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

Special teams

This game features two kickers on top of their game.

Green Bay’s Mason Crosby stole the headlines with two clutch kicks in Dallas, a 56-yarder to edge the Packers in front, and a 50-yard conversion to send his team to the NFC Championship Game. He’s now converted 23 consecutive field goals in the postseason, and NFL record.

Opposite number Matt Bryant is in the midst of an excellent season. On his 37 field goal attempts in the regular season—sixth-most in the NFL—34 sailed through the uprights. An impressive 6-of-8 from 50-plus yards, Bryant reestablished himself as one of the league’s premier kickers after a disappointing 2015 campaign that ended in injury.

Neither team has been good enough in coverage. Green Bay allowed a league-high 26.3 yards per kickoff return in the regular season, Atlanta 22.6 yards. The Falcons allow a lofty 9.6 yards per punt return, the Packers 9.4 yards.

Devin Hester, even this late into his Hall-of-Fame career, racked up 194 return yards against Atlanta in last week’s divisional round.

Both teams posted similar numbers in kickoff returns this year, but dangerous return man Eric Weems gives Atlanta the edge on punts.

Falcons punter Matt Bosher has outperformed the Packers’ Jacob Schum, Bosher helping Atlanta finish seventh in punting average, Green Bay all the way down at 28th.

Next: Scouting the Falcons ahead of NFC Championship

Advantage: Atlanta