Early in his career, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan made a habit of pulling out victories with fourth-quarter comebacks or game-winning drives.
The late-game clutch play helped to build on the legend of “Matty Ice” that was started at Boston College. But as times have changed, “Matty Ice” has not been coming around much lately.
Ryan had only one comeback victory in 2018 and pulled off only his second this season last week when he guided the Falcons to a stunning 29-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
“They don’t call him ‘Ice’ for nothing,” Falcons defensive back coach Raheem Morris said. “He’s clutch. He’s calm. He’s well-prepared.”
Morris coached against Ryan when we was a rookie in 2008. Morris became Tampa Bay’s head coach from 2009-11. He’s been on both sides of Ryan’s heroics.
“He kind of lives with being comfortable with the results either way,” Morris said. “I have a lot of respect for how he prepares for the game, how he prepares for every game and how he goes out and executes. Again, you don’t always get the results that you want, but it won’t be because of the lack of execution or preparation by Matt.”
Ryan’s penchant for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat started in the fifth game of his rookie season. He led the Falcons on a game-winning drive (27-24) against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Oct. 5, 2008.
He topped himself the following week while guiding the Falcons to a 22-20 victory with just 11 seconds to play against Chicago Bears. In all, Ryan had four fourth-quarter comebacks or game-winning drives his rookie season. He had six in 2010 and 2012 and five in 2015.
“Whether it’s 2008 or 2019, it doesn’t make a difference,” Ryan said. “You have to execute your assignments in critical situations. I’m probably more comfortable in those situations now at this point in my career, just having been through so much more. Even then, you have to have a belief that you’re going to get it done.”
Ryan’s other comeback this season was in Week 2 against the Eagles. Trailing 20-17, Ryan connected with wide receiver Julio Jones for a 54-yard touchdown play on a screen pass.
The following week Ryan tried to rally the Falcons against Colts, but the defense failed to get stops twice in the fourth quarter. The Falcons closed within 20-17, but the defense gave up a touchdown. The Falcons closed within three again, 27-24 with just over 3 minutes to play, but the Colts ran the clock out.
Against Arizona, Ryan rallied the Falcons back from a 17-point deficit, but Matt Bryant missed an extra-point attempt that would have tied the score at 34-34. They went on to lose 34-33.
Against the Saints on Thanksgiving night, the special teams came up with two onside kicks to give Ryan the ball back in a one-score situation as the Saints led 26-18. But the Falcons’ offensive line gave up three sacks and the potential game-tying drive stalled.
To have a chance against the 49ers, the defense came up with a big fourth-quarter stop. On the game-winning touchdown pass, Ryan told all of the receivers to “get in the end zone.”
He tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jones to put the Falcons up 23-22.
“It was fun to be a part of it,” Ryan said. “I think the biggest thing is, in those situations, everybody is just to stay calm.”
Overall, Ryan has 29 fourth-quarter comebacks and 38 game-winning drives. He also has a fourth-quarter comeback/game-winning drive in the playoffs when he led the Falcons for a field goal to beat Seattle 30-28 in the divisional round of the 2012 playoffs.
“The key is to go out there with the belief that you’re going to do it,” Ryan said “Just being in the right spots, knowing your right adjustments.”
There’s a mental component to gaining clarity in those high-pressure situations.
“I think when you’re in those kinds of situations and you’re tired, it comes back to how well you know your assignments and your job,” Ryan said. “I thought it showed that our guys were on top of the details there. On that last play, it’s not rocket science, you’ve got to get in. We’ve got to get all five guys who are eligible into the end zone. … (They) did a great job of that.”
When in the huddle, Ryan is a calming force. After the line collapsed late against the Saints, Ryan didn’t want to bring up that performance.
“That was kind of my message before, I think it’s kind of been my message my entire career, ‘We don’t have to do anything crazy, you just have to do your job,’” Ryan said. “As we go down the field, whatever the play calls for you to do, you have to be on top of it. You have to do it well. That’s what I told them before.”
There’s also a psychological component to pulling out the late victory.
“You have to believe we’re going to do this,” Ryan said. “We’re going to go right down the field, have the mindset that it doesn’t take anything crazy, just executing one play at a time and making the plays when they present themselves. Just trying to keep it calm. Honestly, I think when guys are relaxed and not overthinking it, just focusing on that one play, you tend to be successful.”
The Falcons thought they’d won on the previous play to tight end Austin Hooper and needed replay to confirm that Jones had broke the plane in the latest “Matty Ice” comeback.
“It was awesome,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “Sometimes, you just feel like you’re not going to be denied.”
---
Subscribe to "The Bow Tie Chronicles" podcast with the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter on iTunes or on the new AJC sports podcasts page.
