Official Packers vs. Falcons NFC Title Game Discussion Thread

[Upnorth]

Anyone know Burnett's status?

[Joemailman]

Statistically, Atlanta will be the worst defensive team the Packers have faced in a while. 25th in YPG and 27th in PPG. Opposing QB's threw for 31 TD's and had 12 INT. Their run defense is just average.

[Carolina_Packer]

I think Burnett's availability will be big. Also, it's time for Damrious Randall to show up. How many times was he the defender in the replay when the Dallas guy was making the catch? He looks lost too much of the time. You figure athletic ability would serve a first rounder until instincts take over, especially at the end of year two.
.
I thought this going into training camp. TT and Co. is taking their chances with more youth than experience in the defensive back field. Would things be different with Sam Shields? Perhaps, but he had already had a number of concussions, so not keeping more experience may still prove to be a mistake. That said, they are one game away from the Super Bowl because of A-Rod, and the offense, and you just hope the defense can do enough. There appeared to be some close calls getting to Dak yesterday. Our pressure game needs to get home and move around the less athletic Ryan.

[mission]

Anyone coming to Atlanta for the game? I think I'll be down there...

[hoosier]

I would like to hear what Fritz's feelings about this game are.

[Guiness]

The Falcons have a lot of offensive weapons. On top of Julio, the Falcon's two tailbacks, Freeman and Coleman, are dangerous. They are both averaging over 4 YPC and can catch the ball well.

I thought the front 7 did a good job getting after Dak yesterday even with the Cowboy's vaunted OL. Atlanta isn't nearly as good there, and they should be able to harry Ryan pretty well.

[pbmax]

Not to nitpick, but when we were up 28-13 midway in the 3rd quarter, and McCarthy started running the ball to kill clock or whatever, losing momentum, wasting a couple of possessions, etc., I was beginning to get pissed off. I'll give him credit for a great game plan and good play calling early, but that reversion to taking his foot off the gas nearly lost the game.

Agreed, Dom did a damn good job, and a lot of our D players held their own individually against maybe more talented O Linemen, WRs, TE, etc. Even though Elliot gashed us for a lot of yardage, he didn't break any big ones and didn't sway the game.

Maybe some dumbasses who were all doom and gloom before this game will be the same against the Falcons - in what should be a slightly less tough game hahahahaha.

Wasn't just running. Running game was going well except for short yardage when they telegraph it and never play action out of it.

Marinelli altered the Boys defense, sending more pressure and at other times keeping both safeties deep. Passing game wasn't the same in the 2nd half as it was in the first. They missed two big pays, had an INT and that is how you go from 21 in a half to 7 prior to FG drives.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Two things: That INT by Dallas #38 seemed to me about a foot or two from being a home run to Adams.

Plus, I thought it was kind of SOP to run the ball right at a fast defense. I don't get the running wide stuff.

[pbmax]

Lance Allan @lanceallan
The #Packers inactive list when they lost 33-32 to the #Falcons week 8? Cobb, Randall, Rollins, Starks, Matthews, Montgomery & Cook

[Cheesehead Craig]

Not to nitpick, but when we were up 28-13 midway in the 3rd quarter, and McCarthy started running the ball to kill clock or whatever, losing momentum, wasting a couple of possessions, etc., I was beginning to get pissed off. I'll give him credit for a great game plan and good play calling early, but that reversion to taking his foot off the gas nearly lost the game.

Except that didn't happen.

The first drive was 5 called pass plays and 3 runs. The INT killed that drive. Then Dal scored a TD to be down by 8

Next drive was 3 passes and 1 run. Then Dal scored another TD to tie it.

MM didn't take his foot off the gas, Rodgers made a bad throw and the Dallas D played well. Throw in some bad defense on our part and boom, the game is tied. Rodgers doesn't miss Adams, that was a TD and the game is likely over at that point.

[hoosier]

Except that didn't happen.

The first drive was 5 called pass plays and 3 runs. The INT killed that drive. Then Dal scored a TD to be down by 8

Next drive was 3 passes and 1 run. Then Dal scored another TD to tie it.

MM didn't take his foot off the gas, Rodgers made a bad throw and the Dallas D played well. Throw in some bad defense on our part and boom, the game is tied. Rodgers doesn't miss Adams, that was a TD and the game is likely over at that point.

Yup, Packers struggled to adjust to pressure and man press coverage in second half. Maybe they should have tried running more when it became clear that Marinelli was going with pressure.

[Joemailman]

Except that didn't happen.

The first drive was 5 called pass plays and 3 runs. The INT killed that drive. Then Dal scored a TD to be down by 8

Next drive was 3 passes and 1 run. Then Dal scored another TD to tie it.

MM didn't take his foot off the gas, Rodgers made a bad throw and the Dallas D played well. Throw in some bad defense on our part and boom, the game is tied. Rodgers doesn't miss Adams, that was a TD and the game is likely over at that point.

Yes.

[Joemailman]

Falcons DE Adrian Clayborn out rest of playoffs with torn bicep.

[pbmax]

Advice for Sunday:

A more plausible way for them to shift gears is to be more aggressive in the red zone and on fourth down. Just about every model which uses historical data to gauge win expectancy suggests teams are far too conservative in those situations. Coaches who are underdogs against great offenses, as was the case in both games on Saturday, can't settle for field goals or pass up fourth-and-short opportunities, and as a result, miss out on chances to match points with offenses that are too good to keep down for 60 minutes.

And don't just run from heavy packages on 4th down or short yardage.

Barnwell: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...dogs-cost-them

[Smidgeon]

A comparison of this weekends games betweeen the presumptive MVP and Rodgers.





Ryan didn't complete a pass past 20 yards. Rodgers had five. I don't remember the Falcons, but I'd assume a lot of slant and goes based on this. And Rodgers does not attack the middle of the field when playing against Sean Lee.