Packers vs. Falcons 2017 live updates: Scores, highlights, and news from NFC Championship

The Falcons are headed to the Super Bowl for just the second time in franchise history.

by Christian D'Andrea

Updated Jan 22, 2017, 11:32 PM UTC

NFL: NFC Divisional-Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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Final score: Falcons 44, Packers 21

Eighteen years ago, the Falcons appeared in their first Super Bowl. Now, they’re making their second trip.

With a dominating win over the Packers — who even put Brett Hundley at quarterback in at the end of the game — the Falcons will face the winner of Patriots-Steelers in Super Bowl 51.

Fourth quarter (6:43): Falcons 44, Packers 21

On a third-and-goal run, Aaron Rodgers tried to stiff-arm Robert Alford and instead knocked off his helmet and got a facemask penalty. After the play, Rodgers nudged Alford, who gave us an Oscar-worthy flop:

On the next play, Alford was called for pass interference and the Packers got the ball at the 1-yard line. Rodgers tossed the ball to Jared Cook for the score. The two-point conversion and onside kick both failed.

Fourth quarter (12:07): Falcons 44, Packers 15

Short field position + another Julio Jones catch + Tevin Coleman running in a 3-yard TD = Falcons are ready to run all the way to Houston:

Third quarter (0:00): Falcons 37, Packers 15

Aaron Rodgers mixed in short passes and scrambles, including a fourth-down run, to get the Packers moving down the field. He connected with Jordy Nelson for a 3-yard touchdown score with 38 seconds left in the quarter, and the two-point version by Aaron Ripkowski was good.

However, Green Bay’s onside kick was not.

Third quarter (4:05): Falcons 37, Packers 7

Julio Jones is out here making playoff history. With this leaping grab, he became the first player to record 150+ receiving yards and at least two touchdowns in multiple playoff games:

Devonta Freeman got in on the scoring fun with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan, his fourth of the game.

Something finally went wrong for the Falcons, though: Matt Bryant missed the PAT.

Meanwhile, the Packers got hit with a rare kickoff penalty and Ty Montgomery is questionable to return with a rib injury.

Third quarter (9:19): Falcons 31, Packers 7

Good news for Green Bay: The Packers finally got on the board with a 2-yard TD catch from Davante Adams.

Bad news for Green Bay: The Falcons are getting the ball again.

Third quarter (13:51): Falcons 31, Packers 0

Julio Freakin’ Jones. 73 yards, one touchdown, no mercy:

That’s now seven catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns for Jones.

Aaron Rodgers looked traumatized.

Halftime: Falcons 24, Packers 0

With three seconds left in the first half, Julio Jones came down with a masterful toe-tapping 5-yard touchdown.

Matt Ryan connected with eight different receivers in the first half, throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He was even the Falcons’ leading rusher with 23 yards and another score.

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t had much success. He’s completed 12 of 17 passes so far, but for just 119 yards and a pick.

The first half was all Falcons, who are now just another 30 minutes from their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Second quarter (1:50): Falcons 17, Packers 0

Nothing’s going right for the Packers. Micah Hyde, their best defensive back, is out for the rest of the game with a shoulder injury. Aaron Rodgers got sacked with a slap from Ra’Shede Hageman, and then threw an interception on the next play. It was essentially an arm punt — Ricardo Allen picked it off at the Atlanta 32-yard line.

Second quarter (7:24): Falcons 17, Packers 0

Atlanta took advantage of the Green Bay turnover and marched down the field for a nine-play, 80-yard drive. Matt Ryan scrambled for a 14-yard touchdown — his first rushing TD since 2012 — as the Falcons crowd chanted “M-V-P!”

Second quarter (10:59): Falcons 10, Packers 0

The Packers were finding their rhythm on offense. Fullback Aaron Ripkowski bulldozed his way into the red zone — and then got the ball ripped from him hands by Jalen Collins.

The Falcons recovered it and it was ruled a touchback, not a safety, because momentum carried Collins into the end zone.

First quarter (0:00): Falcons 10, Packers 0

The Falcons looked unstoppable on offense, and even got a little creative when they ran the wildcat with Mohamed Sanu for a play.

They couldn’t punch it in the end zone this time, though. Matt Bryant added a 28-yard field goal as the quarter was winding down.

First quarter (5:35): Falcons 7, Packers 0

Despite playing with a Kevlar vest to protect his fractured ribs, Jordy Nelson looked perfectly fine on the Packers’ first possession, with two catches for 42 yards:

Mason Crosby, a hero for the Packers in the Divisional round, missed a 41-yard field goal. Cowboys fans are probably wondering where that was last week.

First quarter (8:24): Falcons 7, Packers 0

The Falcons got the ball first, and Matt Ryan did what he usually does: he found five different receivers and scored on the opening drive. Even little-used fullback Patrick DiMarco got in on the action with a 31-yard catch and run. On third-and-goal, Ryan flipped the ball to Mohamed Sanu for a 2-yard touchdown.

Atlanta converted three third downs on the drive.

Before the game

The Packers are 8-0 since Aaron Rodgers suggested his team would have to “run the table” to make it to the playoffs for the eighth straight season. They’ll need one more win against an NFC powerhouse to stretch their streak into a Super Bowl bid.

Green Bay crashed into an NFC Championship game in a thriller that will earn its share of replays on ESPN Classic. The Packers took an early 21-3 lead, only to watch the Cowboys claw back into the game thanks to a dynamic offensive attack and some uncharacteristic mistakes from Rodgers. Dan Bailey’s 52-yard field goal tied the game at 31-all, and a third-and-20 with 12 seconds left seemed certain to signal overtime.

Then Rodgers dialed up a clutch throw and catch to Jared Cook that will live in NFL lore.

Three seconds and a 51-yard Mason Crosby field goal later, Green Bay had toppled the NFC’s Goliath.

Rodgers and his team stunned top-seeded Dallas last Sunday, but knocking off one explosive offense on the road will lead to more of the same in the conference final. The Falcons recorded one of the best seasons in franchise history behind an MVP caliber performance from quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan threw for a shade under 5,000 yards and tossed 38 touchdowns to lead the league in passer rating. His top target, human cheat code Julio Jones, topped the NFL in receiving yards per game.

The pair showed no signs of slowing down in the postseason, even though Jones is dealing with a toe injury. Ryan passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns, one of which went to Jones on a 7-yard route to kick off a 36-20 rout against the Seahawks.

Atlanta is more than a two-man show. Linebacker Vic Beasley emerged as one of the league’s top defenders after recording a league-high 15.5 sacks and forcing six fumbles. The second-year linebacker will give Rodgers and a pass-heavy Packers offense plenty of headaches by crashing the pocket early and often.

His defense need to step up its effort from the last time these teams met. The Falcons won a Week 8 cross-conference showdown in a 33-32 shootout where Rodgers and Ryan combined for seven touchdowns. Ryan’s third scoring pass of the afternoon, this time to Mohamed Sanu with just 31 seconds left on the clock, helped Atlanta escape with a resume-building win.

The Falcons will hope for a similar result on Sunday.