Packers vs. Falcons – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 22 ATL 21

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Packers TJ Lang hustling his ass off. on interception return - Atlanta.
TJ Lang hustling his ass off.

Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons:  2013 Game 13

Unfiltered game day blog post of comments, observations and first impressions.

GAME NOTES:

Evan Dietrich Smith is playing, which means the Packers can prevent the OL shuffle, which has not worked out well at all. Even better, Marshall Newhouse reported with flu symptoms, so Derek Sherrod will be the first tackle off the bench, if needed.

Matt Flynn get the call again at QB, despite a dismal performance last week against the Lions.

Snowing in Green Bay – perfect football weather and a great welcome for the 3-9 Falcons.

 

Today’s captains for the Packers: – James Jones, Clay Matthews and Jarrett Bush

 

Inactives for today’s game:

 

Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
12 QB Aaron Rodgers
13 WR Chris Harper
22 RB Kahlil Bell
51 LB Nate Palmer
74 T Marshall Newhouse
98 DE C.J. Wilson
99 DE Jerel Worthy

10 QB Matt Flynn will start for Rodgers.

Atlanta Falcons
30 RB Josh Vaughn
36 S Kemal Ishmael
53 LB Omar Gaither
69 G Harland Gunn
74 T Terren Jones
77 T Sean Locklear
92 DT Travian Robertson

Mike McCarthy Pregame Show on 620 WTMJ:

Weather: Smells like Green Bay Packer football. Importance of the game is evident to us all.

Game plan for weather: You have to look at the whole picture. You have to look at the field – it was beat up a little after the Vikings game. the wind will be a factor.

EDS: Evan responded very well to the rehab. Everyone felt really good about his workout yesterday. he says he feels great and he’s ready to go.

Time off: Definitely helped. Our energy level is as high as it had been in quite some time. There’s a different energy about ourselves this week and it has to show up today,.

Flynn:  A liittle up and down this week in practice but I thought Friday was the best day he’s had since he’s been here.

Decline of Defense: Energy and finish is what we focused on. Schematically we’re fine. Frankly, we need to get off the damn block and tackle the football.

Atlanta: Good football team going through a lot of challenges. They’re playing some young guys. Frankly, I’m going to focus on our own football team and what we’re going through.

Gonzalez: From day one you copuld see he was a gifted young man and he had that work ethic that is really imptressive,

Ability, accountability, availability: I’ve taken a lesses ability player with a lot of availability over

Practice outside: Field was too wet on Wednesday. We got out Friday, good wind, so I felt good we were able to get out there.

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Packers vs. Falcons – First Impressions – First Half:

Packers win toss and defer.

Falcons using the short passing game effectively.

But, they do the Packers a favor and look deep on third and two. Punt team on…

Flynn getting time to throw, but having trouble finding open receivers. Doesn’t mean they’re not open, he’s just not going through his progressions and  finding them.

Love the patience Lacy has in letting the blocks develop.

Lacy with the goal line spin move for a TD. Loving it!

Quarter end with each team having only one possession. Packers went 90 yds in 9 minutes, mostly behind Eddie Lacy. Old time football here so far…

Score at end of 1st quarter:    GB 7 Atl 0

It would be great if the Packers could actually hold onto this lead for a possession or two, wouldn’t it?

Saw Mike Neal freeze and back up a bit on a tackle at the second level. Needs to attack – gave away another two or three yards.

And here is comes. We got to feel good for one drive…  Flynn fumbles. Falcons ball at the Packers’ 14.

Brad Jones heads the ball back into Snelling’s arms. Ever play soccer, Brad?

Falcons capitalize on the turnover with a TD pass to Tony Gonzalez, left alone by Morgan Burnett.

Yes, Morgan, you might want to be concerned about Tony Gonzalez at the goal line. Just a thought…

Of all people to leave uncovered on the goal line… Boggles my mind…

Quarless with some nice plays today – been waiting for this…

Boykin wide open in middle of field. Flynn holds on to ball and takes sack. Can’t win with Flynn – I’ll take my chances with Tolzein.

For those who think Rodgers holds on to the ball too long, see Exhibit A in his defense: Matt Flynn.

Wow. 72yard INT return after a deflection and bounce off a foot. This stuff could only happen to this team. smh…

Big props to TJ Lang – Only lineman that made an attempt to run after Weatherspoon.

Boos rain down on the Packers as they leave the field at halftime.

Score at end of 1st half:   Atl 21 GB 10

 

Packers vs. Falcons – First Impressions – Second Half:

Both teams go three and out – NEWS FLASH: Packers actually appear to have been covering receivers this series. I’m sure it’s just temporary, though.

Personally, I couldn’t bring myself to boo the #Packers, especially if I was lucky enough to be at Lambeau Field.

Flynn to Nelson for big yardage. Only a weak throw prevented 7 points. Packers end up with a field goal.

Defense with second straight 3 and outs. Wonder how many times that’s happened the last few games?

Best offensive adjustment I’ve seen today – giving Flynn some easy targets with the tight ends. Especially Quarless, who I had high hopes for when the Packers drafted him.

Packers seriously need more guys with Eddie Lacy’s attitude. No Retreat, No Surrender. Ever.

 

Score at end of 3rd quarter:   Atl 21 GB 16

 

Defense needs to create a turnover for the Packers  to win… Let’s go!

CALLED IT! Fumble! Packers ball!

Mike Neal causes the Matt Ryan fumble.

Flynn goes back to Quarless – TOUCHDOWN!

But, two point conversion is severely overthrown in corner of end zone. Packers by 1 point. Oh jeez…

Using the tight ends as targets for Flynn was a really smart move. I criticize MM a lot, so let me give some credit. But what took so long?

Jeremy f’ing Ross – two return TDs today? Why did you suck so much for the Packers this year Jeremy?

Falcons miss 50yd field goal, Packers go three and out. Falcons ball on their own 18, 4 minutes left

Game lies in the hand of the defense – Oh Lord…

Falcons really keeping Packers defense off balance with their run pass mix, here. Good play calling.

AJ Hawk vehemently yelling at somebody – don’t ever see that from him. I beleive someone took a late hit cheap shot at him.

Packers hold on third down. Two minute warning. Will Atlanta try another long field goal or go for the first down?

They go for it. Gonzalez bobbles and drops it with Jarret Bush all over him. Ball goes to Packers. Falcons with two timeouts left.

Packers with their typical ultra-conservative three and out with a lead series.

Masthay punts – ball dies on the two yard line.  What a punt! 44 seconds left.

Jeez – Falcons pick up 33 yds on first two plays. This is torture.

Packers get a huge break on a drop of an easy reception by Harry Douglas.  Like I said, this is torture.

Three Packers fighting for the INT and Jarret Bush comes down with it.

Jarret Bush: star of the game.

Wow

Final Score:   GB 22 Atl 21

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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

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59 thoughts on “Packers vs. Falcons – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 22 ATL 21

  1. I sill think the Pack will win this division. The Lions are their on worst enemy. They still have one or two more losses in them. The key is Rodgers getting cleared this week. Like Jtmax said, “half of the pro game is mental”. With Rodgers back, I think the mentality of this team changes and they get their confidence back. We’ve all wittnessed what can happen when a team team gets hot at the right time.

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