Shawn: The Green Bay Packers couldn’t have asked for anything better than a second shot at the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. It’s been around 15 degrees in Green Bay, so I’d be pumped about getting out of here and playing in a dome if I were a member of the Packers.
This year’s Falcons remind me of the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They shorten the game and limit possessions with a ball-control offense predicated on the run and short passes. Meanwhile, their defense plays a bend-but-don’t-break game meant to take away the big play. They’re rarely penalized and force their opponents into errors, while making few themselves.
The difference between these Falcons and those Buccaneers is these Falcons don’t have the defense that those Bucs did.
The question is, how aggressive will Mike McCarthy and the Packers offense be, considering how well the defense has been playing? I guess we’ll find out.
The Packers may very well attempt to beat the Falcons at their own game by running the football and playing a ball-possession type of game. This Packers offense should be better than it was during the teams’ last meeting, but in that game, Aaron Rodgers was at the top of his game; he has not played nearly that well the last two weeks, dialing it down as the defense took over.
The Packers need to tackle better than last time, they need to catch the football, and they need to play well enough on special teams so that unit isn’t the difference maker in the game.
The Falcons’ best weapon against the Packers will be the run at the edge. They were dominant there last time around. Eric Walden and company will have their hands full.
The Falcons are coming off a bye week, well-coached, and well aware of the rare opportunity a No. 1 seed gives them.
However, the Packers have the more explosive offense and the better defense. The Packers should win this game if they can limit mistakes and play at least reasonably well on special teams. I could even see a blowout if the Packers’ offense plays better than it has the last two weeks; the defense is simply playing that well.
Matt Ryan and company also have their hands full.
Knowing McCarthy’s propensity to play it safe when the defense is playing well…
Packers 20, Falcons 13
Sarah: The key to beating the Atlanta Falcons on the road is stopping running back Michael Turner.
When the Saints rallied for a rare 17-14 win against the Falcons at the Georgia Dome in week 16, they held Turner to 48 yards, forced a goal-line fumble and dialed up blitz pressure against quarterback Matt Ryan.
Expect Dom Capers to map a similar plan and bring more pressure than he did in the teams’ first meeting with his zone-blitz packages. Turner had 110 rushing yards when Atlanta defeated Green Bay 20-17 in week 12, but the Packers defense had their worst tackling game of the season. Forcing turnovers and making third-down stops will be paramount against a balanced Atlanta offense that has just one of two offensive lines to stay healthy all season.
The Falcons don’t make many mistakes, especially at home, so when and if they do, Aaron Rodgers and the offense needs to be ready to capitalize. Rodgers threw for 344 yards and one touchdown in the teams’ first meeting. Great numbers for any quarterback, and Rodgers needs to put them up again (maybe with a few more touchdowns) and throw another pick-free game to keep Green Bay in it this time around.
It won’t hurt if James Starks proves he’s not a one-game wonder.
Packers 20, Falcons 14
Monty: All these assholes talking about a Packers Super Bowl hurts my taint.
You know what happens when all the “experts” start marking your team down for the Super Bowl? Your team loses in the divisional round.
That being said, Matty Personality Void and the Atlanta Falcons are a bunch of cunts who don’t belong on the same field as the Green Bay Packers. Short of Roddy White and Eric Weems, I wouldn’t let any of these motherfuckers carry my bags at a hotel.
Unfortunately, the Falcons are also a bunch of cunts who don’t lose at home and the aforementioned asshats have jinxed the Packers.
Fuck me. The season’s over.
Falcons 21, Packers 17
Oh Monty, you break my heart but I feel you. You have the balls to say it outloud. I don’t have any balls. CURSE BEING A CHICK!!
love you monty but hope your wrong. We’ve hung tough on a few games this year when we just barely lost….we could do this…
I have hope. I gotta believe.
GO PACK GO!!!
Oh–Shawn & Sarah can’t forget you. LOVE YOUR PICKS!!!
GO PACK GO!!
I’m not too enthused about the “experts” liking the Packers as well, especially Skip Bayless. I was actually thrilled to see he wasn’t very optimistic of Green Bay’s chances in weeks leading up to the playoffs since he is so often inaccurate. So I was a little disappointed to see him jump on the bandwagon after doubting them.
Shut your trap Monty. The Falcons are bland and have no idea how to handle deviations from the norm. If we can single cover white, contain Turner and blitz the shit out of them while Rodgers and Starks have a good day, Packers 28 Falcons 17.
The point ia packers gotta play very well and not make many mistakes. We win packers 17 falcons 14
Packers 3 Falcons 0
Don’t write off B-Jax. A little something to spell all of the Starks hype from last week may be just what the Dr ordered. As we’ve been saying all season, we need to commit to the run to open up some play action and deep pass action (to anyone but Jones…or maybe lots to Jones?!?!) Don’t give up on it if at first you don’t succeed, MM.
