Packers Vs. Falcons: 2011 NFC Playoffs Predictions & TV Time

The 2011 NFC Divisional Playoffs game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons (host) is set for Saturday January 15 (8 PM EST) at the Georgia Dome. FOX channel will provide TV coverage for this game. Green Bay earned a spot in the divisional round by narrowly beating Philadelphia on the road; Atlanta is the #1 seed in the NFC, enjoying a fantastic 13-3 record. This article offers TV time and predictions for the 2011 Packers-Falcons NFC playoff game.

1) Packers-Falcons Head to Head

The first game of the 2011 NFC Divisional Round features two excellently coached teams in the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. Since 2000, the two teams have encountered 6 times with the Falcons leading 4-2. Most of the recent meetings between the teams have been close contests. The last time Green Bay and Atlanta meet was in 2010; the Falcons barely won that game 20-17.

2) Aaron Rodgers vs. Matt Ryan

Saturday's primetime game pits two talented young quarterbacks against each another. For the season, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers has accumulated 3922 passing yards, 28 TDs, and a QB rating of 101. More impressively, Rodgers has thrown at least two touchdowns in a game on 9 different occasions this season. Not to be outdone, Atlanta's Matt Ryan has also enjoyed a fine statistical year. The Falcons' starter has to date amassed 3705 passing yards, 28 TDs, and a QB rating of 91. The key difference between the two players is that Rodgers plays a greater role in his team's offense than Ryan. All and all, Aaron Rodgers has been a slightly better quarterback this season.

3) Mike McCarthy vs. Mike Smith

The 2011 NFL Playoffs might very well be known as the season of upsets. Highly favored teams like New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis have all been bounced from the postseason one way or another. The Green Bay Packers, who is one of four victorious underdog teams in the Wild Card round, will take on the NFL's best home team in the Atlanta Falcons. Will the Packers be able to pull a second consecutive big upset in this Playoffs season of high drama?

=>CONTINUE ON PAGE 2

The Green Bay Packers enter this much anticipated contest, still riding high on a 3-game winning streak that includes wins over top rated teams like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Mike McCarthy's team will look to extend the upset tsunami against another NFC favorite in the Atlanta Falcons. If the Packers are to achieve this goal, they will need another outstanding performance from their defensive unit. The team's defense has been unexpectedly impressive this season, placing second in the NFL in points allowed. In the Wild Card game against Philadelphia, the Packers once again came up big defensively punctuated by a late interception to deny Michael Vick's Eagles a last-minute comeback. On the offensive front, Green Bay's biggest strength has been its passing game which ranks 5th overall. However, one should not discount Mike McCarthy's rushing unit as it has occasionally shown flashes of brilliance.

Most of the Atlanta Falcons' successes this season can be attributed to the fact that the team is the most rounded unit in the NFL. Mike Smith's team is formidable at both ends of the field. Defensively, the Falcons have been impressive placing 5th overall in points allowed and limiting their opponents to only 18 points a game. Offensively, Atlanta ranks 5th in the league averaging 26 point a game. It is a fact that no other team in the NFL has managed to place in the top 5 in both of these statistical categories. Atlanta is truly a team with few flaws to exploit. Ultimately, the outcome of this game will come down to the intangibles which appear to favor Green Bay at the moment.

My prediction for the 2011 NFC Divisional playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons: the Packers win a nail-biter 23-20. Kickoff time for the game is 8 PM EST. The game will be played at the Georgia Dome, and will be broadcast by FOX channel.

Reference:
ESPN.COM