5 Reasons the Packers will beat the Falcons (and 1 reason they might not)

Only teams like last season’s Green Bay Packers should be allowed to win a terrible division with a mediocre or bad record and qualify for the playoffs.

The Packers had to deal with their best player, Aaron Rodgers, missing half the season with a broken collar bone. Once Rodgers returned, the Packers were a legitimate team, deserving of a playoff berth, as demonstrated by their road win over Chicago and last-minute loss in the wild-card round.

This year’s Falcons? Pfffffft. They’re worthless and don’t deserve the opportunity to stumble into the playoffs at 6-10 and possibly pull a wild-card win out of their you-know-where.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to step in and do something to stop the NFC South winner from making the playoffs. Goodell has no problem just making up rules whenever he feels like it, so why not?

Instead of letting the crappy Falcons into the playoffs (or whatever bumbling team wins the NFC South), Goodell should award an NFL playoff berth to TCU, the college football team who was jobbed out of a spot in the new four-team college football playoff.

It’s only fair. The Falcons don’t deserve to play in the postseason. TCU does. Make it right, Roger. You have the power.

Meantime, here are five reasons why the Falcons will get run out of Lambeau tonight:

Have a picnic
The Falcons’ pass rush is so poor and the Packers’ pass protection so good that Aaron Rodgers should be able to have a picnic in the pocket before throwing the ball. The Falcons are 31st in the NFL with only 14 sacks. That’s led to the Falcons having the worst pass defense in the entire NFL.

No picks
If the Falcons are going to pull the upset, they’ll have to force a couple of turnovers. Is that really going to happen against Rodgers, a quarterback who hasn’t thrown a pick at home in over two years? Doubtful.

William Moore
Atlanta’s strong safety is a play-action, rollout, throw-it-deep-for-a-Jordy Nelson-touchdown waiting to happen. Moore is tough as nails and tackles well, but he has no chance in coverage against Nelson, Cobb, or anyone for that matter. If Mike McCarthy can scheme a few plays to match up a Packers receiver against Moore, buckle up.

We’ll win next week
After the Saints got throttled at home on Sunday, the Falcons will still hold down first place in the awful NFC South regardless of what happens on Monday night. Perhaps the Falcons will be like, “Meh. We’re in Wisconsin. It’s cold. The Packers are good. I smell bratwurst. Let’s just throw in the towel tonight and try to win next week against some team that isn’t as good as the Packers.” Unfortunately, this probably won’t happen. Mainly because if it does, Falcons coach Mike Smith could get canned.

(Lack of) power runng
The once-great Steven Jackson rumbled for 101 yards last week against the Cardinals. Uh-oh. The Packers usually get run over by power runners. We should be worried, right? Nah. Jackson’s outburst last week was the first time an Atlanta running back topped 100 yards in 36 games. I don’t see it happening two weeks in a row.

While Packers fans are talking about earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and MVP discussion has focused almost exclusively on Aaron Rodgers, the Falcons are fighting for a fluke division title and have a few weapons in Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. If the Falcons humble the Packers tonight, here’s how it might happen:

Ryan to Jones
It’s been a while since a wide receiver went completely crazy on the Packers in a Michael Crabtree or Reggie Wayne kind of way. Julio Jones is totally capable of torching the Packers by himself, and Matt Ryan is a quarterback capable of helping him do it. Last week, Ryan was a perfect 3-for-3 on passes thrown 20 or more yards downfield. Sam Shields might be out, Tramon Williams has looked a bit shaky in coverage lately and Davon House has been up and down. If you’re in your fantasy football league’s playoffs, make sure you don’t accidentally leave Jones on your bench this week.

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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .

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10 thoughts on “5 Reasons the Packers will beat the Falcons (and 1 reason they might not)

  1. 1 reason the Packers may lose is YOUR arrogance that the Falcons are down right horrible! JINX. I sure hope not! Go Pack!

