be hotter than anyone in the league. The Seahawks have won six without delay games, Including last week's 2414 victory over Robert Griffin III and the arizona Redskins in the opening round of the playoffs.

"i not able to get too tight, McClure said friday. "There's still some added pressure, i know. I'm not going to say there's not. But if we turn out, Start fast of each side of ball, Some of which will die down. Then we can just as well as play football,

Seattle coach Pete Carroll shrugged off the notion that his team has some sort of sentimental edge on the Falcons.

"This has nothing to do with years past or story lines, he said. "We're playing an awesome team, With a terrific coach and a terrific qb, And we're on the streets. It's a gigantic task,

Much of the burden for turning things around in Atlanta falls on Ryan, Who set numerous operation passing records and was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time.

anyhow, His career numbers in the regular season are greater than his postseason stats. He's yet to throw for 200 gardens in a playoff game. He's threw more interceptions (four) Than Kids Dion Jordan Jersey touchdowns exceeds (three), Including a crucial pick that was returned for a touchdown ahead of halftime in that loss to the Packers. His passer rating is about 20 points lacking in the postseason.

Ryan certainly tries to study from his mistakes, But he won't spend much time talking about what happened before this season.

"I don't concerns about it, I don't imagine, he was quoted saying. "My focus is for this locker room and for this option and this coaching staff, Making sure we're at the same time. We worked really hard over the course of the offseason and through training camp to give ourselves an opportunity to be playing at this time of year. it's good to play our best football. That's the one thing I'm worried about,

Ryan certainly has a good deal of the offensive weapons, With arranged of Pro Bowlers (beneficiary Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez) Plus another receiver who probably should have made it (Roddy bright). While the running game has tailed off radically, The Falcons are much more capable of hitting big plays and building points in a hurry, A proof of the scheme installed by firstyear coordinator Dirk Koetter.

"I'm comfortable and confident in the guys around me, cited Ryan, Who has handled nearly 69 percent of his throws for 4,719 meters and 32 touchdowns. "We've proven we can go out there and attain success. you need to definitely buy into that. one should believe in that. I feel more comfortable with the guys around me,

Protecting Ryan has been in an issue in the last three playoff losses, So the onus will be on an oftenmaligned line to keep the Seahawks out of the backfield no easy task facing a defense that is willing to stack the line and leave its cornerbacks in single coverage.

But the biggest task for Smith and his coaching staff might be getting the players to have a handy case of amnesia. He does not want them lingering over those last three trips to the playoffs.

"We're a much more mature team because of our experiences, mason said. "We feel very good about we've implemented thus far this year. We have presumptions. We set our purpose, And we've been clicking along pretty much this season. I like the way we've played over the first season,

Now gets the second season.

the brains behind really matters.

tips: DE ruben Abraham (Left foot) And S william Moore (hamstring) Were limited used Wednesday, But Smith said he expects both to try out on Sunday. Moore hasn't competed since a Nov. 29 win over New Orleans.. The only players to miss practice were a pair of backup insulating backs, novice S Charles Mitchell (leg) And CB captain christopher Owens (hamstring).

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