I have felt better about these match-ups all week than i did vs. Philadelphia…i think we get a lead and kick their ass…pay-back time bitches
Well somewhere on some Packers site last week I asked that Starks get 20 carries, so this week I’ll try it again.
Coach…be aggressive this week. Don’t start locking it down because your D is playing well and you’re up 10 points, rather let it fucking sling because your D is playing so well.
Our team has the ability to blow the Falcons out. I firmly believe that. But…and it’s a big one…our coach has to give our team the chance to do that. If we’re up by 2 scores…stay aggressive! You get up by 17…stay aggressive!
Obviously there are spots to be conservative, like in Philly, in the wind…and up 2 scores. Not this time though! This time we need to be relentless in our pursuit of points and take this team out of the game, and keep them out of the game. Mentally, physically, on the scoreboard, and everywhere else.
We are capable of steam-rolling this team if we go out and get it.
Starks busts a long one off, Rodgers throws 45 times, and we light their asses up.
Pack 38 Atl 17
GB- 31 ATL- 24. Based on if Green Bay plays mistake free and if Atlanta puts one on the ground or throws a pick.
Greetings from the south, as a Falcon fan i get pleasure from reading this dribble. The facts are the Dirty Birds are 20-2 at home number one seeds are 18-2 in divisional playoffs and after saturday the packers will be spending quality time with their families. Finally, in his third year Ryan commanded his team to the number one seed when Rodgers in his third year was bringing hot cocoa to former Falcon and now washed up vicodin junkie Favre.
We can tell you’re from the south. If you had any sort of education, you’d know the word is “drivel” and not “dribble.” Way to represent the Dirty!
heh. heh heh. HA HA HA HA. BHAW HAW HAW HAW HAW…………. Peace out, Russ.
Did you happen to see that Grady Jackson, an Atlanta native, that played for the Falcons after the Packers showed up for Packers fan events before the game. He obviously knows what set to claim.
he heh heheh ehehheheheh e
Well we know that Green Bay is the better team from their game earlier this year, but we also know that Atlanta plays just about mistake-free football, which is the only way they can compete against teams like the Packers. For Atlanta to win, Green Bay will have to choke the same way they did in week 12 (and last week, though they still managed to win that one). If the Packers play their best game they win easy.
Falcon fan, your victories from seasons past won’t help you. In your last two home games you are 1-1. That is not too frightening. You will find that the Panthers and the Packers are two entirely different animals.
MONTY, ARE YOU EVEN A FAN ANYMORE? THIS BLOG MAY HAVE RUINED YOUR FANSHIP. YOU HATE ON TT, HATE ON MM, AND NOW YOU’VE LOST FAITH?? Either that, or you’re just covering all of your bases because this way even if we lose, at least your prediction was right. I don’t respect that. COME ON MAN!! GO PACK!!!
Shhhh…Monty is playing the Steffen role. A Monty pick against the Pack is a Packer win.
That would make me want to watch the game on some crappy old tv so I could break it.
Stop Turner, and don’t let up on offense with the lead. Pretty simple.
Packers 34 Birds 21
Birds 27- Pack 17
I wish the Pack would win today (they have more playmakers on both sides of the ball) but the team that’s had to listen to everyone say ‘the Pack will win the next two and head to the SB’ are highly motivated to show why they are the number #1 seed.
The Pack could win IF they win the turnover battle and IF they catch a break or two in the game via calls, challenges, etc. We’ll have to see how the gods let this one play out…
Oh yeah, I hope that I’m wrong…prove me wrong Pack!!
iltarion, wow really 1-1 on last two games how bout we just count the last game and say we’re undefeated at home… and Sheegan you dumbass if any team plays their best game their likely to win.
“they are” or “they’re”. Go shovel your driveway.
oh, wait. stop. Hammer time.
THE CHEESE ON YOUR HEADS COMES FROM UNDER OUR NUTS!!!
BOOM!
Russ
1 day, 6 hrs ago
Greetings from the south, as a Falcon fan i get pleasure from reading this dribble. The facts are the Dirty Birds are 20-2 at home number one seeds are 18-2 in divisional playoffs and after saturday the packers will be spending quality time with their families. Finally, in his third year Ryan commanded his team to the number one seed when Rodgers in his third year was bringing hot cocoa to former Falcon and now washed up vicodin junkie Favre.
Aaron Ice delivered everything except the cocoa out their yesterday. Abraham tried to wear Rodgers belt but he ended up holding his jock. 1 and done bitches.
Hey, (I bend over a table), this is Russ right now.