Packers vs. Falcons: Lombardiave staffers predict the winner

ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 22: Aaron Rodgers /

Brad Miller: Week 2 of the NFL Season and the Packers will face their second major challenge of the season as they travel to Atlanta to take on defending NFC champions Falcons. What a brutal start to the season for the Packers! We should see the make-up of this team right away.

Not only is Green Bay playing Atlanta but if will be there first home game of the season and their first game in there new $1.5B stadium. That’s billion with a B. The Falcons will have all the motivation they need to play with fire.

Once the Packers get into the game and get past all that Falcon’s high emotion it will just be a game between 2 of the most talented teams in the conference. We will see a lot of the same faces as we saw last year so we shouldn’t expect anything less. I see another fire fight like itnwas in the NFC Championship game from 2016.

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Packers will need to contain the potent Falcon’s passing game with the likes of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. Yet, they will still need to defend the lethal running game with Devonte Freeman and Tevin Coleman. This will not be an easy task, especially in their own house which they seem to be a stronger team. Look at that Bears game last week!

The Packers defense was the reason they won the game last week against the Seahawks and they will need to have a similar performance if the Packers want to steal a win.

The Packers offense will need to get in to a groove early unlike last week. They will need to get Ty Montgomery established right away to save Aaron Rodgers having to throw 50 times. Get enough of a running game to get those Atlanta safeties and corners off the Packer receivers.
Look for new Packer Martellius Bennett to get open in the middle of the field and have a big game on Sunday.

It should be a close game up to midway through the 4 th quarter but I see the Packer’s defense running out of steam as they fight admirably. Matt Ryan will, like he has a few times to the Packers in the last few years, pull out a late TD to win the game.

Falcons 38 – Packers 31

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Evan Siegel: Green Bay is in a position to pull off an upset in this one, being hot off of a win against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, David Bakhtiari and the rest of the offense will keep things close, but Atlanta is still too powerful on offense.

The Packers are one of the luckier teams in the NFL in that they can rely on some of their fans to weaken the opponent’s home field advantage. That won’t be the case Sunday night. Atlanta is opening up their new stadium in prime time, and the environment will be intense. Green Bay’s defense won’t be able to keep up with Atlanta’s juggernaut offense, as they will just outscore Aaron Rodgers and company down the stretch.

Atlanta 31 Packers 27

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Freddie Boston: The Packers couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to the season. Victory here would give Mike McCarthy’s team an early grip on the NFC.

But after seeing off the Seahawks in a defensive battle last week, expect a completely different game inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

While the Packers defense looked good against Seattle, Atlanta’s offense will provide a much tougher test. Can Green Bay’s new-look secondary handle Julio Jones? Can the front seven overcome a dominant offensive line to not only pressure Matt Ryan, but slow down Devonta Freeman?

In what should be a high-scoring game, it’s hard to pick against the Falcons on what will be an emotional night in their new home.

Falcons 38 Packers 35

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Joe D’Aloisio: It doesn’t get easier for the Green Bay Packers this week, as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons.

The Packers will seek retaliation against the Falcons after last year’s embarrassing loss in the NFC Championship game, while Atlanta will look to put on a show in front of their home crowd at the brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Green Bay’s defense was dominant in Week one against the Seattle Seahawks and held Russell Wilson’s offense to zero touchdowns. The real challenge comes against Matt Ryan and company.

If you like points, expect a ton in this match-up. Both offenses will be able to drive up and down the field with ease. Ryan will have much more success against the Packers secondary compared to Wilson.

However, if the Packers secondary can contain Atlanta’s offense then this unit deserves to be recognized. This game will come down to whichever quarterback has the ball last.

Aaron Rodgers and company get their revenge in a statement victory,

Packers 35 Falcons 28

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Matt Bathrick: In a game that will feature two MVP-winning quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan, I think the key for the Packers will be to limit the Falcons’ running game early.