  2. First, I’m not sure are you serious or ironical when you call for change in who will earn playoff spot. Let say that Saints ruined Packers, the same Saints who are playing in that “terrible division”. Does that means that you are, actually asking from Roger Goodell to exclude Packers from play off this season as they were beaten heavily from team which is not even 1st in that terrible division? Do you really asking NFL to limit number of the games to divisional opponents (in divisional games Falcons are 4-0 – they have better record than Packers at the moment!), or to just wipe out divisions and to play the best records team in conference? You want to wipe out Packers SB win with that? I do not know. If they are so terrible, why we even talk about possibility of upset? And, by the way, did you look at their injury list this season. Not much shorter than last years Packers list… I really disagree with people who wants to change format of the competition, because if we wipe off divisions, why to play post season. Play just SB, because the team with best record will be NFC/AFC champion. Play off is unnecessary extension…
    And, last remark from my side is who will be the one who will judge which team should be allowed to be in play off and which team should not. Packers fans? You, Adam? Roder Goodell? What will be criteria?
    Please do not try to fix something which is not broken…

    1. I will address all of your questions, croatpackfan:

      Q: Does that means that you are, actually asking from Roger Goodell to exclude Packers from play off this season as they were beaten heavily from team which is not even 1st in that terrible division?

      A: No. The Packers should never be excluded from the playoffs. Actually, they should create a special playoff slot, just for the Packers, because they’re that awesome.

      Q: Do you really asking NFL to limit number of the games to divisional opponents (in divisional games Falcons are 4-0 – they have better record than Packers at the moment!), or to just wipe out divisions and to play the best records team in conference?

      A: Not really sure what you’re asking. But the Packers are above the divisional or any type of system. They’re in a league of their own.

      Q: You want to wipe out Packers SB win with that?

      A: The only wiping needed is a cloth to wipe the fingerprints off the Lombardi Trophy since the Packers are always hoisting it.

      Q: If they (Falcons) are so terrible, why we even talk about possibility of upset?

      A: Because, like a cat playing with a wounded mouse, sometimes the Packers get bored and the mouse gets away. And sometimes the other team cheats and beats the Packers.

      Q: And, last remark from my side is who will be the one who will judge which team should be allowed to be in play off and which team should not?

      A: Me. But I’ll consult heavily with Jersey Al.

      Q: What will be criteria?

      A: Five things: 1) You have to be the Packers. 2) You have to have fans that wear cheese on their heads. 3) You have to play in a stadium called Lambeau Field. 4) Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers all need to have played quarterback for your franchise at one time or another. 5) You have to play AJ Hawk at middle linebacker just to give other teams a chance at keeping the games competitive.

  3. My biggest concern for the Packers is they start to look ahead. That was relieved a bit this morning when I read the Packers and more specific Rodgers are focused just on the Atlanta Falcons. Obviously that’s what you expect to hear, but the Packers play up to this point suggest the same thing. The Packers are a very focused team right now. BTW, I did leave Julio off my Fantasy lineup this week… To play Cobb and Green. GO PACK GO

  4. I concur with your well written piece Mr Czech! Rodger Goodell has a habit of making up new rules and regulations during the course of a season and here’s his chance to make his mark or signature achievement on NFL Playoff Policy. If a Divisional First Place Team is unable to have at the very least a .500 Win /Loss Percentage then they will be unable to qualify for the playoffs. The 7TH Seed (Only if they have a minimum .500 winning %) will take their place. We already have the “Tuck Rule” this could be called the “Suck Rule”

    1. The Suck Rule. I like it. But I still believe the sucky playoff team should be replaced by a college team that got hosed…..unless the The Suck Rule would enable the Packers to get into the playoffs, of course.

  5. When Rodgers said ‘RELAX’ to the Packer fan nation,some including me were a little upset with such complacency and was a tad hard to swallow at that moment.

    Though Rodgers has proved he was anything but complacent with what has transpired since,this is the time of year that any level of ‘complacency’ cannot rear its ugly head.

    The Falcons won’t be taking this game lightly and as pathetic as it is,,,they are Division leaders and would love to increase its hold on such a calamity that is the NFCS.

    As Dalton(Patrick Swayze) said in that blockbuster movie…Roadhouse….”Expect the unexpected…. take out the trash”….

    1. Taryn – If Carolina can trash Saints in N.O. and the Raiders can beat the 49ers after losing 52-0 the previous week, anything is possible. As you said, there is no room for complacency especially against an NFC opponent. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since ’61

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