Packers schedule: Five toughest opponents in 2018

5. Packers vs Falcons: Week 14

The Atlanta Falcons have had the Packers’ number for the past couple of years, winning three times in the last two seasons, including a blowout in the 2017 NFC Championship Game.

The Atlanta offense has dominated the Green Bay defense for years now. I doubt that trend changes. Every time these two teams get together, they light up the scoreboard. In the last four matchups, the Falcons have put up 34, 44, 33, and 37. I don’t need to tell you how awful that is.

The difference between the last couple of matchups and this year’s matchup? The game will be played at Lambeau Field. History tells us the Packers are very successful versus the Falcons at home. All-time, the Packers are 7-4 at Lambeau versus the Falcons, including two wins in a row.

Despite the location of the game, it will still be a hard game for the Green and Gold. The combination of Julio Jones and Matt Ryan has torched the secondary for years no matter the eventual outcome on the scoreboard. For the Packers to win, they need to put emphasis on that matchup and be successful with it.

It’s likely the game will be more of the same in 2018. The offense has seen improvements since these teams played last. Also, whenever Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback and he’s facing a defense that gives up a lot of points, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Packers drop 30-plus again. It will just be a matter of how many points the defense gives up. It has been the difference between a win and a loss in this series lately and it will continue to be that way.