NFC Playoff Picture Football

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2017, file photo, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game, in Atlanta. The Falcons next game is in the divisional playoffs on Sunday, Jan. 15. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Matt Ryan was spectacular all season, but the Atlanta Falcons quarterback elevated his performance down the stretch of the season, as his team pushed for a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Over the final four games of the season, Ryan completed more than 74 percent of his passes and tossed 11 touchdowns without throwing an interception. But can he maintain his strong play Saturday afternoon against one of the NFL's most fearsome secondaries?

The Seattle Seahawks are eyeing their third trip to the Super Bowl over the past four seasons, and their pass defense has been at the heart of that success.

With cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Kam Chancellor leading the way, Seattle's defensive backfield has been strong yet again this year. It all sets up a colossal matchup in Atlanta Saturday afternoon between Ryan, an MVP candidate, and an accomplished secondary with a reputation for stifling even the most potent offensive attacks.

Check out this link for a look at how you can watch the contest, and stay glued to this page all afternoon long as the Seahawks and Falcons square off in Atlanta for the right to play in the conference title game. We'll provide live scoring updates, statistics and the Twitter feeds of each team here.

-- @AaronKazreports