NFC powerhouses the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons go head-to-head
Both the Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons are contending for the number one seed in the NFC this season. They go head-to-head on Sunday 28 November in Atlanta in a game that could go a long way in determining who will be on top by week 17.
Previous meetings and recent games
The last time the Packers and Falcons met was two seasons ago with the Falcons winning by a score of 27-24.
Back then the Packers finished 6-10 and failed to make the play-offs while the Falcons lost in the Wild Card game. This season is a little different as now both teams are making a run for top spot in the NFC and seemed poised to make it to the post-season.
Whoever wins on Sunday will extend their win streak to five games, which will be the longest active winning streak in the NFL.
The Packers are most recently coming off a 31-3 dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings, which led to Vikings head coach Brad Childress being fired. The Falcons beat the St. Louis Rams last week by a score of 34-17.
How they match up
When the two teams met back in 2008, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was just a rookie, and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had just been handed the reigns taking over for Brett Favre. Today, both are considered premier quarterbacks and leaders of their
respective teams.
The Falcons offence, ranked sixth in the NFL, boasts some of the biggest super stars in the league at the moment. Running back Michael Turner is sixth in the NFL in rushing this season with 864 yards. Nobody in the NFL has made as many catches as Falcons
receiver Roddy White who has 79 for over 1000 yards. Tight end Tony Gonzalez, although in the twilight of his career at 34 years old, continues to put up consistent numbers the way he did in his mid-twenties. And Matt Ryan, at just 25 years old, is putting
up solid numbers, as he has the fewest number of interceptions amongst quarterbacks who are averaging 35 or more passing attempts per game.
The Green Bay Packers have had to contend with a number of injuries this season, but it hasn't stopped them from being successful, as head coach Mike McCarthy continues to put together an effective game plan no matter what his personnel. In fact, the Packers
have the best points differential in the NFL at plus-106.
Greg Jennings has been Rodgers' favourite target this year and, although he doesn't quite match the productivity of White in terms of catches or yards, he does have nine touchdown catches – more than anyone on either team.
The Packers also have the NFL's sack leader Clay Matthews who has 11.5 so far this season.
What to expect
This match-up could well be a preview of the NFC championship game as both have been showing Super Bowl worthy form. For all their style and flash, Atlanta's grit will be put under the microscope in this game. The Packers have a fighting spirit which makes
them contenders every time they take the field and they benefit from strong leadership on both sides of the ball – an intangible area of the game which might give them a psychological edge over the Falcons. The Falcons, however, are playing at home where they
are undefeated.
It's pretty much a coin flip with the Falcons as two-point favourites. Look for the Packers to pull off a 28-27 upset.
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