Packers vs. Falcons: Tale of the tape ahead of NFC Championship

Offensive line

A key to the success of both offenses this year has been the work in the trenches. Dallas gets all the plaudits for its dominant offensive line, but the big guys in Green Bay and Atlanta have been right up there.

There might not be a better pass-protecting line in the league than the one in front of Aaron Rodgers. Tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga have dominated all season long, and the line hasn’t missed a beat without longtime Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton.

Atlanta’s pair of tackles have also played at a high level. Jake Matthews has come a long way following an up-and-down rookie season, while Ryan Schraeder is an unsung hero at right tackle. The marquee signing of center Alex Mack last spring proved to be a difference maker in the middle. Mack’s ability to quickly reach the second level helps blow open running lanes for Atlanta’s talented pair of backs.

The Packers own arguably the league’s most underrated offensive line, particularly in pass protection. Pro Football Focus agrees, ranking them fifth-best in the NFL, one spot ahead of Atlanta:

"“This has been the best pass-protecting offensive line in the game, and it isn’t particularly close to the next-best side in that regard. The terror that Aaron Rodgers instills in defenses when he escapes the pocket and makes game-defining passes helps in that regard a little, but he also holds the ball longer than every other QB in the league except Buffalo’s Tyrod Taylor, so it likely evens out overall. LT David Bakhtiari surrendered just 20 total QB pressures, and is the league’s only left tackle to be charged for less pressure than the QB he is protecting (Rodgers has been at fault for 23).”"

Bakhtiari and Bulaga often work on islands, expertly holding premier rushers at bay. Lane Taylor has been a solid contributor filling in Sitton’s role, and it sure helps having the presence of Pro Bowl guard T.J. Lang alongside him.

Advantage: Green Bay