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ATLANTA -- Matt Ryan had been 7-2 following bye weeks and it looked like the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player would win again Sunday when his Atlanta Falcons led the Miami Dolphins 17-0 at halftime. The Dolphins dominated the second half, though, and Ryan's late-game magic of previous seasons was missing again as his tipped interception at the 6-yard line with 39 seconds remaining preserved Miami's 20-17 victory.
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The Falcons (3-2) have lost two straight with a trip to New England (4-2) for a rematch with the Super Bowl champion Patriots looming next Sunday night.
The Patriots overcame a 25-3 deficit en route to their overtime win in the Super Bowl and the Falcons second-half collapse against the Dolphins was too reminiscent of that for Atlanta fans.
Penalties and a bad snap on a punt hurt the Falcons.
The offense went dead for much of the second half and then the Dolphins (3-2) took advantage of a tipped ball when Ryan tried to mount a late drive.
Ryan, who threw just seven interceptions last season, has six in his past three games and couldn't come through in the clutch again after falling short deep in Buffalo territory before the bye in the 23-17 home loss to the Bills.
Most of Ryan's interceptions this season have come on tipped balls. This time his pass went off the hands of both tight end Austin Hooper and Miami cornerback Cordrea Tankersley.
"On the tipped pass, we've had a few of those this year that have ended up going the other way," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. "Actually, in the rip of the throw, it looked to be in the right spot."
"I felt like I made the right read in that situation, put it where I wanted to, and that's how the game goes sometimes," Ryan said.
Quinn called the loss "a game of two halves."
Like in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots, the Falcons couldn't hold a big lead against Miami.
That isn't a way to build confidence for the rematch in New England.
"You can't replay the game that was played in the Super Bowl, but what we can do is control what we have now," Quinn said. "For that one, it was a historic game and one that we didn't get done, but we don't look back to that one on every opportunity when we're ahead or when we're behind in any of that way.
"Our focus is 100 percent on now and who we are. We've got different guys in different spots, and its 100 percent about doing better in the here and the now, and that's where our focus will stay."
Julio Jones had six catches for 72 yards against the Dolphins, but is still without a touchdown this season.
"We just have to find a way to close games," Jones said.
"It's disappointing whenever you lose, and it's disappointing when you have a lead and it gets away from you," Ryan said.
The Falcons had three of their five injured starters back against the Dolphins, including linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. Beasley led the NFL with 15 sacks a year ago, but neither he nor his teammates could get to Miami's Jay Cutler.
In the NFL, it doesn't take long for a team to go on a run," Beasley said. "You have to keep your foot on the gas pedal. If you let up anytime, they will come right back. It's very frustrating when you're in the position to win and don't finish."
