Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Julio Jones: Falcons ‘complete team now’ in return to NFC title game

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones speaks during press conference Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, about the team's preparation to play the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game.

Credit: David Barnes

Credit: David Barnes

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones speaks during press conference Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, about the team's preparation to play the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game.
By
Jan 19, 2017

The Falcons lost the NFC championship game to the 49ers during the 2012 season after running to a 17-0 lead and piling up 477 yards of offense. Quarterback Matt Ryan passed for nearly 400 yards and wide receiver Julio Jones had 182 yards receiving with two TDs in that game,

The Falcons are riding a high-powered offense led by Ryan and Jones into the championship game again, this time against the Packers on Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Jones said this time feels different.

“We are a complete team now,” Jones said Thursday. “Then, we was good, (but) it was just, ‘Oh, we are here! We are here!’ We really didn’t know how to handle it. All along (coach Dan Quinn) has been doing a tremendous job of preparing us, (telling us) we are a great team. You’ve’ got to know you are a great team.”

The Falcons are favored by 4 1/2 points over the Packers. They are seeing their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

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Michael Cunningham has covered Atlanta sports for the AJC since 2010.

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