Green Bay Packers 2018 opponent preview: Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have dominated their recent meetings with the Green Bay Packers. Will that change in 2018?
You have to go back four years to find the Green Bay Packers’ last victory over the Atlanta Falcons. It might not be a coincidence that the 2014 season was also the last time these two teams met at Lambeau Field.
The Falcons have won three straight against the Packers, all in Atlanta.
In the past two seasons, the Falcons made the Super Bowl and then backed it up with a divisional round appearance. What can we expect from Atlanta this year?
Last season
A year after reaching the Super Bowl, the Falcons finished 10-6, surprisingly good for just third place in the NFC South, but they still earned a wild-card berth. In the playoffs, Atlanta put together an impressive performance to beat the Los Angeles Rams, 26-13, on the road, before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 15-10, in the divisional round.
When is the game?
The Packers host the Falcons in Week 14, on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 12 noon CT. It will be Green Bay’s second straight home game to begin December.
#Packers vs. #Falcons last two meetings at Lambeau, as well as the 2018 game:
— Lombardi Ave (@lombardiave) April 19, 2018
Dec. 8, 2013
Dec. 8, 2014
Dec. 9, 2018 (according to @RobDemovsky)
The NFL seems to like having this game played at the same time of year.
Offseason additions
Without much cap room, the Falcons were limited in free agency. But they did hand 2016 league MVP Matt Ryan a five-year, $150 million contract extension.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff deserves credit for what looks to be a strong draft class.
The Falcons selected wide receiver Calvin Ridley in the first round, and then added cornerback Isaiah Oliver in the second round. A Ridley-Julio Jones pairing at wide receiver will be tough to defend, and the Falcons now have a potentially great cornerback duo of Desmond Trufant and Oliver.
Last meeting with Packers
September 17, 2017: Falcons won 34-23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Player to watch
Julio Jones: Jones has been dominant against the Packers throughout his career.
Rewind to the NFC Championship Game two years ago. Jones posted 180 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Falcons reach the Super Bowl.
At Lambeau Field in 2014, the Packers’ last win over the Falcons, Jones caught 11 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown. And by no means was that Green Bay secondary a bad one. It featured Casey Hayward, Sam Shields and Tramon Williams.
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Jones has been a nightmare for Green Bay’s defense over the years. Mike Pettine will look to put an end to that in his first season as defensive coordinator.