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Packers' McCarthy on Falcons: 'We ran into a buzzsaw'

Dale Zanine / USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was effusive in his praise of the Atlanta Falcons, following a 44-21 defeat during Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

"We ran into a buzzsaw," McCarthy said via NFL.com's Marc Sessler. "Those guys performed great. We didn't have enough to keep up with them."

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was in outstanding form, going 27-of-38 for 392 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, while Julio Jones caught nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

Atlanta led 24-0 at halftime, and Jones added his second score of the game on a spectacular 73-yard catch-and-run, before Davante Adams put the Packers on the board in the third quarter.

"We didn't stop them at all, defensively ... their production (in first half) was a big key," McCarthy said.

"We needed to keep pace with those guys ... there were communication issues. There were a handful of times we couldn't get a play in, and that's a credit to the crowd."

Atlanta now faces the winner of the AFC Championship Game, while Green Bay will re-evaluate their options through the winter.

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