History Made in the Capital

Posted Oct 7, 2012

Daniel Cox atlantafalcons.com Twitter

Call him “Matty Ice”, call him “Mattural” or call him “My Quarterback." No matter what you call him, Falcons QB Matt Ryan wins.

Down 10-7 to begin the 4^th quarter, Ryan and the Atlanta offense scored 17 points to come back and take a 24-17 lead and hang on for their fifth win of the season.

The comeback was Ryan’s 13^th 4^th quarter comeback in his five-year career. Ryan engineered a comeback last week as well in the game’s final frame, but that win, over the Carolina Panthers, included a game-winning drive on the last possession.

A 53-yard field goal by Matt Bryant tied the score after the Falcons defense gave up one of the few big plays to the Redskins all day, a 77-yard touchdown pass from QB Kirk Cousins (in for the injured Robert Griffin III) to Santana Moss.

The Falcons forced a 3-and-out and Ryan and his clock-managing offense took back over to march up the field to take the game away from Washington. A six play, 69-yard drive ended with a Michael Turner 13-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons the lead.

The Redskins pressed on the following drive, but a Dunta Robinson interception ended Washington’s hopes for a second-straight comeback of their own.

Ryan ended the day completing 65 percent of his passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns. The win moves Atlanta to 5-0 on the season, the first time in franchise history they’ve begun the season winning their first five games.