Matty Ryan has finally gotten over his usual one playoff game per season by beating the Seahawks in wild fashion.
They almost threw it away for a fourth time but managed a late field goal to give them a shot at the super bowl.


San Francisco


Not the season of last year when they went 13-3 and swept all before them before a fumble cost them a shot at the Super Bowl. Their defence still ranked second in the league in scoring and was in the top five for most categories. The Smith's along with Bowman and Willis made up a defensive unit who few teams could get through. They did show gaps this year, and Marshawn Lynch was the biggest profiteer of that, and will need to be tightened up with Atlanta running amok over Seattle last week.

Colin Kaepernick has rightly confirmed his role in the team, and while it was harsh on Smith, Kapper has done what it takes to win games, and ranks in the top five for passer rating over the games he's played (99 rtg).

Key to this game is keeping the ball away from Ryan, who'll have to throw if the run game fails. That means Frank Gore must get 25 carries and take time off the clock. That opens up the option for Kapper whilst leaving Crabtree one-on-one for potential big gains.

Atlanta


This team is still not a finished article, but it employs the doctrine of 'bend but don't break' defence, and it technically worked against Seattle, although i'd say in the second half it was shattered.

The team must get Turner moving the ball, because the relentless pass rush of the 9ers will make Ryan throw under pressure far too often otherwise. The 9ers will bring the heat, but with Jones and White running the lines, and Tony G inside, the Falcons possess a passing attack that can match most in the league.

The defence is where the questions come in, and with the 49ers having 3 different attacking options, they must stop them or risk turning this into a rout. Atlanta's agressive defence does rank well in takeaways, and those will have to be employed here, and if so, they can stand a chance of winning this game.


Conclusion
A tough game all round here to call, and the magic number of 3 is in Atlanta's favour. I'm going for the dog here, Atlanta are at home, on the big stage, with Matty 'Ice' on form, so let's see a cracker here.


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