The Pick-6 costly to Ryan and Falcons

INTERCEPTION WOES

A game-by-game look at Matt Ryan’s interceptions this season:

He’s a look at Ryan’s interceptions

Saints 0

Bengals 3

Buccaneers 0

Vikings 2

Giants 1

Bears 1

Ravens 0

Lions 1

Buccaneers 0

Panthers 0

Browns 1

Cardinals 1*

Packers 1

Steelers 1*

Saints 0

Carolina 2*

* - includes an interception returned for a touchdown

This was not Matt Ryan’s finest hour.

The Falcons quarterback threw his third and fourth interceptions that were returned for touchdowns this season in Sunday’s 34-3 playoff elimination loss to the Panthers. All the Pick-6s came in home losses.

The Falcons head into the offseason with a 6-10 record even though a victory over the Panthers would have meant a division title and a home playoff game.

But not with the game Ryan had. One of his costly interceptions came in the second quarter with the Panthers holding a 10-3 lead. Ryan threw deep right intended for Roddy White. The Panthers’ Roman Harper picked off the attempt and ran 31 yards for a touchdown with 4:18 left in the half.

It got worse and quickly. On the Falcons’ ensuing possession, Ryan completed a pass to White, who was hit and fumbled. Thomas Davis collected the loose ball and ran 33 yards to the Falcons’ 9-yard line. After a low block penalty on the play moved the ball to the 4-yard line, quarterback Cam Newton took the ball in on the first snap for another score. In a matter of just 2:45, the Falcons went from trailing 10-3 to 24-3.

The Panthers appeared to have another interception return for a touchdown with 3:02 left in the third quarter. However, Davis’ pick and 50-yard return was nullified by a penalty. The Falcons’ collective sigh of relief was short-lived, for lightning struck again.

Just 2:55 later on the same Falcons’ drive, Tre Boston picked off a Ryan pass and raced 84 yards down the right sideline for another score. The touchdown gave the Panthers the 31-point lead and sent Falcons’ fans for the exits.

“Obviously, you don’t want to have those,” Ryan said of the two interceptions. “The first one, it happens. It’s not a good decision on my part of trying to squeeze that into coverage. It is what it is. You try to make plays, sometimes in traffic.

“The second one, I had an opportunity to throw it. I think I just got to put it in a better position and be more firm on the throw.”

Ryan ended the season throwing a Pick-6 interception in each of the final three home games. In addition to Harper and Boston’s interceptions:

• The Cardinals' Rashad Johnson had an 88-yard return on Nov. 30.

• The Steelers' William Gay had 52-yard return on Dec. 14.

Ryan is not the only Falcons quarterback to suffer the indignity this season. Backup T.J. Yates was victimized by Buccaneers linebacker Danny Lansanah raced 27 yards with interception return for a touchdown Sept. 18. Yates was in the game, also at home, while the Falcons were en route to a blowout win.