The Atlanta Falcons sealed their place in the NFC Championship game with a 30-28 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
The Falcons raced to a 20-0 lead at half-time, but the Seahawks fought back to take a 28-27 lead with just second remaining.
Kicker Matt Bryant was brought out for the Falcons to take an all-or-nothing field goal, setting up a game against the Seattle Seahawks next weekend.
Read how all the action unfolded below:
Good evening, or good afternoon if you're joining us from the States. Let's start by taking a look at the inactives for both teams.
Falcons inactives: QB Dominique Davis, WR Tim Toone, CB Chris Owens, G Phillip Manley, G Harland Gunn, OT Lamer Holmes, WR Deon Butler
Seahawks inactives: CB Byron Maxwell, LB Allen Bradford, CB DeShawn Shead, G Rishaw Johnson, OL Mike Person, DT Jaye Howard, WR Deon Butler
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is still looking for his first playoff victory after five seasons in the NFL, having recorded three losses since 2008.
By contrast, rookie quarterback Russell Wilson got his first post-season win at the first time as asking last weekend with the Seahawks, and is the only first year QB still in the playoffs.
The Falcons have been mighty at the Georgia Dome this season, while the Seahawks haven't looked as comfortable on the road, winning just three of their regular season games away from home.
However, the Seahawks have played well against some of the NFL's top teams, recording wins against the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.
The Falcons will be replying on wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones to create plays this evening. The pair have 17 touchdowns for over 2,500 yards between them this season.
Seattle will look towards running back Marshawn Lynch, who has 11 touchdowns for 1,590, including a game-turning score against the Redskins last weekend.
Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez will be particularly keen to get the win tonight. The 16-season veteran is "95%" sure that this will be his last season in the NFL, and he is yet to be part of a winning team in the playoffs.
A win for the Seahawks would set up an all NFC West battle in the Championship game next weekend. The 49ers would surely relish a home game against the Seahawks, after their divisional rivals thrashed them in Seattle last month.
The Seahawks head in to the game having won their last five games, while the Falcons last twice during December, knowing that they had already secured their post-season berth.
As we're just moments from kickoff, let's attempt a prediction. With the AFC's top seed already out, I think the Falcons will be wary of an upset. I'm going for a narrow Falcons win.
The Seahawks kickoff, with the Falcons receiving first.
Michael Turner rushes the ball to the 40-yard line as the Falcons look for an early score.
Tony Gonzalez gets a first down for the Falcons, as he looks for his first playoff win in six games.
Matt Ryan completed a 13 yard pass to Roddy White as the Falcons close in on the red zone. This opening drive will be settling a few nerves among the Falcons camp.
Richard Sherman bats the ball away from Roddy White in the end zone as Ryan attempts to get the ball to his receiver for an opening touchdown. The Falcons are bringing out their field goal unit.
FIELD GOAL! Seahawks 0-3 Falcons (Bryant)
Matt Bryant comfortably makes the 39-yard field goal to get the Falcons on the score board. Matt Ryan will be disappointed not to have made the touchdown pass to Roddy White, but also relieved not to have come away empty handed from a lengthy opening possession.
Russell Wilson looks to get Marshawn Lynch in to the game early, but the running back manages just four yards off two carries. Wilson attempts a long pass on third down but it's incomplete, and the Seahawks are three and out.
Well Seattle's opening drive was a complete contrast to Atlanta's. The Falcons look like they've been practising for Marshawn Lynch's running game. Russell Wilson may have to turn to his passing game.
Interception! Matt Ryan is picked off, bringing the Seahawks offense back on to the field.
Wilson is left holding the ball as none of his receiver get free, leaving the quarterback to run the ball himself for a first down.
Lynch fumbles the ball, and there's some confusion as to whether the Falcons or Seahawks recovered the ball. Initially the officials signaled that the ball was Atlanta's before changing the call.
Atlanta are back on offense, Julio Jones securing a first down with a 13-yard reception.
It's getting a bit scrappy at the minute, with both sides picking up penalties, Seahawks for a horse collar tackle, and Falcons for a false start.
Falcons take the ball to the one yard line courtesy of a 16-yard pass to Coffman. The Falcons will be looking for the end zone here.
TOUCHDOWN! Seahawks 0-10 Falcons (Gonzalez)
Tony Gonzalez shows magnificent control to keep his feet inbound right at the back of the end zone for the opening touchdown of the game. Bryant easily adds the extra point to give the Falcons a 10-point advantage.
Wilson has his first completion of the game, finding tight end Zach Miller for a 23-yard gain.
The Seahawks punt again as the Wilson struggles to find open receivers.
Jacquizz Rodgers makes a huge run. The running back breaks off several strong tackles by the Seahawks, leaving him with a ripped shirt, but his efforts are rewarded with a 45-yard gain.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Seahawks 0-10 Falcons
Ryan starts the second quarter in an ambitious fashion, attempting a long pass to Jones, but Sherman breaks up the pass. The Falcons are looking very confident.
