Stopping a shootout
Packers, Falcons hoping to avoid repeat of Week 8
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers’ blueprint to slow down Atlanta in the NFC championship focuses on turning the high-octane Falcons into a one-dimensional offense.
It sounds simple enough. But this plan could be tough to execute for the Packers with their injury issues in the secondary. It’s tough enough to contain All-Pros Matt Ryan and Julio Jones with a healthy defense.
Linebacker Clay Matthews is eager to take on the next test when the Packers visit the Georgia Dome on Sunday.
“I think that’s easier said than done. But that’s ultimately what we strive for each and every week,” Matthews said about slowing down Atlanta’s fifth-ranked rushing attack. “It’s about stopping the run and getting after the quarterback.”
The Falcons’ own leaky pass defense also will be stressed.
Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers has been nearly unstoppable of late, with 21 touchdown passes and one interception over an eight-game winning streak.
“We love a challenge,” Falcons cornerback Robert Alford said when asked if he was insulted by predictions of a high-scoring game.
But the conditions do seem ripe for a shootout , just like when Atlanta beat Green Bay, 33-32, in Week 8. The Packers were ranked 31st out of 32 teams in the regular season in pass defense (269.3 yards per game); the Falcons were 28th (266.7 yards) in the league.
Rush just three or four defenders against Rodgers and he can make quick, accurate throws to keep the chains moving, or look for creases to run for a first down. Blitz Rodgers and he can extend plays outside the pocket.
This is part of what makes Rodgers elite, Atlanta cornerback Jalen Collins said.
“Just his ability to get out the pocket once a play breaks down and make plays with his feet, whether it be finding an open guy down the field or scrambling for a few yards or a first down,” Collins said.
The Falcons’ biggest threat in the passing game is the 6foot-4 Jones , who had six catches for 67 yards and a score last week against Seattle.
LaDarius Gunter would likely draw the assignment against Jones. Gunter also got burned in last week’s divisional-round win against Dallas by Dez Bryant, who finished with nine catches for 132 yards and two scores.
Yet the Packers might draw some confidence from the fact they were also shorthanded for their first meeting but lost only after Ryan threw a touchdown pass with 31 seconds left.
“I thought our guys did a pretty good job the first game, but we weren’t able to make plays to break their rhythm in other places,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said.