There's a notion that "clutch" isn't a skill, because luck in close games evens out over a long period of time. And there's something to that.

But there has to be some explanation for Atlanta's Matt Ryan and the Falcons being able to pull these types of games out of their hats time and time again.

The Falcons were called overrated because they were on the right end of so many close games this season. There was crazy Hail Mary from Ryan's own end zone to set up a game-winning field goal to beat the Panthers. They pulled out the Raiders game on a late drive and last-second field goal. There were other close, late wins against Washington, Arizona and Tampa Bay. They lived on the edge all year.

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So, at least, when Seattle took a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds left, this wasn't a new situation for the Falcons. You could argue they prepared all year for this moment.

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In Madden video games, you have the ability to just run around on the other side of the field and take a ridiculous offsides penalty, something you never see in an actual NFL games.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman decided to try it out in real life.

It seems like the Atlanta Falcons weren't too pleased with the constant chatter about their recent playoff failures.

Atlanta got off to a great start in the first quarter, highlighted with back-to-back catches by one future Hall of Fame tight end and one who ... well, won't be in the Hall of Fame.

The Falcons led 3-0 late in the first quarter when Matt Ryan threw down the sideline to Chase Coffman. Coffman had one catch for 11 yards all season and four catches for his career. And Coffman made a jaw-dropping grab on the sideline, catching it high over the linebacker in coverage while turning his body and managed to get both feet in bounds to set the Falcons up inside the 5.

On the next play, the great Tony Gonzalez recaptured the tight end spotlight.

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Ryan threw to the back of the end zone and Gonzalez went high to get the pass. He barely got his feet in bounds for the touchdown. It was a great play, but nothing unusual for Gonzalez.

Atlanta led 10-0 after one quarter and looked a lot sharper than it had in any other playoff game under coach Mike Smith.

DENVER – The best thing that can be said about the officiating crew for Broncos-Ravens, headed by referee Bill Vinovich, was that it didn't seem to play favorites. There were really baffling calls against both sides.

But the final pair of questionable and critical calls both went against the Broncos in overtime.

DENVER – It must have been a sick, sick feeling for Rahim Moore, drifting back further and further, realizing that somehow Joe Flacco had thrown a pass far enough to get over his head.

Moore was in deep zone coverage, and the worst thing the Broncos safety could do was let anyone behind him. Denver led 35-28 in the final minute of regulation. The Ravens started the play at their own 30. A field goal wouldn't beat Denver. Just a long-shot touchdown that came through when Jacoby Jones got behind Moore.

Flacco's great pass got over Moore's head as he fruitlessly backpedaled and tried swatting the ball out of the air.

In Denver, the name Michael Dean Perry still brings angst. In an AFC divisional playoff loss to Jacksonville at the end of the 1996 season, Perry didn't get off the field in time for a Jaguars punt, and the penalty for 12 men on the field was a critical mistake in a heartbreaking upset. People in Denver still remember that, and they'll remember Moore for a long time too.

"It was my fault," Moore said. "If they wouldn't have scored on us on the last play, we'd be in here rejoicing so if people don't like me after that, I'm sorry. That is my fault and I am going to take full responsibility for it."

DENVER – This wasn't Peyton Manning's fault.

John Fox got a little conservative. Safety Rahim Moore somehow let Jacoby Jones behind him for a miraculous touchdown with less than a minute left. The Ravens put up 479 yards. When a 10-point underdog pulls off an upset like this, blame goes to everyone on the losing side.

But Manning is the quarterback, the one in the Broncos' locker room whose legacy will debated long after he retires. When the story of Ravens 38, Broncos 35 is told, part of it will be that it was just another failure for Manning in a big game.

And there was that interception.

[Related slideshow: Pics from the Ravens' 2OT thriller over Denver]

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Brian Kelly is staying at Notre Dame. And that's great news for the Irish in the short term. Notre Dame is coming off a 12-0 regular season, a berth in the BCS Championship Game, has a lot of talented players coming back and what is currently the top-ranked recruiting class in the country coming in.

Over the long term, it will be interesting to see how Kelly's interest in the Philadelphia Eagles sits with Irish fans.

Coaches don't leave Notre Dame for other jobs. Notre Dame is a destination job. Or at very least, that's the way its fans will always think of it. You leave by retiring or firing. Not for the Philadelphia Eagles.

(USA Today Sports Images)It would be a stretch to blame Peyton Manning for his first interception against the Ravens. But the Broncos sure might have a case to blame the officials.

On a short pass to Eric Decker, Ravens cornerback Chykie Brown tipped the ball in the air. The replays seemed to show Brown got there early and hit Decker before the ball got there. There was no flag on the ground as Baltimore's Corey Graham took the ball out of the air and returned it for a touchdown.

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The Ravens led 14-7 and in 5:11 of game action there was a punt return touchdown by Denver, a long touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith to tie the game, then a pick six.