Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is known as ‘Matty Ice' for a reason. Down by five with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Ryan led the Falcons on a 70-yard drive that ended in a five-yard Julio Jones touchdown with two seconds left.
The 12-year NFL veteran has come up clutch constantly throughout his career — so much so that with Sunday's performance, the 34-year-old has tied New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the most game-winning drives in the NFL since 2008 (Ryan's rookie season), according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Matt Ryan recorded his 38th career game-winning drive in the 4th quarter/OT since entering the NFL in 2008, which is tied with Drew Brees for the most in the NFL over that span. pic.twitter.com/oljTBot7oJ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 16, 2019
Both Brees and Ryan have led their respective teams on 38 game-winning drives since 2011. For his career, Ryan has played in 187 games meaning that the former Boston College star has led the Falcons on a game-winning drive in just over 20 percent of his career games.
The 2016 NFL MVP completed five of his nine passes for 61 yards on the final drive while also scrambling for an additional nine yards with under a minute remaining.
Prior to Sunday's win, Ryan had completed 66.7 percent of his passes this season for 3559 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Ryan's 3559 yards put him at No. 5 in the NFL's leading passers so far this year.
The Falcons as a team, however, have struggled to a 5-9 record as they have allowed their franchise quarterback to be sacked 81 times in the last 18 games — the most in a two-year span for his career.
Left on the schedule, Atlanta returns home to face the 5-9 Jacksonville Jaguars and then will travel to Tampa Bay to end the season against the Buccaneers.
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