Matt Ryan has said that previous defeats in the NFL playoffs made the Atlanta Falcons tougher in their last-minute win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFC South champions fell behind in the final minute of the game, having thrown away a 20-point lead, before kicker Matt Bryant put the Falcons back in front in the final seconds.

The quarterback told reporters: "I think your past experiences kind of harden you. I think they make you a little tougher in those types of situations.

"It's difficult to win in the NFL this time of year because you're playing against the best teams in the league. With that in mind, if you have an opportunity with time still on the clock then you feel like you can get it done.

"I think that's kind of the way that everybody felt going on to that field, just that as long as we can get that first play then we have two timeouts to move the ball down the field and we have a great kicker that everybody trusts. We just felt confident."

The game was Ryan's fourth post-season fixture since being drafted in 2008, but his first victory.

The Falcons will host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game at the weekend.