Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons faced the Super Bowl-bound Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice this season. It did not go well for the Falcons.

Based on those recent experiences, Ryan is picking his team's NFC South rival to upset the Kansas City Chiefs in this Sunday's Super Bowl LV at their home field of Raymond James Stadium.

“As much as it pains me to say that I felt like their defense was one of the most difficult for us to go against, we had to face them twice,” Ryan said during an appearance on 680 The Fan's “The Front Row on Wednesday, per Falcons reporter Kelsey Conway. “Offensively, they've gotten better the entire year and I think they're playing their best football right now. I think it's going to be a close game; both of those teams are really good.”

Rewind six weeks before the Super Bowl, Atlanta faced Tampa in Weeks 15 and 17, catching the revamped Bucs right after they hit their stride and began their ongoing seven-game winning streak (including playoffs).

In the first matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Tom Brady rallied the Bucs from two different 17-point deficits to defeat the Falcons, 31-27. Ryan was able to move the ball on the Bucs' defense, completing 34 of 49 passes for 356 yards, three touchdowns, and no turnovers. But, as Ryan alluded to in his pick, the Tampa pass rush was able to wreak havoc in his pocket, led by three sacks from linebacker Devin White.

In the regular-season finale, Tampa provided a preview of their impressive playoff form, routing Atlanta, 44-27, as Brady tossed four touchdowns. Once again, Ryan's passing stats were solid (29/44, 265 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT), but he fumbled twice and was hit six times by the Bucs' fearsome pass rush.

Of course, it wasn't the first time Ryan's team surrendered a significant second-half advantage to a Brady-led squad.

On that note, keep in mind that Ryan is more experienced with losing Super Bowls than winning them—though he certainly has first-hand experience witnessing Brady's greatness in the big game.