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鈥?The Atlanta Falcons know they’ll have to win three consecutive road games to get a chance for Super Bowl redemption.The Falcons already nabbed the first victory by spoiling a festive night in Los Angeles [url=http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/brian-urlacher-jersey]Authentic Brian Urlacher Jersey[/url] , and they seem quite confident about their chances to run the table in other people’s buildings on the way to Minneapolis.Matt Ryan passed for 218 yards and hit Julio Jones for an 8-yard touchdown with 5:48 to play, and the defending NFC champion Falcons advanced from the wild-card round with a 26-13 victory over the upstart Rams on Saturday night.Devonta Freeman rushed for an early score and Matt Bryant kicked four field goals for the Falcons (11-6), who dropped to the sixth seed in the conference after finishing one game out of first place in the NFC South. Atlanta went only 5-3 on the road in the regular season.But judging from a comprehensively solid performance against the hungry Rams (11-6), that tough division race and last season’s deep playoff run prepared Atlanta for the grind necessary to win back-to-back NFC titles.“We don’t care where we play these games, because we know it’s about us, not the crowd or the opponent,” Atlanta safety Ricardo Allen said.The next place they’re headed is Philadelphia: The Falcons advanced to face the top-seeded Eagles on Jan. 13.“Doesn’t matter where we’re going, we’re going,” Ryan said. “And that’s the most exciting part.”Atlanta’s journey to the Super Bowl last season ended infamously with that blown 28-3 lead against New England. In their first playoff game since, the Falcons spoiled the Rams’ first playoff game in 13 years with a methodical performance derived from hard-earned experience.The Falcons’ defense held the NFL’s highest-scoring offense to one touchdown while muzzling Todd Gurley and harassing Jared Goff, who went 24 for 45 in his playoff debut.Jones caught nine passes for 94 yards for Atlanta, which never trailed while winning playoff games in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. Against an opponent that had just six players on its roster with prior postseason appearances, the Falcons’ experience showed through.“I think having gone through these situations [url=http://www.brownscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-nick-chubb-jersey]Nick Chubb Browns Jersey[/url] , understanding what it’s like, the atmosphere, those kinds of things, knowing that it’s going to be tough, all those things kind of carry forward,” Ryan said. “But at the end of the day, experience or no experience, you’ve got to execute.”A raucous crowd of 74,300 packed the Coliseum on a crisp evening for the first NFL playoff game in the nation’s second-largest city since early 1994. Los Angeles went 21 years without pro football before the Rams returned last season, and the franchise emphatically ended a 13-year streak of non-winning seasons this fall with an inspiring run to the Rams’ first division title since 2003.Robert Woods caught nine passes for 142 yards, but rookie Cooper Kupp scored the Rams’ only touchdown late in the first half. Pro Bowl kick returner Pharoh Cooper also muffed a punt and fumbled a kickoff return early, leading to 10 points for the Falcons.LA LETDOWNThe Falcons ruined a celebratory night for the Rams, who rebounded from a rough homecoming season in 2016 with an outstanding debut year under 31-year-old Sean McVay [url=http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/tre_davious-white-jersey]Tre'Davious White Bills Jersey[/url] , the youngest head coach to reach the playoffs in NFL history. A celebrity-studded crowd attended the game and watched a halftime performance from Long Beach’s own Snoop Dogg, but the Rams couldn’t come through.“You see why the Falcons are the defending NFC champs,” McVay said. “Certainly this is a humbling game. … This is an experience that we can learn from. But I don’t think this game was too big for our guys.”The Rams are just 4-11 at the Coliseum since returning to LA last season.EATING CLOCKThe Falcons dominated the game by controlling the ball for 37:35, patiently running the ball with Freeman and Tevin Coleman. The Rams’ defense simply couldn’t get off the field in the third quarter, whether due to missed tackles or clever play-calling by the Falcons.BAD FIELDThe Coliseum turf was noticeably slippery for both teams, and many players changed cleats at halftime to combat the conditions. The field at the venerable stadium isn’t known for being particularly bad, but new sod and January dew apparently made it more perilous than usual.The Falcons shook it off.“We had to be prepared for everything,” Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu said. “We saw it wasn’t good conditions early, so we had our minds ready for it.”GETTING GURLEYGurley got just 43 of his 101 yards rushing in the first three quarters, and the Falcons eliminated him from the passing game almost entirely, giving up only four receptions for 10 yards despite 10 targets of the NFL’s leader in yards from scrimmage.“They did a great job,” Gurley said of the Atlanta defense. “They have great players. They’re not the reigning NFC champs for no reason.” As the son of a journeyman hockey player and eventual coach, Buffalo Sabres newly acquired forward Tage Thompson became accustomed to never staying put in one place for too long.

”I’m not sure the amount of states I’ve lived in [url=http://www.chiefscheapstore.com/breeland-speaks-jersey-cheap]Breeland Speaks Chiefs Jersey[/url] ,” Thompson said Monday, in recalling how he attended nine schools by the time he began his junior year at a high school in Michigan.

”Almost a new school every year,” he added. ”So, I’ve moved around quite a bit.”

His father is Brent Thompson, who is the coach of Bridgeport in the American Hockey League. His career included numerous stops from playing for the AHL’s Hershey Bears in Pennsylvania to coaching the ECHL’s Alaska Aces.

It’s been a similar life of travel for the 20-year-old Thompson in the two years since being selected by the Blues in the first round of the draft following his freshman college year at UConn.

Upon splitting last season between St. Louis and the Blues’ AHL Affiliate in San Antonio, Texas, Thompson is headed to Buffalo. He was acquired along with two veteran teammates and two draft picks on Sunday, in a deal that sent center Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis.

Perhaps, now, Thompson can finally get a chance to settle down.

”I feel like I’ve been living out of a suitcase, honestly,” he said. ”I really do hope Buffalo’s it.”

The Sabres are counting on it after Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said Buffalo insisted Thompson be included in the trade. The Sabres also acquired centers Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Sobotka, as well as a conditional 2019 first-round pick and a 2021 second-rounder.

At just over 6 feet and 205 pounds [url=http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/byron-jones-jersey]Byron Jones Jersey Womens[/url] , Thompson had three goals and nine assists in 41 games as an NHL rookie last season, while playing a limited role on a veteran-laden team.

In Buffalo, he’ll get a shot to earn a spot on one of the top two lines on a team rebuilding through youth.

”What we see in Tage is a kid who has a great shot, great size, and a really good reach on the ice,” GM Jason Botterill said. ”I think he’s a player that’s going to be able to step into our lineup and grow with our young centermen.”

Thompson can’t wait, and recalled how he was with his father when Armstrong called to inform him of the trade.

Once the shock wore off, the two discussed the opportunities the Sabres present.

”The more we sat and thought about it, we felt it’s a great fit for me,” Thompson said. ”It’s going to be exactly what I’ve been looking for as far as an opportunity to go in and play a lot and produce, and help the team win.”

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