The story coming in was as long as the
Atlanta Falcons (13 – 3) had home field advantage through the playoffs then they would be in
Super Bowl XLV. With the Falcons going 7 – 1 at home the expectations were for the Falcons to protect their home to get there, but the
Green Bay Packers had other plans.
The Falcons got the ball first to start the game after the Packers deferred until the second half. The Falcons had to punt it away to the Packers after not being able to get the offense going. With the ball looking to spark a scoring drive,
Aaron Rodgers hit
Greg Jennings (8 rec, 101 yds) only for
Stephen Nicholas to come and force a fumble with
Brent Grimes picking it up. The Falcons then began a 3:55 drive that took seven plays for 48 yards to cap it off with a 12 yard
Michael Turner (10 car, 39 yds, 1 TD) run to put the Falcons up 7 – 0.
The Packers received the kickoff and marched down the field for 92 yards with a 10 play 11:50 drive with Rodgers throwing and cutting up the Falcons defense pass after pass. The Packers mixed in the running game with
James Starks (25 car, 66yds) but the passing game was what got the Packers in the end zone with a pass from Rodgers to
Jordy Nelson (9 rec, 79 yds, 1 TD) for six yards to tie the game at seven.
A big play that you think would spark a club to victory was made on the ensuing kickoff when
Eric Weems took it and ran through the Packers special teams for an 102 yard return to put the Falcons up 14 – 7.
After that kickoff return the Falcons did not see the end zone for a while and the Packers behind the arm of Rodgers exploded with a 28 point second quarter. They had a touchdown run by
John Kuhn (2 car, 5 yds, 1 TD), and a pass from Rodgers to
James Jones (4 rec, 75 yds, 1 TD). The Defense even got into the act with
Charles Woodson blitzing from his corner position (6 tack, 1 sack), and a interception by
Tramon Williams picking off
Matt Ryan (20/29, 186 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs) and returning it 70 yards for a Green Bay score. The score at halftime was 28 to 14 in favor of the Packers.
The third quarter was nothing nice for the Falcons do to the Packers not slowing down at all. Aaron Rodgers marched the Pack down the field on a 6:32 play drive going 80 yards for 12 plays to kick off the third quarter. The Falcons were unable to stop Aaron Rodgers (2 car, 13 yds 1 TD) as he ran in from 7 yards out for the first score of the second half.
The Falcons then gave the ball back to the Packers with a punt and Rodgers took the Packers on another scoring drive, this one lasted 4:48 for 8 plays and 50 yards with John Kuhn catching a pass this time for a score to put the Packers up 35 – 14 to close out the third quarter.
The fourth quarter lacked much fight, but the Falcons got on the board again with a pass from Ryan to
Roddy White (6 rec, 57 yds, 1 TD) for a six yard touchdown to make the score 35 to 21. After that score the game was pretty much a wrap with the Falcons fumbling twice by
Michael Jenkins (6 rec, 67 yds) and Ryan with both of them being lost to the Packers. The Packers did not capitalize much of the turnovers only kicking field goals in the fourth quarter.
Back-up quarterback Matt Flynn came in for Rodgers to kneel the ball with Rodgers walking off the Falcons field giving them their second lose on their home turf of the year. Rodgers finished the game becoming one of third players to have an 80% completion rate while throwing for 300 plus yards. He finished the game at 86.1 to be behind
Kurt Warner 87.9% and ahead of
Peyton Manning who is on the list twice with 84.6 and 81.8 percent.
