HIGH POINTS
Expect shootout between pair of gunslinging quarterbacks
There was the Gunfight at the OK Corral between the Earp brothers and the outlaw Cowboys led by the Clanton gang in Tombstone, Ariz.
And now, 136 years later, there is this:
Aaron Rodgers versus Matt Ryan inside the Georgia Dome with a berth in Super Bowl LI on the line.
The famous Wild West shootout lasted just 30 seconds. Sunday’s shootout will go 60 minutes ... or beyond.
One proud gunslinger — Rodgers — taking aim at his second Super Bowl championship.
Another proud gunslinger — the hombre known as Matty Ice — hellbent on shooting down a reputation as a man who shoots blanks in the playoffs. Hide the women and children. Go get the beer out of the refrigerator only during commercials.
Rodgers: 24 touchdowns, one interception in his past nine games.
Ryan: 14 TDs, zero INTs in his past five games.
Rodgers (24-for-36, 327 yards, three TDs) outdueled Ryan (24-for-39, 375 yards, four TDs, one INT) 43-37 at Lambeau Field on Dec. 8, 2014. The last time they met, in Week 8 this season, it was Falcons 33, Packers 32.
Rodgers was 28-for-38 for 246 yards and four TDs and had six rushes for 60 yards. Ryan was 28-for-35 for 288 yards and three TDs, the third an 11- yarder to Mohamed Sanu with 31 seconds left. Rodgers didn’t have Randall Cobb or Jared Cook. This time, he likely won’t have Jordy Nelson, and Davante Adams’ ankle makes him iffy. It won’t deter Rodgers. Whoever came up with “defense wins championships” never had this NFC Championship game in mind.
Because given the brilliance of Rodgers and Ryan, last one with the ball probably wins. The young Falcons defense won’t want it to be Rodgers any more than the Cowboys did, and the Packers, wounded in the secondary, shouldn’t want it to be Ryan.
And there will be no elements to weather for either assassin.
Not much sleep this week for Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers or Falcons counterpart Richard Smith.
Falcons rising star and NFL sack leader Vic Beasley was able to sack Rodgers while being employed as a spy in the first game.
“It was cool,” Beasley told The Post by phone. “I feel like there could have been more. It was just like a coverage sack I feel like.”
Rodgers didn’t seem too thrilled about the sack and may or may not have tried to elbow Beasley in the groin immediately afterward.
“Did he?” Beasley said. “Maybe he did, I’m not sure.”
Rodgers is no stranger to postseason shootouts. In fact, his 2009 playoff debut was a 51-45 wild-card overtime loss in Arizona to Kurt Warner. Rodgers was 28-for-42 for 422 yards and four TDs, one INT and one OT fumble returned 17 yards for a touchdown by Karlos Dansby. Warner was 29-for-33 for 379 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.
“It’s tough,” Rodgers said afterward. “That’s a good group of guys in that locker room and we fought hard today. We started very slowly, turned the ball over uncharacteristically, and we were able to come back and really get on a roll in the second half, and unfortunately we did not make enough plays to win.”
Rodgers is 9-6 in the playoffs as a starter and seven times has put up more than 30 points, twice in this postseason. Ryan is 2-4, and twice has reached 30 points or more.
Rodgers humbled Ryan and the Falcons 48-22 in Atlanta during his march to Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers was 31-for-36 for 366 yards and three TDs. Ryan was 20-for-29 for 186 yards, one TD and two INTs.
But this is a different Ryan, an MVP Ryan, and this time he will be bringing Julio Jones and a pair of dangerous backs — Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman — and the highest-scoring offense in the league. Against the 31st-ranked pass defense.
Packers offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga will be protecting Rodgers from Beasley.
“He’s a physical guy, and look forward to the matchup,” Beasley said.
Rodgers versus Ryan: America looks forward to the matchup.
Gunfight at the KO Corral.