The injury list was long. The list of mistakes was even longer in the Packers’ 34-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Before the game, Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari were declared inactive due to injuries. Then add. Mike Daniels. Jordy Nelson. Randall Cobb, Jahri Evans, Davon House, Kentrell Brice…and those who were healthy on the field…were not executing.
Aaron Rodgers threw a late first half interception that led to one score, and then a ball ruled a lateral pass was recovered by the Falcons for another touchdown. That 14 point turnaround did the Packers in on a night that also had numerous dropped passes, missed tackles and scores called back by penalties.
Postgame
Packers OT Facebook Live
Live postgame blog
4th Quarter
Atlanta 34, Green Bay 23
Rodgers-Montgomery 1 yd TD pass
5:51 left in quarter
Atlanta 34, Green Bay 16
Rodgers-Adams 33 yd TD (2-pt play missed)
12:54 left in quarter
3rd Quarter
Atlanta 34, Green Bay 10
Bryant 53 yd FG
4:19 left in quarter
Atlanta 31, Green Bay 10
Crosby 28 yd FG
9:37 left in quarter
Atlanta 31, Green Bay 7
Trufant fumble recovery TD
14:04 left in quarter
Halftime – Second Screen Facebook Live discussion – chime in below!
2nd Quarter
Atlanta 24, Green Bay 7
Ryan-Coleman 3 yd TD pass
:19 left in quarter
Atlanta 17, Green Bay 7
Bryant 51 yd FG
3:21 left in quarter.
Atlanta 14, Green Bay 7
Freeman 2 yd TD run
11:14 left in quarter
1st Quarter
Green Bay 7, Atlanta 7
Montgomery 2 yd TD run
3:43 left in quarter
Atlanta 7, Green Bay 0
Freeman 1 yd TD run
9:51 left in quarter
Pregame update
Pregame story
Sunday brings a special Packers Game Night of sorts. Green Bay is in Atlanta to battle the defending NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons in the first regular season game ever at new Mercedes Benz stadium.
The franchise names make it a rematch of the NFC Title Game which Atlanta won last year…but in reality, is it? In many ways, it’s not.
“It’s a new season. They have changes to their football team (and) their football operation, no different than us,” said Mike McCarthy on WTMJ earlier this week.
One factor Atlanta will have to deal with: What seems to be a more ferocious pass rush from up the middle with lineman Mike Daniels being personally responsible for many of the key plays that won them last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. He took up a lot of the slack for a much different defense with the departures of players like Julius Peppers and the use of rookies like Kevin King and Josh Jones.
Much like Green Bay, though, Atlanta is very different. Steve Sarkisian is the new offensive coordinator. Dontari Poe is going to potentially cause havoc for the Packers’ offensive line next to Grady Jarrett. That’s the tip of the iceberg.
Yet Atlanta will continue to focus on the deep passing game with Matt Ryan throwing to Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and company.
Another factor to think on: The new turf and surroundings they’ll play in, as this is the first regular season game ever played in Mercedez-Benz Stadium, with its fan shaped-roof and 360 degree scoreboard.
“It’s important to get out on the field in the pregame, so players go relatively early,” said McCarthy.
“Get out there, spend more time, make sure we’ve got the right shoes, get in tune with the lighting, specifically how the ball is flying with the (punt and kick) returners. Every stadium is different.”
So is every game. The Packers lost at the final gun last year in Atlanta in the regular season. They got blown out in the playoffs.
Will things turn around and turn into the Packers winning on the road, beating perhaps the other two top Super Bowl contenders in the NFC and getting a leg up in the chase for home field advantage?
Stay tuned. This will be fun.
