Game 2: Pack at Falcons - 7:25 PM - NBC
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 2:48 pm
From Silverstein:
TEAMS: Green Bay Packers (1-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0).
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (retractable roof).
TELEVISION: NBC.
RADIO: AM-620 in Milwaukee, AM-1360 in Green Bay; Packers Radio Network.
SERIES: Packers lead 15-13 regular season; 2-2 postseason.
LINE: Falcons by 3.
SURFACE: Artificial turf.
COACHES: Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy (125-69-1) vs. Atlanta's Dan Quinn (22-14).
LIVE GAME BLOG: Join Tom Silverstein for analysis and lively discussion during the game.
NFL: Live scoreboard, box scores
ROSTERS, STATS: Packers | Falcons
5 THINGS TO WATCH
DANIELS DOMINATION: The Packers did a good job of isolating defensive tackle Mike Daniels in one-on-ones against Seattle, and they’re probably going to scheme to get him matched up with Falcons right guard Wes Schweitzer, who had a ton of trouble with Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks. Quarterback Matt Ryan gets rid of the ball quickly, but Schweitzer still gave up a sack and a couple pressures. Doubling Daniels would help, but on passing downs defensive coordinator Dom Capers can occupy the center and tackle and get Daniels a one-on-one. Capers needs him to dominate again.
BUMP IN THE ROAD: Everyone on the Packers' defense can expect to have to cover or tackle receiver Julio Jones at some point. That’s how creative the Falcons are in moving him around the field and how much attention he’ll draw. At 6 foot 3, 220 pounds, Jones is very hard to re-direct with bump coverage, but the Packers are going to try. The inside linebackers will try to chuck him on crossing routes and the cornerbacks will try to slow him down at the line of scrimmage. “That’s what we want to do,” cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said. “Are we going to get our hands on every time we’re in press? Nobody does. But we want to do it as much as possible, get our hands on people when we’re pressing."
SITE LINES: For the second straight year, the Packers will be the opponent for a team christening its new stadium. The Falcons already have played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the Packers will have to come out early and test the turf, find out where the play clock is and get used to the environment. One big adjustment is for the receivers to judge how the lights might affect their vision. “I don’t know if the roof will be open, so that’ll be interesting because the background will just be different when you see the ball,” Jordy Nelson said. “But I’ll be shocked if it has any effect on the game.”
DIAL HIM UP: The game probably will mark the debut of defensive lineman Quinton Dial, who was signed shortly after being let go by the San Francisco 49ers in the cut to 53. Dial will be replacing Ricky Jean Francois, who was released Tuesday after playing six snaps in the opener, as the utility guy. He played in a 3-4 most of his career, but he probably will play a specialized role against the Falcons. “He has played all the positions that we’ve played, that we play along the front,” defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said. “It’s just, I want to make sure we don’t overload him on playing all the positions right now.”
BEAR DOWN: Rather than flood their secondary with defensive backs and try to win covering all of Atlanta’s talented receivers, Chicago tried to win last week with force. Often they lined up in their base 3-4 when Atlanta had three receivers in the game, and it seemed like they always had at least five players attacking the line. The Packers have the ability to do the same thing. “I thought Chicago did a nice job against them,” Capers said. “Atlanta is one of those teams that they’re a real rhythm team. Their quarterback is a real rhythm player. They don’t turn the ball over a lot, so you have to find different ways to disrupt that rhythm.”
OUR PREDICTIONS
TOM SILVERSTEIN
Home-field advantage will mean a lot in this game. The Packers played about as well as could be expected against Minnesota in the Vikings' stadium debut last year and still lost. It wouldn't be an upset if Green Bay won, but it would be a major accomplishment. Falcons 27, Packers 24
PETE DOUGHERTY
The Packers look better equipped to get off the field on some third downs than they were in the NFC title game, and Atlanta is adjusting to new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. But the Falcons have many weapons and the boost from opening a new stadium probably will be the difference. Falcons 31, Packers 27
MICHAEL COHEN
Adrenaline is real, and the Falcons are going to be jumping for the official debut of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Going into that environment is a tough task for any team, even one as talented as the Packers. The Dirty Birds rejoice. Falcons 34, Packers 24
RYAN WOOD
If the Packers can use their run game to control the clock, keeping Matt Ryan, Julio Jones & Co. on the sideline, they have a chance at pulling off the upset. But there are too many red flags with the health of their offensive tackles to like their chances. Best bet is a close, high-scoring game, much like the Packers and Falcons presented in October. Falcons 34, Packers 28
AARON NAGLER
The Packers have the firepower to hang with the Falcons and the defense shouldn't be the embarrassment it was back in January when these teams last met. But Green Bay's questions at offensive tackle, coupled with an incredibly tough environment, will ensure they come up just short once again in Atlanta. Falcons 27, Packers 24
TEAMS: Green Bay Packers (1-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0).
