MNF PREVIEW: ATLANTA FALCONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

BY ADAM GREENE

This game looked a lot better back when the Monday Night Football Schedule was first released. But with the postponements and pushes happening over positive COVID-19 tests around the league (impacting two games as of this writing), we should be glad we’re still on track to get it as the hapless Atlanta Falcons travel to Lambeu Field to take on the surging Green Bay Packers.

ATLANTA FALCONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-7, O/U: 45)

Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.

Kickoff: Oct. 5, 8:15 p.m. EST

Broadcast: ESPN

THE HISTORY

Considering the Packers have been a pretty good team for the last 20 years, this series is surprisingly tight. Green Bay holds an 18-16 advantage, with the teams first meeting on Oct. 23, 1966. The Pack won that one 56-3.

In spite of Green Bay’s two-game advantage in the rivalry, the Falcons have won three of their last four match ups, all coming consecutively from Oct. 30, 2016 through Sept. 17, 2017. The Packers won their last meeting 34-20 on Dec. 9, 2018. Aaron Rodgers finished 21 of 32 for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Ryan was 28 of 42 for 262 yards, three TDs and a pick. Julio Jones caught eight passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Devante Adams had seven receptions for 81 yards and a score.

ATLANTA FALCONS (0-3)

I don’t know what you do if you’re the Falcons. Scoring points isn’t the problem as they average 30 a game. The issue is all top down, leadership and game management not only from Dan Quinn, but also Matt Ryan. A good leader at QB wouldn’t allow his team to wilt the way Atlanta does. You just never see it happen. Sure, comebacks occur and so do blowouts of good teams and good QBs. But you never witness the consistent issues that Atlanta has faced closing out games with big leads against quality opponents. It’s unprecedented in all of NFL history.

How do you fix this? It’s too early to fire Dan Quinn, but that should be on the table. I think if they can’t turn it around in the middle part of the season he’ll be out by Thanksgiving. But this game? You just have to lean in and play through.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-0)

For the Packers, this is not a game they take for granted at all. While they are at home, there is no such thing as fanless home field advantage other than spending the previous night in your own bed.

Aaron Rodgers is playing his best football in a half decade and the team is averaging 40 points a game. They need to keep that up because, with all the Falcons’ flaws, they can still put up points.

THE PICK

While Atlanta might reel off some wins in midseason, I don’t see any way they pull this one off. This is a dejected team, defeated before they even hit the field. The Pack, on the other hand, has to be thinking they’re NFC Championship contenders at this point. You can’t stumble now. Packers 41, Falcons 27

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