ATLANTA — Yes, Matt Ryan’s back-to-back first quarter touchdown passes to rookie receiver Julio Jones were the stuff of highlight reels. Atlanta’s 35-0 lead over Tampa Bay not five minutes into the second quarter — that’s second quarter, not second half — was also hugely impressive.
But the most important moment of the Falcons’ New Year’s Day 45-24 bludgeoning of the Bucs occurred not inside the Georgia Dome, but 916 miles away in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
That’s where the Green Bay Packers came from behind in the final minutes to knock off Detroit 45-41. That result means the Falcons will face the Giants in the opening round of the playoffs this weekend instead of returning to New Orleans for the second time in less than two weeks to meet the Saints.
Given that Atlanta lost 45-16 to New Orleans inside the Superdome on Dec. 26, the significance of avoiding a rematch — at least for the time being — can’t be overstated.
Not that the Falcons admitted to openly cheering Green Bay’s win.