Matt Ryan and the Falcons

win their NFL playoff opener, beating Seattle 36-20.

ATLANTA — Matt Ryan looked very much like an MVP, and the Atlanta Falcons are headed to the NFC Championship Game.

Ryan threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Falcons to a 36-20 victory against the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round Saturday.

Atlanta will face the Dallas Cowboys or the Green Bay Packers, who will meet today in the NFC's other divisional game.

After the Seahawks zipped down the field for a touchdown on the opening possession, Atlanta's young defense largely shut down Russell Wilson & Co. the rest of the way.

Ryan and the high-scoring Falcons took it from there, getting a huge boost from a holding penalty that wiped out an 80-yard punt return by Devin Hester.

Ryan connected with Julio Jones on a 7-yard touchdown and Tevin Coleman for a 14-yard score before finishing off the Seahawks with a 3-yard toss to Mohamed Sanu in the corner of the end zone with just under four minutes remaining, sparking a raucous chant of “MVP! MVP! MVP!” from a Georgia Dome crowd that stood most of the game.

Before a foot injury limited him in the second half, Jones made life miserable for Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.

Jones was targeted eight times, finishing with six receptions for 67 yards to set a tone that Atlanta would not be intimidated by the Legion of Boom.

For only the fourth time in their 51-year history, the Falcons (12-5) will play for the conference title and a spot in the Super Bowl.

Patriots 34, Texans 16

Dion Lewis had a 13-yard touchdown reception, a 98-yard kickoff return for a score and a late 1-yard TD to help host New England beat Houston on Saturday to advance to an NFL-record sixth straight conference title game. Lewis became the fifth Pats player to score three TDsplayoff game. He's also the first player in the Super Bowl era to score on a rush, a catch and a kick return in a postseason game.