NFL playoffs bracket 2017: Offense carries Falcons to the NFC Championship

The Atlanta Falcons are rolling on to the NFC Championship after handily defeating the Seattle Seahawks, 36-20, to start the divisional round.

The Seahawks struck first in the Saturday game with a lengthy touchdown on the opening possession that concluded with a quick connection with Jimmy Graham that gave Seattle a 7-0 lead.

But Atlanta struck back with a lengthy drive of its own and continued to keep the pedal down with a safety and a 99-yard touchdown drive at the end of the first half.

In the second half, the Falcons continued to pull away and put the nail in the coffin with an interception followed by a Mohamed Sanu touchdown to give Atlanta a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter.

While Seattle responded with a touchdown of its own, it was too little, too late, and the Falcons advanced to the NFC Championship for the first time since losing to the San Francisco 49ers four years ago.

The destination for the Falcons next weekend won’t be decided until Sunday. The Falcons are either traveling to AT&T Stadium to play the Dallas Cowboys or hosting the Green Bay Packers at the Georgia Dome.

Atlanta is set to begin playing in the newly built Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017, so if the Cowboys win, that means the victory over the Seahawks was the Falcons’ last game in the Georgia Dome.

But before that is decided, attention will first turn back to the AFC when the heavily favored New England Patriots take on the Houston Texans. The winner will advance to the AFC Championship and face the winner of a Sunday night game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs that was postponed more than seven hours due to an ice storm in Missouri.

Saturday, Jan. 7

GAME 1: Houston Texans 27, Oakland Raiders 14

GAME 2: Seattle Seahawks 26, Detroit Lions 6

Sunday, Jan. 8

GAME 3: Pittsburgh Steelers 30, Miami Dolphins 12

GAME 4: Green Bay Packers 38, New York Giants 13

Saturday, Jan. 14

GAME 5: Atlanta Falcons 36, Seattle Seahawks 20

GAME 6: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m., CBS

Sunday, Jan. 15

GAME 7: Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:40 p.m., FOX

GAME 8: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m., NBC

Sunday, Jan. 22

NFC Championship: Atlanta Falcons vs. Cowboys/Packers, 3:05 p.m., FOX

AFC Championship: Patriots/Texans vs. Chiefs/Steelers, 6:40 p.m., CBS

Sunday, Feb. 5

AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 6:30 p.m., FOX