NFL: Atlanta Falcons thrash New York Giants

Matt Ryan: Three touchdown passes for Atlanta Falcons

The New York Giants failed to score in a regular season game for the first time since 1996 as they were thrashed 34-0 by the Atlanta Falcons.

Matt Ryan played a starring role for the Falcons with three touchdown passes against the defending Super Bowl champions.

Michael Turner opened the scoring with a one-yard run in the first quarter and Ryan then found Tony Gonzalez with a 12-yard pass to make it 14-0.

A field goal by Matt Bryant provided the only score of the second quarter and he added a second field goal in the third quarter to make it 27-0 after Ryan had found Julio Jones with a 40-yard pass.

Jones completed the rout in the final quarter from a three-yard pass by Ryan who broke his own franchise record for completions and passing yards in a season as he finished 23 of 28 for 270 yards.

The Falcons (12-2) have already clinched the NFC South and should secure home-field advantage throughout the conference play-offs with one more win.

Eli Manning threw two interceptions for the Giants (8-6) who came into the match with a one-game lead over Washington and Dallas in the NFC East.