Our Week Two Sunday of NFL action wraps up with a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game as the Green Bay Packers (1-0) travel to the dirty south to face the Atlanta Falcons (1-0) in an SNF tilt on NBC.
I’ll be live blogging this game, so check back around 8:30 p.m. EST for that.
The Game: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons (-3)
The History
The two teams played their first game on October 23, 1966 and since you probably realize what era that was in and who was coaching the Packers (hint: his name rhymes with Vince Lombardi), it won’t surprise you that Green Bay won it 56-3 and went on to win the next four games in the series.
The two teams, though they were both in the NFC, didn’t start meeting regularly until the Falcons got consistently good. Green Bay holds a 17-15 lead in the all-time series, but the Falcons got the last laugh, beating the shit out of the Packers in the NFC title game, 44-21, to secure a trip to the Super Bowl.
They’ve met in the playoffs four times and are all evened up with a 2-2 record.
Atlanta has never won more than two games in a row over the Packers, with the last two-gamer coming in 2008 and 2010.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-0)
The Pack got off to a slow start against Seattle last week and were shut out of the first half. In the second, either Mike McCarthy called actual NFL plays or Aaron Rodgers worked the magic he so deftly does to put up 17 points and get the victory.
Against the vaunted Seahawks defense, Rodgers was 28 of 41 for 311 yards, a touchdown and a pick. The Falcons will not, by a longshot, be fielding the Seattle defense. Instead, Rodgers will be facing one of the worst defenses in the league with a healthy Jordy Nelson, Devante Adams, Randall Cobb and Martellus Bennett. This is the defense that nearly gave up the game to the Chicago Bears last week. It’s going to be a fun one to watch.
Green Bay is going to have to develop a solid running game and Ty Montgomery is not the guy to do it. Jamal Williams should see a lot more action today.
Did the Packers’ defense make a major leap or was Seattle just begging to be beaten up because of their offensive line woes. This game will tell the story because the Falcons have legit NFL stars all over the place.
ATLANTA FALCONS (1-0)
If you doubted that the Falcons could be in for a Super Bowl hangover, last week’s near-loss to the Bears probably convinced you it might be a possibility. I’m squarely in the hangover camp, but I’m expected a deadly Falcon team to take the field Sunday night opening their new state of the art stadium.
Atlanta’s offense sputtered against the Bears because never got the running game going. Plenty of fantasy owners were kicking rocks after his pitiful 12 carries for 37 yards. He did score a touchdown, so they at least got that.
The legend of Austin Hooper grew after two catches for 128 yards including an 88-yard touchdown. The kid was already averaging one touchdown every seven catches coming into that game, so he lowered that stat a little. Julio Jones was held below 100 yards against the Bears. I don’t expect that to happen again.
Atlanta did record four sacks against Chicago, but Mike Glennon is a lot different than Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is the best quarterback in the league in moving around in the pocket and extending plays. Frankly, with McCarthy’s play calling he has to. There’s going to be a lot of pressure on the secondary to stay disciplined and on their men in coverage.
The Pick
I think we’re in for a shootout in prime time. Last year the Falcons were the only team that brought a six-shooter, but Rodgers has to be pacing the floor ready to face off against this Atlanta defense after surviving Seattle last week. Packers 37, Falcons 30
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 1-0
Season
Straight up: 10-6
Against the spread: 9-7
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
