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ATLANTA -- Good thing for the St. Louis Rams that the Atlanta Falcons weren't exactly picture perfect during their practices in the days leading up to Saturday night's divisional-round matchup here at the Georgia Dome.
A little more fine-tuning on the part of the Falcons, a smidgeon more precision, and there is no telling how embarrassing things might have gotten. As it was, the Falcons fashioned a 47-17 rout out of the week's imperfections, the most lopsided score in an NFC division-round game since the San Francisco 49ers smoked the New York Giants by 41 points in a 1993 meeting.
Warrick Dunn rushed for a Falcons playoff record 142 yards.
The pasting of the Rams, who defensive end Bryce Fisher acknowledged "tackled like we were wearing handcuffs," included a 62-yard touchdown run by Atlanta tailback Warrick Dunn in the first quarter on an off-tackle play behind the offensive line, whose cohesiveness has been suspect much of the week. And a 68-yard Allen Rossum punt runback on a gimmick play that misfired every time Atlanta rehearsed it during the week. And, oh, yeah, an 18-yard touchdown catch by tight end Alge Crumpler on the game's opening possession, on a seam route that quarterback Michael Vick often overthrows.
But botched plays in practice were transformed into brilliant calls for much of Saturday evening. And riding the team's one constant, a league-leading running attack that simply chewed up the overmatched St. Louis defensive front, the Falcons will awaken Sunday morning just one victory shy of a Super Bowl berth.
The Falcons, who advanced to the conference title game for the first time since 1998 and only the second time in franchise history, will face the winner of Sunday's other division-round game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. If the Eagles win, the game will be contested at Lincoln Financial Field. Atlanta would host the game if the Vikings can author a second straight playoff upset.
"Nobody in here has any preference about who we play next week," said Falcons tailback T.J. Duckett. "We feel like we're playing with great momentum and [passion]. We're on a roll and, when we get going downhill like this with the running game, we feel that we can play with anybody. You run the ball like we did tonight and, man, it's a lot of fun."
Something like this right. Oh yeah Where do u want us to put them.
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