Why Matt Ryan Will Choke this Sunday
No one in the NFL is more of a tease than Matthew Ryan. Selected third overall in the 2008 draft, Matt Ryan has been exceptional at showing flashes of greatness, then puking on his own feet in the playoffs. A quick journey through Matt Ryan’s playoff history will show that Ryan, now an old dog, will not be learning new tricks this coming Sunday versus the Packers.
Game: Falcons @ Cardinals, 2008 NFL WIld Card Game
Spread: Cardinals (-2)
Final Score: Cardinals 30, Falcons 24
The story of Matt Ryan’s playoff ineptitude starts on January 3rd, 2009. After winning the 2008 Rookie of the Year, the Falcons were riding high on a wave of hype. Atlanta was only 2 point underdogs in Arizona, meaning on a neutral field they would be favored. Then on the first playoff throw of his career Ryan was intercepted. The Cardinals then went down to score, putting Atlanta in an early hole. Ryan then had a chance to respond, marching his team 80 yards downfield before he stalled, and Atlanta settled for a field goal. Kurt Warner's Cardinals came back and scored again leading the Falcons 14-3. Then the typical Matt Ryan tease came, with him leading the team to consecutive touchdowns as the half closed. Ryan started the second half much like the first, throwing an interception that crushed his teams chances of winning. Arizona would go on to steamroll the Falcons, with Atlanta scoring a garbage time TD to make the game appear closer than it really was.
Ryan’s Stats: 26/40, 199 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT, 1 FMB, 72.8 Rate
Gag Level: He was a rookie facing a veteran playoff quarterback. He can have one freebie, so this loss can slide.
Game: Packers @ Falcons, 2010 NFL Divisional Game
Spread: Atlanta (-1)
Final Score: Packers 48, Falcons 21
Even when he gets blown out Matt Ryan still loves to make the illusion of a competitive game. After the Packers first drive resulted in a Greg Jennings fumble, Ryan marched Atlanta downfield for a quick score and an early 7-0 lead. Then, legitimate NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded with a touchdown drive of his own tying the game at 7-7. Luckily for Ryan, he didn’t have a chance to choke just yet as Eric Weems returned a kickoff 102 yards for a 14-7 Atlanta lead. Rodgers stormed back with a touchdown tying the game at 14 all. Then the true Matt Ryan was unleashed. Ryan led a massive Atlanta drive, only to be picked off at the Packer’s 19 yard line. The Packers scored off the turnover and Atlanta trailed 21-14 with the second half coming to a close. Before the half ended, the Falcons tried to drive up field for a score, getting it to the Packers 33 yard line. Instead of kicking the 50 yard field goal, head coach Mike Smith decided to put the confidence in Matt Ryan to run one more play to make it an easier kick. That confidence was rewarded with an interception that was run back for a touchdown, giving the Packers a 28-14 lead and essentially ended the Falcons chances of winning. The rest of the game was the Packers mopping up a beaten Falcons squad and walking their way to a blowout win.
Ryan’s Stats: 20/29, 186 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1 FMB, 69.0 Rate
Gag Level: Not only did Ryan throw up, it was medically induced vomit by Aaron Rodgers. The top seeded Falcons losing at home in a blowout in the first round is just embarrassing.
Game: Falcons @ Giants, 2011 NFL Wild Card Game
Spread: Giants (-3)
Final Score: Giants 24, Falcons 2
I was initially going to leave this one out because Matt Ryan didn’t even bother show up for this game. Then on further review of the box score,I realized he was in fact in the stadium and did start for the Falcons. The game started out as a defensive battle, with nothing happening offensively. The Falcons struck first on an intentional grounding by Eli Manning in the end zone that resulted in a safety and a 2-0 Falcons lead. That was the extent of Atlanta’s offense that day. To say Ryan was ineffective is an understatement. On 41 attempts he gained only 199 yards for a pedestrian 4.9 yards per attempt. The Falcon’s didn’t even get a field goal never mind a touchdown in this game. The elite Ryan tried to take over the game, going for it twice on 4th and 1 deep inside Giants territory. Both times he was stuffed, giving the Giants the ball with no points to show for it. It is interesting to note that for his third consecutive playoff game, Ryan failed to gain 200 yards passing.
Ryan’s Stats: 24/41, 199 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT, 71.1 Rate
Gag Level: Ryan didn’t score once, choking twice on fourth down. Wasn’t as bad as Green Bay, but still needed to receive CPR after the game due to moderate choking.
Game: 49ers @ Falcons, 2012 NFC Championship Game
Spread: 49ers (-4)
Final Score: 49ers 28, Falcons 24
After trying his best to choke away a 28-0 lead the week before versus the Seahawks, the Falcons held on to win their first playoff game under Matt Ryan, in spite of Ryan’s 2 interceptions. This game however, Ryan succeeded in blowing a 17 point lead, the largest comeback in NFC Championship Game history. By this time, bettors were used to Ryan’s playoff deficiencies and showed Atlanta no respect, placing them as the 4 point underdogs in their own stadium. The Falcons, not phased by the odds, came storming out of the gate. Julio Jones dominated scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter. The Falcons sandwiched a field goal between touchdown drives, giving them a 17-0 lead early. Then the Falcon’s offense stalled and allowed the 49ers to score two touchdowns. Ryan took charge and responded with a touchdown of his own giving Atlanta a 24-14 lead at half. The 49ers scored to open up the third quarter cutting the Falcon’s once commanding lead to a slim 24-21 margin. By the early fourth quarter, the 49ers scored again, leading 28-24, but leaving the Falcons plenty of time to come back and win the game. Ryan led his team to the 49ers 13 yard line, but then was struck with stage fright. He misfired twice in a row, failing to convert on third then fourth down, and Atlanta turned the ball over on downs. Once again, misguided faith placed the game in Ryan’s hands, and once again Ryan failed spectacularly where a better quarterback would have succeeded.
Ryan’s Stats: 30/42, 396 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT, 1 FMB, 114.8 Rate
Gag Level: Once again Ryan choked at home, but this time in historic fashion. He failed to redeem himself and score in the closing minutes of the game. Ryan choked so badly in this game that he was banned from postseason play by the NFL for three seasons.
They call him “Matty Ice” because his body goes limp and cold when the game is on the line. Will he win against the Packers this week? No shot. Rodgers has already owned Ryan in his playoff career. Roethlisberger has the same amount of Super Bowl wins as Ryan does playoff wins. Brady has double the Super Bowl wins than Ryan has playoff wins. Rodgers, Roethlisberger and Brady are all perennial playoff winners. Matt Ryan is a perennial loser.