By John Sarianides
The Green Bay Packers will look to extend their winning streak to nine games as they battle the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game.
The Lead: The Packers enter this NFC Championship game winners of eight straight. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing about as well as any quarterback has over an eight game stretch in league history. Rodgers has thrown 21 touchdown passes and 1 interception over that time.
Rodgers will need to once again be perfect today if the Packers are going to upset the Falcons. Atlanta had the NFL’s number one ranked offense this season averaging 33.8 points per game. They scored 540 points on the season.
Atlanta is dynamic on offense and they can score in a variety of ways. They are similar to the Cowboys in that they are balanced but unlike the Cowboys, they can make more big plays.
The over, under on this game is 60.5. I think it should be 70 plus. This will be a shootout. Here are three keys for both teams.
Three Keys for the Packers
1. Find a Way to Run the Ball: The Packers will need to find a way to run the football a little bit in this game. I know Packers fans don’t want to hear this, but it’s o.k to take the ball out of Aaron Rodgers hands every now and then.
If the Packers can run the ball a little today and be more balanced, that would keep Matt Ryan and company on the sideline. It would also help the Packers defense.
2. Get Consistent Pressure on Ryan: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will once again be in a quandary. Does he blitz and expose his secondary or does he rely on a four man pressure and cover? Either way, the Packers must get pressure on Matt Ryan. If Ryan has time, he will pick the Packers apart.
3. Win the Turnover Battle: The Packers must generate turnovers if they want to win this game. Turnovers have won playoff games for teams in the past, especially the road team. The Packers don’t generate many but they will have to today. Getting Rodgers and the offense extra possessions in imperative.
Three Keys for the Falcons
1. Start Fast: The Falcons have to get off to a good start. It would not surprise me if Atlanta opened the game in no huddle and pushed the pace. The goal should be to score first and wear down a beat up Packers defense.
2. Sugar Rush and Contain Rodgers: This is easier said than done. I said the Cowboys had to do the same thing last week and they didn’t. The Falcons must find a way to keep Rodgers in the pocket and their defensive tackles must get consistent pressure on him. If they don’t, the Falcons defense is going to be in for a long day.
3. Aim to Finish: The Falcons have all of the pressure on them today. The perception is that Matt Ryan is an underachiever and the Falcons can’t finish. They need to prove that they can win a big playoff game and get to the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Falcons 37 Packers 30: I think we all agree that this will be a shootout and if that’s the case, then I’m taking the Falcons. I can’t see the depleted Packers defense stopping arguably the league’s most explosive offense. The Falcons will win and advance to their second Super Bowl.