The Falcons would not comment on a report that they are ready to grant quarterback Matt Ryan a contract extension.
It was reported by Fox Sports that the team has had internal discussions about granting Ryan, who signed a six-year, $66 million contract in 2008, an extension.
He has one more year left on his contract and is set to make a base salary of $10 million next season.
Ryan had a prolific season, guiding the Falcons to a 14-4 record, the NFC South title and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
Ryan excelled in the offense installed by first-year coordinator Dirk Koetter and set several team marks. He also had a breakthrough in the playoffs by earning his first win, a 30-28 thriller over Seattle in the divisional round.
Ryan completed 30 of 42 pass attempts and set Falcons playoff records against San Francisco with 396 yards and a 114.8 passer rating. He also threw three touchdown passes for the second consecutive game, becoming the first quarterback in team history to throw three or more touchdown passes in consecutive playoff games.
This season, Ryan broke his own franchise record for most passing yards in a season (4,481), most 300-yard games in a season (seven), highest career completion percentage (68.6) from 2011. Ryan also holds the franchise record with the most 300 yard games (17).
Ryan appeared to suffer a shoulder injury on the last drive of the game.
“I’m not going to speak to that,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said of Ryan’s apparent left shoulder injury. “I haven’t had a chance to talk with the trainers. I know that he was holding his (left) shoulder. He will be evaluated here in the next few minutes.”
In addition to addressing Ryan’s contract situation, the Falcons must decide what to do with left tackle Sam Baker and safety William Moore, who head their class of potential free agents.
Defensive woes: The Falcons will be at home for the Super Bowl in large part because they couldn't cover the tight end.
In the divisional playoff game, Seattle’s Zach Miller caught eight passes for 142 yards.
San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis, who had been the forgotten man in their offense, came alive to catch five passes for 106 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons. He had caught only seven passes over the 49ers’ past seven games.
“The tight end was an issue,” Smith said. “They made a number of explosive plays with the tight end. When you go into a game, you have a game plan in place. You put resources to one area. One of our main goals, was to stop the quarterback from running the football. We did not cover the tight end as well as we needed to.”
Kaepernick ran for a record 181 yards against Green Bay in the divisional round. The Falcons held him to 21 yards rushing on two carries.
Stopping him left room for Davis to do damage.
“Those were the plays that I felt like they made,” Smith said. “It wasn’t necessarily the wide receivers or the running back. It was the tight end.”
Penalty corner: The Falcons, the least penalized team in the NFL, had two penalties for 30 yards.
Linebacker Stephen Nicholas was called for an unnecessary-roughness penalty in the second quarter that aided a San Francisco touchdown drive.
Defensive end Cliff Matthews was called for a roughing-the-passer penalty on a third-and-7 in the fourth quarter that kept a drive alive. The drive ended with Dunta Robinson’s strip of Michael Crabtree and fumble recovery by Nicholas.
The Matthews penalty appeared dubious.
“I asked, and it was explained to me that it was forcible contact to the quarterback, which was on a third down and we’d gotten off the field,” Smith said. “By rule, if it’s forcible, it is a penalty. If it’s a grazing blow, it’s not a penalty. I was told by the referee, in his judgment, it was a forcible contact.”
Classy fans: Falcons fans applauded the team as they left the field.
“Yes, we did (hear it),” defensive end Kroy Biermann said. “Atlanta really did a great job for us. We have some great fans. They were loud. They sure did their part. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t come through for them.”
Etc.: According to ESPN Stats and Information, Jones' 182 receiving yards were the second-most allowed to a single receiver by the 49ers all season long. … With seven catches for 100 yards, White notched his first career 100-yard game in the postseason. … Gonzalez also caught touchdown passes in each of the Falcons' postseason games this season. … Safety Thomas DeCoud led the Falcons in tackles with eight. … Defensive tackle Corey Peters dropped into coverage and had a pass breakup, and he had a sack. … Part of the Falcons' winning formula this season was to win the turnover battle, but San Francisco won the turnover battle Sunday, 2-to-1.
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