Insider: Big picture, thumbs up, thumbs down and more.
THE BIG PICTURE
Packers coach Mike
McCarthy was emphatic last week that he saw no connection between Green Bay’s Week 2 assignment helping Atlanta open its new stadium and last season’s Week 2 appearance in the debut of the Vikings’ new building. But the outcome was no different: a 34-23 loss that evened the Packers’ record at 1-1. It could be a significant setback in the Packers’ bid to secure home-field advantage in the postseason. It seems essential that, after three road losses to the Falcons over the past two seasons, the next potential matchup between these teams in January takes place outdoors at Lambeau Field rather than in the Falcons’ domed palace.
TURNING POINT
The Packers still were in the game late in the first half, trailing only 17-7 despite being thoroughly outplayed. Green Bay’s defense forced a three-and-out, giving the ball back to the Packers’ offense on their own 5-yard line with 1:05 remaining before intermission. Rather than play it safe, quarterback Aaron
Rodgers went to work in the 2-minute offense. But after two penalties, Rodgers was intercepted by Falcons cornerback
Desmond Trufant at the Green Bay 33. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan hit receiver Mohamed Sanu for 28 yards and then connected with running back
Tevin Coleman on a 4-yard TD toss to extend Atlanta’s lead to 24-7 at the break.
THUMBS UP
Randall Cobb reasserted his role in the Packers’ passing game against Seattle with team highs in targets (13), catches (nine) and receiving yards (85). Against Atlanta, Cobb was busy again (six catches for 60 yards), particularly after Jordy
Nelson was sidelined by a first-quarter quad injury. But Davante
Adams stood out the most, catching eight passes for 99 yards and a TD. Geronimo Allison also returned from a one-game suspension just in time to play in the city where he scored his first NFL touchdown last season. He had three receptions for 24 yards.
THUMBS DOWN
The Packers’ pass defense was shredded in last season’s NFC title game, with Ryan constantly finding wideopen receivers for a whopping 392 yards and four touchdowns. The Falcons’ aerial attack picked up right where it left off Sunday night on the game-opening TD drive, with Julio Jones picking on cornerback
Damarious Randall for two big catches totaling 53 yards. Poor tackling in the secondary remained a problem as Falcons receivers frequently broke free for additional yardage: Ryan was 13-for-20 for 201 yards in the first half. He finished an efficient 19-for-28 for 252 yards and a TD, while Jones had five catches for 108 yards.
BITS AND PIECES
» McCarthy was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct call after arguing with officials following the Falcons' final TD of the first half.
» The inactives for the Packers were Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Spriggs, outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks, running back Devante Mays, cornerback Lenzy Pipkins and defensive lineman Montravius Adams. » For the second week in a row, Bennett raised his right fist as a gesture of protest during the national anthem. » Attendance for the Falcons’ opening night was listed as 70,826 tickets distributed.