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (retractable roof).
TELEVISION: NBC.
RADIO: AM-620 in Milwaukee, AM-1360 in Green Bay; Packers Radio Network.
SERIES: Packers lead 15-13 regular season; 2-2 postseason.
LINE: Falcons by 3.
SURFACE: Artificial turf.
COACHES: Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy (125-69-1) vs. Atlanta's Dan Quinn (22-14).
LIVE GAME BLOG: Join Tom Silverstein for analysis and lively discussion during the game.
NFL: Live scoreboard, box scores
ROSTERS, STATS: Packers | Falcons
5 THINGS TO WATCH
DANIELS DOMINATION: The Packers did a good job of isolating defensive tackle Mike Daniels in one-on-ones against Seattle, and they’re probably going to scheme to get him matched up with Falcons right guard Wes Schweitzer, who had a ton of trouble with Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks. Quarterback Matt Ryan gets rid of the ball quickly, but Schweitzer still gave up a sack and a couple pressures. Doubling Daniels would help, but on passing downs defensive coordinator Dom Capers can occupy the center and tackle and get Daniels a one-on-one. Capers needs him to dominate again.
BUMP IN THE ROAD: Everyone on the Packers' defense can expect to have to cover or tackle receiver Julio Jones at some point. That’s how creative the Falcons are in moving him around the field and how much attention he’ll draw. At 6 foot 3, 220 pounds, Jones is very hard to re-direct with bump coverage, but the Packers are going to try. The inside linebackers will try to chuck him on crossing routes and the cornerbacks will try to slow him down at the line of scrimmage. “That’s what we want to do,” cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said. “Are we going to get our hands on every time we’re in press? Nobody does. But we want to do it as much as possible, get our hands on people when we’re pressing."
SITE LINES: For the second straight year, the Packers will be the opponent for a team christening its new stadium. The Falcons already have played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the Packers will have to come out early and test the turf, find out where the play clock is and get used to the environment. One big adjustment is for the receivers to judge how the lights might affect their vision. “I don’t know if the roof will be open, so that’ll be interesting because the background will just be different when you see the ball,” Jordy Nelson said. “But I’ll be shocked if it has any effect on the game.”
DIAL HIM UP: The game probably will mark the debut of defensive lineman Quinton Dial, who was signed shortly after being let go by the San Francisco 49ers in the cut to 53. Dial will be replacing Ricky Jean Francois, who was released Tuesday after playing six snaps in the opener, as the utility guy. He played in a 3-4 most of his career, but he probably will play a specialized role against the Falcons. “He has played all the positions that we’ve played, that we play along the front,” defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said. “It’s just, I want to make sure we don’t overload him on playing all the positions right now.”
BEAR DOWN: Rather than flood their secondary with defensive backs and try to win covering all of Atlanta’s talented receivers, Chicago tried to win last week with force. Often they lined up in their base 3-4 when Atlanta had three receivers in the game, and it seemed like they always had at least five players attacking the line. The Packers have the ability to do the same thing. “I thought Chicago did a nice job against them,” Capers said. “Atlanta is one of those teams that they’re a real rhythm team. Their quarterback is a real rhythm player. They don’t turn the ball over a lot, so you have to find different ways to disrupt that rhythm.”
OUR PREDICTIONS
TOM SILVERSTEIN
Home-field advantage will mean a lot in this game. The Packers played about as well as could be expected against Minnesota in the Vikings' stadium debut last year and still lost. It wouldn't be an upset if Green Bay won, but it would be a major accomplishment. Falcons 27, Packers 24
PETE DOUGHERTY
The Packers look better equipped to get off the field on some third downs than they were in the NFC title game, and Atlanta is adjusting to new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. But the Falcons have many weapons and the boost from opening a new stadium probably will be the difference. Falcons 31, Packers 27
MICHAEL COHEN
Adrenaline is real, and the Falcons are going to be jumping for the official debut of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Going into that environment is a tough task for any team, even one as talented as the Packers. The Dirty Birds rejoice. Falcons 34, Packers 24
RYAN WOOD
If the Packers can use their run game to control the clock, keeping Matt Ryan, Julio Jones & Co. on the sideline, they have a chance at pulling off the upset. But there are too many red flags with the health of their offensive tackles to like their chances. Best bet is a close, high-scoring game, much like the Packers and Falcons presented in October. Falcons 34, Packers 28
AARON NAGLER
The Packers have the firepower to hang with the Falcons and the defense shouldn't be the embarrassment it was back in January when these teams last met. But Green Bay's questions at offensive tackle, coupled with an incredibly tough environment, will ensure they come up just short once again in Atlanta. Falcons 27, Packers 24