After easily handling the 8–8 St. Louis Rams in the divisional round, the Falcons advanced to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1998, but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Falcons signed former Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Rod Coleman and former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jason Webster in free agency.
The Falcons started their second drive of the game from their own 18-yard line when Michael Vick dumped a pass off to his full back Justin Griffith.
Vick's 3 rushes on the drive for 20, 14, and 18 yards put Falcons kicker Jay Feely in range for a 35-yard field goal with 6 seconds left in the half.
[8] In the third quarter Ram's QB Marc Bulger completed 4 of 5 passes as he moved the ball down the field on an 80-yard touchdown drive.
Late in the second quarter Falcons’ defensive tackle Rod Coleman sacked and forced a fumble by Cardinals’ quarterback Josh McCown.
The Falcons were unable to capitalize on the turnover, and Michael Vick fumbled at the Arizona 8-yard line, which gave the Cardinals the ball back with 27 seconds left in the first half.
After the Falcons punted on their first possession to start the second half 4 consecutive drives ended in turnovers: • Coleman recorded his second forced fumble of the game • On the ensuing Falcons drive Vick fumbled for the second time • Falcons’ defensive end Brady Smith forced a third McCown fumble • 2 plays later Vick was intercepted by Cardinals’ safety Adrian Wilson Wilson's interception gave the Cardinals’ great field possession.
The Cardinals were only able to gain 6 yards on the drive, but Neil Rackers 30-yard field goal shrunk the Falcons’ lead to 3 points.
In the Falcons’ first drive of the game Michael Vick completed his first pass to wide receiver Dez White for 19 yards, and his second to Justin Griffith for 18.
Early in the second quarter the Falcons put together another good drive which resulted in a successful Feely Field goal attempt.
Neither team scored again until early in the fourth quarter when Falcon defensive back Kevin Mathis intercepted a Delhomme pass, and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
On fourth and 6, at their own 36-yard line, the Falcons faked a punt, and punter Chris Mohr completed a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Brian Finneran.
With the help of some fourth down conversions and Detroit penalties the Falcons managed to find the end zone when Warrick Dunn scored on a 2-yard touchdown run.
Detroit followed with a scouring drive of their own when Lions’ quarterback Joey Harrington completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim.
Vick completed a 49-yard pass to wide receiver Peerless Price, but 4 plays later the Falcons turned the ball over after an unsuccessful fourth down conversion.
On the next drive San Diego quarterback Drew Brees completed 2 passes to wide receiver Eric Parker for 15 and 14 yards.
Parker's receptions helped move the Chargers to the 1-yard line where running back LaDainian Tomlinson scored, on a 1-yard touchdown rush, to tie the game at 7 points.
When the Chiefs got the ball back, after the interception, Holmes quickly got his team into the red zone when he took a pass from quarterback Trent Green 33 yards to the Atlanta 7-yard line.
4 plays after Vick's long completion, Jay Feely hit a 33-yard field goal to give Atlanta an early 3-point lead.
Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese hit wide receiver Michael Clayton for a 25yard touchdown pass, and made the score 17 to 3.
Price's reception moved the ball to the Saint's 1-yard line and set up Vick's 1-yard touchdown pass to fullback Stanley Pritchett on the next play.
On their first drive the Saints offense moved the ball to the Atlanta 19-yard line but their field goal attempt was blocked by Falcons defensive tackle Ed Jasper.
Early in the second quarter, Michael Vick threw an interception to Tampa Bay line backer Derrick Brooks.
Just one play after Vick's fumble, Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese connected with wide receiver Joey Galloway for a 36-yard touchdown.
Atlanta scored again in the 2nd quarter when Falcons’ defensive tackle Rod Coleman intercepted a pass from Kerry Collins and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown.
The Panthers turned Vicks second interception into points when Delhomme threw an 11-yard touchdown to tight end Kris Mangum.
2 minutes later in the 4th quarter, Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers recovered a fumble by Vick and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.
[43] The Panthers got the ball first to start sudden death overtime but on 3rd and 9 Delhomme was intercepted by Falcons’ safety Aaron Beasley.
On the first drive of the 2nd half Westbrook ran the ball 4 times for 34 yards which helped put the Eagles in field goal range.