THE STORY: Aaron Rodgers hasn’t stopped toying with defenses since he and the Green Bay Packers left the Georgia Dome with a stunningly one-sided win over the top-seeded Atlanta Falcons last January. The question is: Have the Falcons improved enough to slow him, or at least keep up offensively, this time around? The answer to both those questions will come Sunday night as Rodgers, off to a blistering start, returns to Atlanta looking to lead the defending Super Bowl champions to an 11th straight win against the Falcons.
TV: NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET. LINE: Packers -5.5, O/U 53
ABOUT THE FALCONS (2-2): QB Matt Ryan’s new favorite target is first-round pick Julio Jones, who leads all rookies with 24 catches for 342 yards. Despite the addition of Jones, Atlanta is a middling 16th in scoring (22.5 ppg). The pass defense, which was the Achilles heel in the playoff loss to the Packers, also is still an issue (24th in the league, 275.5 ypg). Prized free agent DE Ray Edwards has yet to record a sack, and Atlanta hasn’t reached the quarterback in three games. Conversely, Atlanta's offensive line has struggled to protect Ryan, who has been sacked 13 times.
ABOUT THE PACKERS (4-0): The Packers, who lead in the NFL in scoring (37.0 ppg), have totaled a franchise-record 148 points over the first four games. Against Denver, Rodgers became the first player in NFL history to have 400 yards passing (408), four touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns. He is first in the league in completion percentage (73.0) and second in touchdowns (12). WR Jordy Nelson, who signed a three-year contract extension this week, has three touchdowns in the first four games. The offense should be at full strength with both RB Ryan Grant (bruised kidney) and RT Bryan Bulaga (knee) expected to return. If there’s a fly in the ointment, it is Green Bay’s pass defense, which ranks next-to-last in the NFL (335.8 ypg).
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Packers CB Charles Woodson returned an interception for a touchdown last week. It was the 11th of his career – one shy of tying Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (no relation) for the most in NFL history.
2. Rodgers was 31 of 36 for 366 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-21 divisional-round win over Atlanta. He is 82 of 108 for 1,023 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception in three starts vs. the Falcons.
3. Ryan is 21-2 at home in three-plus years as a starter.