Seattle won't be too worried yet. They were 14-0 down early on against the Redskins last week, before scoring 24 unanswered points to secure the victory.
The Falcons are gradually working their way up the field. Gonzalez takes a 5-yard catch to move Atlanta to the edge of the red zone.
So far, the Falcons have spent almost three times as long on offense as their opponents, allowing the Seahawks just over five minutes so far.
FIELD GOAL! Seahawks 0-13 Falcons (Bryant)
Matt Bryant splits the uprights again from 37 yards to extend the home side's lead. The Seahawks need a good drive soon or they risk being out of the game by half time.
Russell Wilson tosses the ball down the middle of the field to Zach Miller for a 34-yard gain before adding another 16 yards through Golden Tate. This could be the Seahawks' best chance to get on the score board so far.
The Seahawks turn down the chance to attempt a field goal, going for a short gain on fourth down. Wilson hands the ball off to Robinson, but the Falcons defense force him back for a one-yard loss and a turnover.
Michael Turner powers down the sideline for 33 yards, before being pushed out of bounds at the 48-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN! Seahawks 0-19 Falcons (White)
Matt Ryan makes a fantastic long, high pass to Roddy White for a superb 47-yard touchdown. The officials are reviewing the play to make sure the wide receiver had the ball before he hit the ground, but it looked pretty safe.
The touchdown stands, and Matt Bryant comes out to take the extra point kick, and put the Falcons 20-0 ahead.
Fox Sports reports that Seattle's offensive linemen have been complaining of not hearing play calls because of the volume of the home fans, so they're switching the hand signals.
Lynch is still have little impact for the Seahawks. Wilson hands the ball off to the running back, but he makes no gain. The quarterback makes a pass to Miller on the following snap to move to the Atlanta 32
Golden Tate makes a catch at the six-yard line. With time running out in the second quarter, the Seahawks will be anxious to get off the mark before half time.
Wilson tries to get the ball to Asante Samuel, but the Falcons break up the pass.
Wilson is sacked by Jonathan Babineaux with no timeouts remaining, leaving the Seahawks without enough time to bring out their field goal team. Wilson attempts a quick pass to Samuels but the clock runs out.
END OF SECOND QUARTER: Seahawks 0-20 Falcons
Well that was a sensational 30 minutes of football from the Atlanta Falcons. Some stunning work by Matt Ryan and the offense, as well as a solid effort from the defensive line to shut out the Seahawks.
Roddy White's 47-yard touchdown will take the headlines, but some vital gains have come from running backs Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers, each rushing for over 60 yards in the first two quarters.
For the Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch has made just 27 yards from eight carries.
Matt Ryan completed 12 of his 18 attempts for 135 yards, as well completing two touchdown passes. An early interception didn't appear to bother the Falcons quarterback as he continues to look for his first playoff win as an NFL player.
Russell Wilson made 10 of 17 passes for 144 yards. The rookie didn't throw any interception but did take a sack.
Zach Miller was the pick of the receivers for Seattle. The tight end made five receptions for 94 yards, while Golden Tate caught three passes for 31 yards.
Ryan shared the workload amongst his receiver. Roddy White took five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Julio Jones received for 28 yards, and Tony Gonzalez for 15 and a touchdown.
It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks respond in the third quarter. It wasn't that they did anything that wrong, it was the Falcons doing everything right that has kept the road side out of the game.
The players are back on the field.
The Falcons kick off the third quarter, with the Seahawks receiving.
Once again, the Falcons leave Wilson without an open receiver, forcing the quarterback to run the ball himself for a first down.
Wilson is sacked for the second time in the game after failing to find a receiver and not taking the run himself.
TOUCHDOWN! Seahawks 7-20 Falcons (Tate)
Wilson passes deep to Golden Tate who finds the corner of the end zone to finally get some points on the board for Seattle. Ryan Longwell, in for the injured Steven Hauschka, kicks the extra point.
The Seahawks have a long way to go to get themselves back in this game, but they've started the third quarter as well as they could have hoped. Now they need to apply pressure on Matt Ryan if they're to turn this in to a contest.
The Falcons are back on offense. The Seahawks haven't allowed Ryan some of the big gains he made earlier in the game, but the Falcons have made fairly easy progress up the field to the 49-yard line.
Harry Douglas drops a long pass from Matt Ryan just outside the end zone. The Falcons are showing no sign of easing off despite their lead.
Julio Jones takes the ball to the edge of the red zone for the Falcons, before Gonzales catches it at the 10-yard line. Atlanta will be looking for their third touchdown here.
TOUCHDOWN! Seahawks 7-27 Falcons (Snelling)
Jason Snelling scores a rare touchdown for the Falcons, connecting with a five-yard pass from Matt Ryan. Matt Bryant added the extra point on the second attempt, after Richard Sherman drew a penalty flag after creeping offside.
