Green Bay are 3-0 after the first three weeks of the regular season and they will fancy their chances of continuing that winning run against a Falcons’ side that are still searching for their first victory of the campaign.
Rodgers Can Look to Past Glories Against Atlanta
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has enjoyed some fine performances for the Cheeseheads against the Falcons over the years and the 2010 NFC Divisional playoff was a standout display.
Rodgers earned a 136.8 passer rating as he went 31-for-36 with 366 yards passing against the Atlanta defence and the veteran QB remembers the experience fondly.
“That was a fun night for sure,” Rodgers said this week. “Personally I got into a rhythm and felt great inside the pocket and outside the pocket, and I just felt like it was going to be really tough to sack me that night.”
The Packers will be hoping for a similar performance from their main man, with the Packers the firm favourites at 20/59 to win on home soil to make it 4-0.
Ryan Can Cause Packers Problems
It has been a torrid start to the season for Atlanta but their QB Matt Ryan will look to his own past performances against Green Bay for inspiration.
In 2016, in the NFC title game, it was Ryan who tore into the Packers’ defence, throwing for 392 yards and bagging four touchdowns on the way to victory.
Ryan will hope to draw from that experience but he will have to do so without wide receiver Julio Jones, who will miss the encounter on Monday night due to a hamstring injury.
The loss of Jones means others will have to step up and Calvin Ridley will once again be key, as he looks to add to his 349 yards this season.
Former LA Rams running back Todd Gurley II will also need to find the form that made him a star in California as he looks to add to his 197 yards rushing.
Lambeau Field a Tough Place to Break a Losing Run
The Falcons did have a good run going against, winning three on the bounce against the Packers, before they suffered a 34-20 defeat to Green Bay in their last meeting.
With confidence expected to have taken a hit in the Atlanta camp after a tough start to the season, they might have to wait a little longer to notch up that first win of the current campaign.
The Packers look good value on home soil in Wisconsin to come out on top on the points spread too, with Green Bay 10/11 with -6.5.
* All odds correct at time of writing
