ATLANTA -- The Falcons were beginning to resemble their Super Bowl selves in recent weeks. The offense surged in three straight wins and totaled 95 points against Dallas, Seattle and Tampa Bay.
The catalyst behind that hot streak was their success extending drives. Atlanta had the league's best third-down conversion percentage (48) entering Week 13, which was bolstered in that three-game stretch when Matt Ryan and his receivers converted on a whopping 65.9 percent of their third downs.
That strength was bound to be tested when the Falcons ran into the No. 1 third-down defense on Sunday.