By John Manasso
FOXSportsSouth.com
January 5, 2011
Having secured the top seed in the NFC with their 13-3 record, the Atlanta Falcons have earned the right to a bye week this week. That has meant two days off for the players (not to mention two more come the weekend) and the luxury for the coaching staff of watching as much film as the video staff can assemble on each of the Falcons' three potential opponents for their Jan. 15 game at the Georgia Dome: Seattle, Green Bay and New Orleans.
The Falcons will play the lowest-seeded team remaining after this weekend's game. Seattle is the No. 4 seed, but as the Seahawks became the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record (7-9) few expect them to come out on top against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints (11-5), who are the No. 5 seed.
If Green Bay (10-6), the No. 6 seed, defeats Philadelphia, the Packers automatically would face Atlanta. New Orleans would become the Falcons' opponent if the Saints win and Philadelphia wins. Seattle would be the Falcons' opponent if both Philadelphia and the Seahawks win.
On Tuesday, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder met with the media and discussed these potential opponents. Here is a look at each:
Green Bay
Atlanta defeated the Packers 20-17 on Nov. 28.
Total yards: Green Bay 418, Atlanta 294
Passing: Green Bay 341, Atlanta 177
Rushing: Green Bay 77, Atlanta 117
Time of possession: Green Bay 28:20; Atlanta 31:40
Fumbles lost: Green Bay 1, Atlanta 0
Interceptions: Green Bay 0, Atlanta 0
Sacks for: Green Bay 2, Atlanta 1
Analysis:
Green Bay went on a 16-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 17-17 with 56 seconds left in regulation. But then the Falcons traveled 20 yards on six plays in 47 seconds to win the game with Matt Bryant's 47-yard field goal with nine seconds left in regulation. A 15-yard facemask penalty on the kickoff after Green Bay scored combined with a 40-yard return by Pro-Bowl kick returner Eric Weems gave the Falcons a first down at the Packers 49. The key play in the game was Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson's recovery of Rodgers' fumble (caused by middle linebacker Curtis Lofton) on third-and-1 from the Falcons 1 with 7:40 left before halftime.
What challenges does defending Aaron Rodgers present? Rodgers was 26-for-35 for 344 yards and a touchdown with a quarterback rating of 114.5 and rushed for 51 yards (a team-high) on 12 carries with a touchdown.
VanGorder:
