Falcons win rematch easily

Week 2
September 17, 2017 - 7:30 p.m. - NBC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia

Packers 23 - Falcons 34

In a rematch of last year's NFC Championship game, the Atlanta Falcons once again took it to the Packers.  With added headlines of this game being the Sunday Night contest on NBC and the first game in the Falcons new stadium, all eyes were on this football game.  Unfortunately, the Packers did not fare well, again.  In the NFCCG, the Packers trailed 24-0 at halftime.  In this contest, the Packers trailed 24-7.  Progress?  Sure.

 
The Falcons lead 31-7 early in the third quarter.  And the Falcons really turned off the gas the entire second half.  The game really wasn't as close as the final score appears.

The defense was rolled again.  The offense struggled.  Granted, it's Week 2 and the Packers are already decimated with injuries (important players).  The Packers were without "both" starting tackles on the offensive line.  Things became difficult for Aaron Rodgers as he had a tough day at the office.  During the game, Jordy Nelson, Mike Daniels, Nick Perry, and Randall Cobb were all noticeable injuries.

Of note, Aaron Rodgers' threw his 300th career touchdown pass.  It wasn't fancy, a shovel pass to Ty Montgomery for the score.  And Clay Matthews is now one sack from becoming the Packers all-time sack leader.

Packers fall short in NFCCG

NFC Championship
January 22, 2017 - 2:05 p.m. - FOX
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia

Packers 21 - Falcons 44

The Packers ran out of steam in the NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons.  With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the Packers just didn't have enough to top the red-hot Falcons.  It's possible injuries finally caught up to the team.  It's also entirely possible the team was just exhausted.  The NFC Championship game was the fifteenth consecutive week of football for the Packers, as their bye week was Week 4.  Critical mistakes were made in the first half including a missed field goal by Mason Crosby and a fumble lost near the goal line by Aaron Ripkowski.  The Packers trailed the Falcons at halftime 28-0 and the game all but over.  The defense got shredded.  And that is being kind.

It was a great run by the Packers.  From 4-6 to winning the final six games of the regular season and securing the NFC North division crown.  To beating the Giants and shocking the Cowboys in the playoffs.  The Packers won eight consecutive games to play to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.  Unfortunately, we came up short, again.  Time to reload and recover and take care of business next season.  The Super Bowl is in Minnesota.  Now wouldn't that be sweet.  Go Pack Go!

Late TD completes comeback for Falcons

Week 8
October 30, 2016 - 12 p.m. - FOX
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia

Packers 32 - Falcons 33

In a game where points were not hard to come by, the team with the ball last was bound to win.  In this case, the Atlanta Falcons.  The Falcons' Matt Ryan connected with Mohamed Sanu for the go-ahead touchdown with 31 seconds left.  And that was all she wrote.

Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns, but to some names you might not recognize.  Rodgers connected with Jordy Nelson, Geronimo Allison, Trevor Davis, and Jeff Janis for touchdowns.

The Packers drop to 4-3 on the season.

Packers rally to defeat Falcons

Week 14
December 8, 2013 - 12:00 p.m. - FOX
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 22 - Falcons 21

The Packers finally got back into the win column with a second half comeback victory over the lowly Atlanta Falcons led by Matt Flynn, Eddie Lacy, and the defense.

Photo credit: packers.com

This football game started the same way the previous four games did for the Packers; the offense was non-existent and the defense was pathetic.  The Packers, led by Matt Flynn, scored a touchdown on their first possession thanks to a drive saving defensive penalty on a unsuccessful third down play.  Eddie Lacy finished the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown at the end of the first quarter.  Lacy continues to shine despite not much offensive line blocking and average quarterback play.  From this point forward, the Falcons controlled the remainder of the first half.  Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan connected with Drew Davis and Tony Gonzalez early in the second quarter to give the Falcons the lead.  With the Packers driving for some points just before halftime and trailing 14-10, Flynn became the subject of one of the weirdest interceptions.  A short pass from Flynn to John Kuhn was deflected, kicked, and intercepted by Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and returned 71 yards for a touchdown.  The play was weird as it appeared the ball hit the ground, but replay showed otherwise.  A loud roar of boos came down on the Packers as they exited the field for halftime.

The Packers appeared to be a different team in the second half.  And it started with the defense.  The Falcons had six possessions in the second half and scored zero points (punt, punt, fumble, missed field goal, downs, interception).  The defense finally stepped up.  After a couple of Mason Crosby field goals, the Packers forced a Matt Ryan fumble deep in Falcons territory.  The Packers capitalized with a Andrew Quarless touchdown from Matt Flynn that turned out to be the decisive victorious score.  The defense shut down the Falcons on their final two drives with an opportunity to take the lead.  Jarrett Bush finished off the Falcons by intercepting Matt Ryan with seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Matt Flynn threw for 258 yards and a touchdown.  Flynn, however, also had an interception and a fumble lost.  Eddie Lacy finished the day with 65 tough rushing yards and a touchdown.  The rookie is closing in on a 1,000 yard rushing year (887 rushing yards).  Jordy Nelson had a nice day catching four balls for 85 yards.  And Andrew Quarless had a fine day with six receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Lambeau Field lived up to one of its nicknames on this Sunday afternoon as the tundra was frozen.  Game time conditions included temperatures in the teens, wind chills in the negatives, and snow showers.

With the Detroit Lions losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Packers have moved to within a half game of first place in the NFC North with three games remaining.

Photo credit: packers.com

Congratulations to Dave Robinson as he was honored at halftime for his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Robinson received his Hall of Fame ring and had his name unveiled in the bowl of Lambeau Field.

Detroit Lions  7-6
Chicago Bears  7-6
Green Bay Packers  6-6-1
Minnesota Vikings  3-9-1

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