FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) - Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons disagree with the idea they have little to play for in Sunday's regular-season game against Tampa Bay.
Ryan threw seven touchdown passes with no interceptions the past two weeks while completing 80 percent of his passes.
Coach Mike Smith says that ranks as the fifth-year quarterback's best back-to-back games.
The Falcons (13-2) have home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.
The goal is for Ryan to continue his roll against the Buccaneers and carry the momentum into the playoffs.
Center Todd McClure says recent Super Bowl champions have been led by the quarterback who was hot at the right time. McClure says Ryan "definitely is hot and we've got to keep him that way."
On Wednesday, Ryan, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez were voted to the NFC Pro Bowl team. The Pro Bowl goes down during the Super Bowl bye week on January 27th in Hawaii. The trio of Falcons Pro Bowlers are hoping to miss the game. Teams competing in the Super Bowl don't send their players to the Pro Bowl