Wilson is back on the field with the Seahawks offense. He's left with no open receivers again but manages the buy enough time for Golden Tate to lose his marker and take a 24-yard pass from the quarterback, before Zach Miller makes a 26-yard catch to move Seattle to the 13-yard line.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Seahawks 7-27 Falcons
There's more of a sense of urgency about the Seahawks now. The Falcons ate up a lot of time on their last drive and increased their lead, leaving the Seahawks needing three scores in the final quarter.
Robert Turbin takes the ball to the one-yard line for a first down. Seattle have an excellent chance to reduce the Falcons' lead.
TOUCHDOWN! Seahawks 14-27 Falcons (Wilson)
The Falcons defense is too busy covering Marshawn Lynch to notice what Russell Wilson is doing, and the quarterback rushes in to the end zone himself. Longwell easily adds the extra point.
The big challenge for the Seahawks now is getting turnovers. Russell Wilson has looked much stronger since half time, but his defensive line need to prevent Matt Ryan from running down the clock.
Earl Thomas steps up for Seattle, intercepting Matt Ryan at the Seahawks' 38 to bring Russell Wilson back out to a good field position.
Russell Wilson connects with Sidney Rice for a 24-yard gain. All the momentum is with the Seahawks at the moment.
Wilson makes a short pass to Turbin who rushes to the three yard line. The Seahawks could be about to add another score here.
TOUCHDOWN! Seahawks 21-27 Falcons (Miller)
Zach Miller gets free in the end zone for an easy touchdown pass for Russell Wilson, with Longwell adding the extra point again. The Seahawks are right back in this game.
There are some worried faces in the Georgia Dome. The pressure is now all one Matt Ryan as the Falcons quarterback looks to close out his first ever win in the NFL playoffs.
The big difference between Atlanta in this quarter and earlier in the game is the lack of running game. Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers had a big impact for the Falcons in the first two quarters, but they've been fairly anonymous since half time.
The nerves are getting to Matt Ryan. The Falcons fail to get first down yardage and are forced to punt the ball back to the Seahawks. Here comes Russell Wilson again.
Wilson tries an ambitious long pass to Sidney Rice, but the wide receiver has company, and the ball is knocked from his hands before he has control.
The Falcons manage to stop the Seahawks offense. Wilson can't get the necessary yards for a first down, and the Seahawks have to bring out their punter. Atlanta will be looking to run the clock down as much as possible.
Michael Turner rushes to the 40-yard line. Matt Ryan is taking his time calling plays as he desperately tries to use up time. However, a pass on third down to Roddy White is incomplete, giving the ball back to Seattle.
Marshawn Lynch, who has been fairly quiet throughout the game, rushes for seven yards to secure a first down at the 49-yard line. This is going to be a nervy final two minutes for both teams.
Russell Wilson has completed almost 200 yards passing since half time, compared to less than 80 yards from Matt Ryan. The Seahawks quarterback has really stepped up his game.
Wilson tries a deep pass to Zach Miller waiting in the end zone, but the tight end can't take it.
Wilson is almost sacked on third down, but some snappy footwork gets him free and he passes to Lynch, who takes the ball to the three-yard line for a first down.
Falcons are penalised for having 12 men on the field, moving Seattle to the one yard line.
TOUCHDOWN! Seahawks 27-27 Falcons (Lynch)
Marshawn Lynch takes the ball in to the end zone but loses the ball, before recovering his own fumble. The officials are reviewing the play but it was called a touchdown on the field. Looking at the replays, I can't see it being overturned.
The review confirms that it is a touchdown. The scores are tied as Ryan Longwell comes out to kick the extra point. The kick is good. The Seahawks lead 28-17
Jacquizz Rodgers returns the kickoff to the 28-yard line, before Browner takes it to the 50, and Gonzalez takes the ball inside the field goal range of Matt Bryant.
Atlanta take a timeout, and bring out Bryant for a 49-yard field goal attempt.
Bryant's kick goes wide but the Seahawks called a timeout before the Falcons got the ball away.
FIELD GOAL! Seahawks 28-30 Falcons (Bryant)
Bryant's second attempt is good and puts the Falcons two points up with only eight second left on the clock. That should be enough for the Falcons.
Bosher's kickoff is scuffed, and the Seahawks get the ball back at midfield.
Russell attempts a hail mary pass to the end zone, but it's intercepted by Julio Jones.
FULL-TIME: Seahawks 28-30 Falcons
Wow, what an epic fourth quarter! The Atlanta Falcons somehow managed to hold on for the win, and will face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game next week.
The Seattle Seahawks deserve huge credit for the way they got back in to the game after half time.
Matt Ryan will be relieved to have finally been on the winning team in the playoffs, after three losses in his previous post-season encounters.
Russell Wilson is no doubt disappointed not to have made the pass in the final seconds of the game, but the experience of the post-season in his first season in the NFL will help him and the Seahawks next season.
Well that's all from the Georgia Dome. Stick around for coverage of the New England Patriots' game against the Houston Texans with Sports Mole. Thanks for joining me this evening.
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
