Jump directly to the content
Exclusive
RETURN OF THE FALCS

Osi Umenyiora thinks Atlanta Falcons are capable of Super Bowl run despite being lowest seed in NFC

Falcons have had an inconsistent season since reaching the Super Bowl last year and losing in heart-breaking fashion to the Patriots

TWO-TIME NFL champion Osi Umenyiora thinks the Atlanta Falcons may spring a surprise and reach the Super Bowl despite being the lowest seeded team in the play-offs.

Atlanta edged into the NFL play-offs as the sixth seed and will look to go one step further than last year's heart-breaking Super Bowl defeat by the New England Patriots when they threw away a 25-point lead.

 Atlanta beat Carolina to secure their place in the play-offs
4
Atlanta beat Carolina to secure their place in the play-offsCredit: EPA

London-born Umenyiora, 36, who won the Super Bowl in 2008 and 2012 with the New York Giants, paid tribute to Atlanta's toughness to bounce back from that devastating loss in Houston and reach the play-offs this season.

"This is a really dangerous football team," he told SunSport.


You can watch the NFL playoffs on with prices starting at . Or you can catch all the action on .


"This season has been inconsistent after they lost their offensive coordinate Kyle Shanahan to San Francisco and they haven't quite gelled as well.

"But if they're able to get it together offensively with Julio Jones, Matt Ryan and Devonta Freeman - three of the best players in the NFL - they can beat anybody in the NFC."

 Matt Ryan and his Falcons have had an inconsistent season but are back in the post-season
4
Matt Ryan and his Falcons have had an inconsistent season but are back in the post-seasonCredit: EPA
 Osi Umenyiora won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants
4
Osi Umenyiora won two Super Bowls with the New York GiantsCredit: Getty Images

Atlanta face the third seeded Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night in the Wild Card Round, the first of three games they must win away from home if they want to make it to the showpiece on February 4 in Minneapolis.

Umenyiora's Giants did exactly that in 2008 to reach the Super Bowl and thinks the mentally-strong Falcons are capable of repeating the feat.

"I have been in a team that did it before so it's definitely possible.


WHO'S THE GOAT? Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Joe Montana... who is the best NFL quarterback ever?


 Atlanta lost last year's Super Bowl to the New England Patriots having held a 25-point lead
4
Atlanta lost last year's Super Bowl to the New England Patriots having held a 25-point leadCredit: Reuters

"We enjoyed going on the road and playing because it brought us together as a team.

"We had absolutely no problem going anywhere and beating anybody and don't think it's an issue for any strong-willed team.

"I think it's a testament to their coaching, the captains they have and their leadership the way they have bounced back and made the play-offs when a lot of teams wouldn't have been able to after the Super Bowl loss."

Buffalo Bills NFL team stretch and warm up ahead of match in snowy blizzard

HOW TO WATCH THE PLAY-OFFS

You can watch the NFL playoffs on Sky this year as they’ll be broadcasting all the games live. You can

If you don’t want to sign up for Sky, you can watch the with their Sky Sports pass starting from £6.99.

You can also sign up for which will let you watch all the games, including the Super Bowl, live and on demand

Topics