FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons know what it takes to win in the regular season.
When it comes to the playoffs, that's another matter.
Perhaps no team faced a greater burden going into this postseason than the Falcons, the NFC's top-seeded team for the second time in three years. They've yet to win a playoff game under the trio of quarterback Matt Ryan, coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff — one-and-done in all three appearances going back to the 2008 season.
For the most, the players say the past doesn't matter; they're only looking forward to Sunday's divisional game against streaking Seattle. But the senior member of the team, center Todd McClure, concedes there will probably be some additional pressure when Atlanta takes the field, making a fast start crucial.
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