The Atlanta Falcons’ 2009 season will always be known as the one that broke the dreaded curse.

But as we stroll down memory lane one last time on this year, Falcons fans and the blogging team remember the year for more than just the end of that 44-year stretch failing to post back-to-back winning seasons.

Before we take a look ahead to 2010, we will take one last look back on the 9-7 season that was 2009 and give out some postseason awards.

MVP: This is a tough one. There was no clear-cut winner for the Falcons this season, as the reigning MVP, Michael Turner, spent the last part of the season on the bench with a high right ankle sprain. In the absence of a clear-cut winner, I’m giving the award to the team’s most consistent player: tight end Tony Gonzalez.

The future Hall of Famer played as well as everyone expected he would when he was acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason. Gonzalez, who will enter 2010 stuck at 999 receptions, quickly became Matt Ryan’s go-to guy, hauling down 83 passes for 867 yards and six TD. Many of his catches came in crunch time for the Falcons.

Rookie of the Year: With the top of the class decimated by injuries to DT Peria Jerry and S William Moore, it took a while for a top rookie candidate to emerge. CB Chris Owens took advantage of injuries to the secondary and debuted as a starter in Week 12 against the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The San Jose State standout made the most of his opportunity, recording 26 of his 29 tackles over Atlanta’s final five games and came down with a pair of interceptions for the Dirty Birds.

Chris Owens, seen leaping in front of Terrell Owens for one of his two INTs, was Atlanta's Rookie of the Year.

Most Improved Player: This honor also goes to an Atlanta cornerback. Brent Grimes had a sensational 2009 campaign, doubling his numbers from last season. The 26-year-old recorded 62 tackles and finished tied for third in the NFL with six interceptions. More impressively, the third-year CB notched those numbers despite starting in just half of Atlanta’s 16 games.

Play of the Year: It has to be the catch that kept the curse at bay.

With the clock winding down on a cold and blustery day at Giants Stadium, Ryan and the Falcons drove the ball down to the New York Jets 6-yard line. With the season hanging in the balance on 4th-and-goal, Ryan dodged the snowballs that were raining down on him from ill-willed Jets fans before finding Gonzalez in the end zone for the go-ahead score.

Off-Field Moment of the Year: Who can forget MeAngelo Hall’s return to the Dome? The loud-mouthed former Falcon showed fans exactly why we don’t miss him here in Hotlanta, getting involved in a shoving match on the Atlanta sideline after a teammate scored a late hit on Ryan out of bounds.

Coach Mike Smith got into Hall’s face in the fracas and a true WWE moment ensued in the Washington locker room afterwards, with Hall seemingly challenging Smith to a fight.

-- PHIL FOLEY