If Green Bay’s unable to stop Atlanta’s running backs in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, their defense may be forced to scrap the nitro package in favor of bigger defense.

And since Ryan has the weapons he has in the passing game – like Julio Jones, tight end Austin Hooper, and the aforementioned backs that are very talented pass catchers out of the backfield – the Packers will need to keep all of the speed on the field that they can.

Chicago was able to effectively limit Atlanta’s run game last week and it helped keep them in the game. But that was on the shoddy playing surface of Soldier Field. This week the Falcons will be at their home turf, opening the new Mercedez Benz Stadium. And you can bet their energy levels will be higher than the halo video board that’s built into the roof of the new stadium.

Aaron Rodgers and his offensive unit will face a challenging defense that’s actually faster than what they played against last year. Atlanta’s greatest strength is at corner on that side of the ball.

But Rodgers will be able to find ways to move the ball, especially now that he has a legit running back behind him and plenty of options in the passing game.

The Packers are an improved team on both sides of the ball this year, and on paper I’d say they are the better squad. But I’m taking the Falcons and the home-field advantage.

Falcons 34 Packers 27

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Ralph Mancini: It’s going to take points – a lot of them – to beat the Falcons tonight on the fast track within the confines of their home turf. Thankfully, Aaron Rodgers thrives in his matchups against the Dirty Birds.

Brian Jones of gnb.247sports.com points out that in his seven games versus Atlanta, only once has Rodgers registered a quarterback rating under 100 and his combined touchdown-to-interception ratio is 19:2.

Expect fireworks galore and a late turnover or sack on the part of Green Bay’s defense in the last two minutes to seal the deal.

Packers 35 Falcons 33

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Kenn Korb: Some unfortunate similarities to the last match up between these two teams before the game even starts. Namely: injuries look like they’ll play a major factor against Green Bay.

Their offense was put into submission last meeting and potentially could miss both starting tackles this time around. Meanwhile, the defense looked excellent most of Week 1, but they’ll face an actual NFL offensive line now, with a still-explosive set of skill players around them.

Anything but perfection offensively likely ends with a Packers loss, and I think it is asking too much of them if both David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga do miss the game.

Even if they don’t, the smart bet is still on Atlanta in a shootout at home.

Atlanta 35 Green Bay 27

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Evan Siegel: Green Bay is in a position to pull off an upset in this one, being hot off of a win against one of the toughest defenses in the NFL.

Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, David Bakhtiari and the rest of the offense will keep things close, but Atlanta is still too powerful on offense.

The Packers are one of the luckier teams in the NFL in that they can rely on some of their fans to weaken the opponent’s home field advantage.

That won’t be the case Sunday night. Atlanta is opening up their new stadium in prime time, and the environment will be intense. Green Bay’s defense won’t be able to keep up with Atlanta’s juggernaut offense, as they will just outscore Aaron Rodgers and company down the stretch.

Atlanta 31 Packers 27

Raymond T. Rivard: The Green Bay Packers looked really good at times in their Week 1 win at home over a very good Seattle Seahawks team; the Atlanta Falcons did the same in their win at Chicago.

Both teams enter the 2017 season after a disappointing end to their seasons in 2016 – the Packers against the Falcons in the Championship Game and the Falcons following their record-breaking meltdown in the Super Bowl.

Both teams will be looking for some type of redemption tonight when they kick off in the Falcons’ new stadium.

Everyone’s predicting a shootout, but I’m not so sure. Yes, there will be points scored on both sides, but I think the defense will have a bigger say in this one than most think. It could be an interception, a fumble recovery, a sack … but one of these team’s defenses will come up with the play that will make the difference in the game.

With the Falcons playing at home in their new stadium, it’s difficult to pick against them. If anyone can do it, it’s the Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

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However, I have the feeling deep in the pit of my gut that the Packers won’t have that big difference-making play and the Falcons come away with a razor thin win.

Falcons 27 Packers 26

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