The Packers travel to the Georgia Dome on Saturday to take on the No.1 seeded NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons (13–3) while the Seahawks head to Soldier Field on Sunday where they face the second-seeded, NFC North champion Chicago Bears (11–5).
Packers at Falcons
Just as Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers earned his first playoff win last week against Philadelphia, Atlanta’s third-year quarterback Matt Ryan will look to do the same against Green Bay.
Leading the best team in the NFC with the league’s fifth best offense, Ryan had outstanding regular season numbers throwing for 3,705 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Joining Ryan is an excellent cast of players including running back Michael Turner (1,371 yards rushing), tight end Tony Gonzalez (656 yards receiving), and wide receiver Roddy White (1,389 yards, 10 touchdowns).
Green Bay brings its rugged defense into the dome to try to slow down Ryan and the Falcons, but it won’t be easy. During his three-year career, Ryan has an impressive 20–2 home record.
But if any team can beat Atlanta, the Packers have as good a chance as anyone—they are clicking at the right time with plenty of momentum on their side, while the Falcons may have to deal with the sluggish effects of the bye week.
On paper, both teams are evenly matched. During the regular season, the Pack’s second-ranked defense limited teams to only 15 points, 194.2 passing yards, and 114.9 rushing yards per game.
If Atlanta’s rushing attack gets going early on the durable legs of Turner, it could take pressure off Ryan and allow him to settle in where he could be a real danger with his talented group of receivers.
If that happens, the Packers could be in trouble.
By the same token, if Green Bay’s offense does the same to Atlanta’s fifth-ranked defense, the Falcons could be the ones reeling. The Packers rediscovered the running game last week with James Starks and his 123 yards on the ground.
Against one of the league’s best defenses last week, the Pack generated 309 total yards and 138 rushing yards.
Green Bay will also have revenge on their minds as they lost a tough road game in Atlanta in November 20–17.
Game time: Sat., 8:00 ET at the Georgia Dome
Next: Seahawks at Bears
Seahawks at Bears
Now, their incredible quest takes another step forward as they get ready to take on the Bears in the wintry confines of Soldier Field.
Again, the odds will be stacked against them but that doesn’t seem to bother running back Marshawn Lynch who rushed for 131 yards against the Saints and feels confident in his team this week.
Regarding the prospect of facing the Bears who have the fourth overall defense (17.9 points per game) and second-ranked rushing defense (90.1 yards allowed per game), Lynch said on www.seahawks.com, “They’re just who’s next on the schedule.”
There is a history between the two teams.
In the 2006 NFC Divisional game, the Bears defeated the Seahawks in overtime 23–20 at home. They also met in Week 6 this season—Seattle won, defeating the Bears by that same score.
In that game, the Seahawks harassed quarterback Jay Cutler, sacking him six times and forcing him to go 0-for-12 on third down conversions.
They hope to replicate a similar performance against Cutler who will be playing in his first playoff game on Sunday.
But the Seahawks will be facing a much tougher Bears team than they faced in October. Since that game, Chicago has done a fine job at protecting Cutler (allowing only 25 more sacks) and developed a solid rushing attack to help him out—rushing for more than 100 yards in eight of their nine games.
The last time these two teams met, the Seahawks held the Bears to only 61 yards rushing.
Playing at home in the postseason, Chicago will be out to redeem themselves.
Running back Matt Forte (1,069 yards) knows they have to do better this time around saying on www.chicagobears.com, “We can’t go out and do like last time and throw the ball 49 or 50 times and only run it 10 times.
“We have to have a balanced offense.”
Along with Cutler, Forte will also be making his playoffs debut.
He added, “My first time going to the playoffs, it’s going to be a nice experience. We’ve got to make the most of this opportunity.”
Game time: Sun., 1:00 ET at Soldier Field.
