An emotional Tony Gonzalez following the Falcons win. (photo/AtlantaFalcons.com)
Much is being made this postseason about Ray Lewis calling it quits after this season in Baltimore, but the Atlanta Falcons are trying to rally around veteran leader Tony Gonzalez who will most likely retire after this season. On Sunday, Gonzalez won his first career playoff game in dramatic fashion and afterwards couldn’t hold in the emotions as he was seen crying on the field after Atlanta the Falcons held on for a 30-28 win over Seattle.
“I thought it was over. I’ve played 16 years and I thought ‘here we go again,’ especially with that big old lead, I guess it’s just not meant to be,” Gonzalez said. “We believed and we were able to make the plays when it counted. Even Matt Bryant. He was over there on the sideline saying ‘We’ve been here before, let’s go do it.’ We put it in position to go out and make that play and we do it. That’s great.”
Bryant kicked the winning field goal with 13 seconds left on the clock after Seattle stormed back from a 20-0 deficit to take a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds to play.
It was Gonzalez who made the final play on offense to move the Falcons into position for that game winning field goal. After a 34-yard return and a 22-yard reception from Harry Douglas, Gonzalez caught a 19-yard pass from Matt Ryan to put the Falcons in field goal range with 13 seconds to go.
“That’s probably the best catch I’ve ever had even though it was probably one of the easiest too because he put it right in my chest,” Gonzalez said. “It’s the most important catch I’ve ever had in my life and I’ll never forget it. It was wonderful.”
