After bitter loss to Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons found their way

Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn noticed a different team after his team's devastating 29-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 4.

It wasn't an artistic gem, but the Chiefs needed a pick-six, a two-point conversion returned for two points and a fake punt to score a touchdown to pull out the victory.

The Falcons knew they outplayed the Chiefs, but their blunders were too costly to overcome. So the team set out to eliminate those miscues down the stretch and it started at the top with quarterback Matt Ryan, who was bested twice in the game by Kansas City safety Eric Berry.

Atlanta tried to improve each week and won its final four regular-season games to claim the NFC's second seed. They took that momentum into the playoffs and are set to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI after steam-rolling the Green Bay Packers 44-21 in the NFC Championship Game.

The Falcons will make their first Super Bowl appearance since their first during the 1998 regular season.

New England is set to make its ninth overall Super Bowl appearance. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady are making their seventh trip together.

"That's not within my control," Quinn said about the Patriots' advantage in terms of Super Bowl experience. "We are not going to make that up in two weeks."

The Falcons are in the early stages of their evaluation of the Patriots.

"When we get to the game, it's still going to be the game," Quinn said. "Our process of getting ready is not going to change. Those things will stay consistent."

Quinn was Seattle's defensive coordinator when the Seattle Seahawks lost to New England in Super Bowl XLIX. He's seen Tom Brady and the Patriots offense up close.

"It's an offense that's well-versed," Quinn said. "They have different ways that they can attack you."

With Atlanta ahead 44-21 late, Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers was pulled from the game.

He completed 27 of 45 passes for 287 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, but never came closing to finding the magical rhythm he played with as the Packers (12-7) won their final six regular-season games and two playoff games.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan won the battle of his more celebrated counterpart. He completed 27 of 38 for 392 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran three times for 23 yards and a score. Atlanta did not turn the ball over. The Packers coughed it up twice.

Quinn was proud that his young defense was able to shut out Rodgers for nearly three quarters.

"It was a good mixture between our zone and man (defense)," Quinn said. "We are just doing things better."

The Falcons' last Super Bowl bid was botched before it started when safety Eugene Robinson was arrested for solicitation the night before the game.

Quinn doesn't anticipate that he'll have a problem of that nature this time around.

"On some teams that I've been on you might have worried, but not this team," Quinn said. "This team is so tight and the accountability that they have for one another is so strong. They are playing for something bigger than themselves."

NOTES: C Alex Mack left Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Packers for one play in the second quarter with an apparent left foot injury when running back Devonta Freeman rolled over it on a stuffed running play. ... WR Julio Jones caught nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers. ... FS Ricardo Allen had a key second-quarter interception. ... CB Jalen Collins had a key second-quarter forced-fumble and recovery inside the red zone. ... CB Brian Poole led the Falcons with seven tackles and had two quarterback hurries. He laid two solid hits on Rodgers.