A lot has changed since previous Atlanta-Seattle matchup

[...] again, so much will be different when the Atlanta Falcons host Seattle in an NFC divisional playoff game Saturday.

The young defense, with as many as four rookie starters, has grown up considerably over the latter part of the season, even after a season-ending injury to its best cornerback, Desmond Trufant.

"Both teams now are a better version of themselves than when we played back then," said Falcons coach Dan Quinn, a former defensive coordinator in Seattle.

Led by quarterback Matt Ryan, one of the leading contenders for MVP, the Falcons (11-5) romped to the NFC South title and a first-round bye behind the league's highest-scoring offense, averaging nearly 34 points a game.

Rawls rushed for 161 yards, a franchise playoff record that caught everyone off guard after the running backs produced just two 100-yard games during the entire regular season and the Seahawks didn't even rush for 100 yards as a team in the final three games.

Julio Jones had seven catches for 139 yards against Seattle during the regular season, and Atlanta fans are still seething about an apparent pass interference penalty on Richard Sherman that wasn't called late in the game.

Ryan has thrown TDs to an NFL-record 13 players, and the passing game is at full strength with the return of speedy receiver Taylor Gabriel and tight end Austin Hooper from injuries that kept them out late in the season.

Signed before the playoffs to jumpstart Seattle's return game, he had the last of his NFL-record 20 touchdown returns during a Pro Bowl season with the Falcons in 2014.