Green Bay Packers: Best opponents, how they will have an impact

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers cornerback LaDarius Gunter (36) during the third quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers cornerback LaDarius Gunter (36) during the third quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a catch in front of New England Patriots free safety Duron Harmon (30) during the second quarter during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a catch in front of New England Patriots free safety Duron Harmon (30) during the second quarter during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Falcons

Julio Jones, Wide Receiver

Unlike all the players up to this point, there is no upside here. Julio Jones is a once-in-a-generation-type player. There isn’t anyone in the NFL you feel good about matching up with Jones, much less on the Packers’ roster.

Obviously the Packers will need to get help in the corner department, but even with the amount of talent in the 2017 draft, the Packers can’t rely on a rookie corner to make the difference between winning and losing.

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) catches a pass from Matt Ryan (not pictured) in the second quarter against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) catches a pass from Matt Ryan (not pictured) in the second quarter against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

A Packers-Falcons game isn’t about scoring. Scoring is the standard. The defense preventing points, that’s the real victory.

As it stands, the Falcons have some good players on the offensive line but it’s beatable. If the Packers can draft a solid pass rusher to move Clay Matthews to the inside, with the talent on the defensive interior, the Packers have a real good chance of being the dominant defense in that game.