NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Conference title game pits a pair of quarterbacks who are expected to finish at top of MVP balloting
ATLANTA — When Atlanta escaped with a 33-32 victory over Green Bay on Oct. 30, that defeat in the Georgia Dome sent the Packers into a tailspin that left them with a 4-6 record.
The loss to the Falcons began a fourgame losing streak in which Green Bay allowed 38.2 points per game. There were stories coach Mike McCarthy should be fired and general manager Ted Thompson should resign.
There also were questions in Green Bay and around the NFL about what was wrong with quarterback Aaron Rodgers? Fingers were pointed at his girlfriend, actress Olivia Munn, as well as his estrangement from his family.
Packers fans and media questioned if Rodgers could improve his performance and turn around Green Bay’s season.
As controversy swirled around Rodgers and the team, the quarterback told the media the Packers could “run the table,” and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Counting two playoff victories, the Packers enter the NFC championship game against the Falcons riding an eight-game winning streak. During that period, Rodgers has 21 touchdown passes and one interception. ‘A very dangerous mindset’
During those eight games, the defense has allowed 19.5 points, almost 20 fewer than in that 10-game start.
“Confidence, probably, is the biggest thing,” Rodgers said last week about the Packers’ metamorphosis. “The confidence (and) the energy flow, it’s just very positive in the locker room. Guys have a great mindset, a great approach.
“When you go through rough stretches when you’re not playing great, the confidence can waver with some of the players and as a collective, maybe. But when you get to this point where you’ve reeled off a lot in a row, the expectation changes from ‘We’re going to be competitive’ to ‘We’re going to win,’ and that’s a very dangerous mindset for a team to get into.”
Unlike his Atlanta counterpart, Matt Ryan, Rodgers has injury issues at receiver. Three — Jordy Nelson (ribs), Davante Adams (ankle) and Geronimo Allison (hamstring) — wouldn’t play if this was regular season. Packers update: Packers have won 13 NFL championships, most for any team. Falcons are playing for only second Super Bowl berth and first championship. … Aaron Rodgers has passed for at least 350 yards and two touchdowns in both postseason games this season, and third straight playoff game with those marks would tie Drew Brees for most in postseason history. … Rodgers’ 100.1 postseason passer rating is fourth best in NFL history. … WR Jordy Nelson missed win over Cowboys with injured ribs after leading NFL with 14 TD catches. … PK Mason Crosby made two field goals of more than 50 yards in final two minutes last week, including winning 51-yarder on final play. … Packers LB Clay Matthews and Falcons LT Jake Matthews are cousins. Clay Matthews missed regular-season game at Atlanta with injury.
No matter who suits up for the Packers, a 5½-point underdog in the Georgia Dome, Rodgers expects the kind of effort and performance that helped them defeat the New York Giants and Dallas to get within one Falcons update: This will be final NFL game played in Georgia Dome, which will be torn down in offseason. Falcons moving into $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium for 2017 season. … Over/under of 60 points is highest for any postseason game since records were kept beginning 1980, according to R.J. Bell of Pregame.com. … Matt Ryan set franchise record with 4,944 yards passing — sixth straight with at least 4,000, tied for second-longest streak in NFL history. … Ryan would set NFL record by passing for at least three TDs in fourth straight postseason game. … RB Devonta Freeman has 10 rushing TDs in last six home games, including postseason. Freeman posted second straight season with more than 1,000 yards rushing. … Despite missing two games with sprained toe, WR Julio Jones was second in NFL with 1,409 yards receiving. step of Super Bowl LI at NRGStadium.
In DanQuinn’s second season as the Falcons’ coach, they became the highest-scoring team in the league and ranked second in offense. They’re on the verge of losing of- fensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to San Francisco after their season ends.
Atlanta is 8-2 over its last 10 games, counting a playoff victory over Seattle. Quinn thinks playing well against Russell Wilson, who is mobile and excels outside the pocket, should help them with Rodgers.
Rodgers may be better outside the pocket than his predecessor, Brett Favre.
“Both are unique and different,” Quinn said about Rodgers and Wilson. “The similarities are both can extend plays by getting outside the pocket and create plays that may start one way but end up something entirely different — their athletic ability to move outside the pocket.” October outcome means nothing
Quinn is adamant Atlanta’s October victory over Green Bay means nothing in this game.
“Both teams are different from the first time we played,” Quinn said. “I think both teams have improved. “It’s going to be a hell of a matchup.” Ryan vs. Rodgers. They combined for 78 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. They’re favored to finish first and second in voting for the Most Valuable Player award. It would be Ryan’s first MVPhonor.
“I’ve always been a fan,” McCarthy said about Ryan. “He’s had to make some changes in offensive systems, so I think that speaks volumes about him.
“I always thought he was very composed, always played the position very well and handled all of the tough situations. He’s kind of hard to rattle. He’s been one heck of a player in this league for a long time.”
As a defensive coordinator in Seattle before coming to Atlanta, Quinn had to devise game plans for the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Naturally, he’s impressed with Ryan and Rodgers.
Talking about Ryan, Quinn said, “He’s always been a great quarterback, but there’s been a jump in his play — his technique, his decision-making (and) knowing where to go with it.”
What separates Ryan and Rodgers from most of the other NFL quarterbacks?
“It’s more than arm strength and maneuverability,” he said. “It’s the ability to attack, the mental quickness of knowing where to go with the ball against the right coverage at the right time.”
It’s easy to see whythe offenses have gotten most of the attention leading up to this game, but don’t overlook the defenses.
“The ball’s going to be a big factor,” Quinn said, “who can protect it, and who can knock it out?”