Matt Ryan's record against every NFL team

*This article has been updated to reflect Matt Ryan's record against every NFL team as of Jan. 9 2022.

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The great debate surrounding Matt Ryan is whether the longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback is a deserving Hall of Fame candidate.

Although he holds a number of NFL and franchise records, the one major knock on Ryan is his lack of a Super Bowl title and the implosion his Falcons suffered in Super Bowl LI.

Nonetheless, the 36-year-old has enjoyed an accomplished 14-year career in Atlanta. The four-time Pro Bowler and 2016 NFL MVP owns the record for most passing yards (51,186) by a quarterback through 12 seasons. He also ranks in the top 10 in career passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdown passes.

The former first-round pick out of Boston College has taken his team to the postseason six times and will attempt to right the ship in Atlanta, after a recent period of decline, with new head coach Arthur Smith.

Let's explore the quarterback's past success and break down his regular-season and postseason records against every NFL team.

Ryan vs. the Carolina Panthers

Ryan's best record against an NFC South opponent is his 18-10 mark against Carolina.

One noteworthy performance against the Panthers occurred in Week 4 of Ryan's 2016 MVP season, when he threw for a team-record 503 yards, including 300 to receiver Julio Jones. It was the first time a quarterback-receiver duo combined for at least 500 passing yards and 300 receiving yards in one game.

In 2019, Ryan threw a career-long, 93-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus during a 40–20 win over Carolina and became the 10th quarterback in NFL history to reach 50,000 passing yards.

Ryan vs. the Detroit Lions

On Sept. 7, 2008, Ryan got his first start in the regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions. On his first pass attempt, he hit Michael Jenkins for a 62-yard touchdown.

Ryan vs. the Minnesota Vikings

In a Week 16 game against Minnesota in 2008, Ryan ended a streak of nine straight games with at least 200 passing yards, as he threw for a season-low 134 yards.

But the Falcons won the game and earned their first playoff berth since 2004. Ryan and Joe Flacco became the first rookie quarterbacks to lead their teams to the playoffs after they started all 16 games of the regular season.

Ryan was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. He was only the second rookie, after Peyton Manning, to rack up more than 3,000 passing yards.

Ryan vs. the New Orleans Saints

Ryan's only losing record against an NFC South rival is versus New Orleans (10-17).

One of his most crushing losses happened in a Week 10 meeting during the 2012 season, in which the Saints snapped the Falcons' franchise-best 8-0 start to the season. 

Ryan vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ryan is 16-12 against NFC South foe Tampa Bay, and has recorded single-game career highs in completion percentage (87.5%) and passer rating (155.9) against the Buccaneers.

He grabbed his first reception, on a five-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, in a Week 17 win against Tampa Bay in 2018. That catch gave Ryan the NFL record for most passing yards in a game while recording a receiving touchdown.

Ryan vs. the Arizona Cardinals

At the end of the 2008-2009 season, Ryan made his first playoff start, at age 23, in the Wild Card Round against Arizona and 37-year-old quarterback Kurt Warner. 

Ryan's first playoff pass resulted in an interception, and Atlanta lost, 30–24.

Ryan also set an NFL playoff rookie record with 26 completions in a single game.

Ryan vs. the Green Bay Packers

After they achieved an NFC-best 13-3 record during the 2010 regular season, Ryan and the Falcons met Green Bay in the Divisional Round.

In a 48-21 loss, Ryan threw for 186 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Packers eventually won Super Bowl XLV.

In 2016, the Falcons got their revenge against Green Bay, in the NFC Championship Game, when they handed the Packers a 44-21 loss. Ryan tallied 392 yards, four touchdown passes, and ran for a score. Only three other quarterbacks have recorded four touchdown passes and a rushing score in a postseason game. 

In the 2018 regular season, Ryan also hit a significant milestone against Green Bay, as he became the third quarterback in NFL history to reach 4,000 passing yards in at least eight consecutive seasons, joining Drew Brees (2006–2017) and Peyton Manning (2006–2014).

Ryan vs. the New England Patriots

Arguably Ryan's greatest blemish on his NFL résumé is his Super Bowl meltdown against the New England Patriots at the end of the 2016-2017 season.

After a career year, in which Ryan won the MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, the Falcons were just 30 minutes away from a Super Bowl trophy. 

Up 28-3 midway through the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, the Falcons looked destined for a win. However, Tom Brady and company rallied back for the most shocking comeback in Super Bowl history and won, 34-28, in overtime.

Ryan vs. the Seattle Seahawks

In the 2012-2013 season, Ryan earned his first postseason win — after a string of three playoff losses — against Seattle in the Divisional Round.

Against the Seahawks in 2019, Ryan also saw a streak of 154 consecutive regular-season starts come to an end, when he was ruled out with an ankle injury for a Week 8 matchup. Ryan's streak ranked fifth all-time for quarterbacks.

Last season, in a Week 1 contest with Seattle, Ryan surpassed John Elway to land ninth on the all-time list for passing yards. He has totaled 55,767 passing yards to date.