Some might be looking at the match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos as the game of the week in NFL week-2 action. However, for a game that might feature a more competitive match-up between two elite teams, NFL fans should be looking at the late game on Sunday evening. The Green Bay Packers will be in Atlanta to take on the Falcons in a game that promises to be well contested despite the fact that Atlanta walked all over Green Bay in the NFC Championship game several months ago.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers preview
There are not likely to be many games where the Green Bay Packers enter as underdogs this season.
However, they are considered minor 3-point underdogs heading into the Atlanta game according to the spread with bet365.
Both teams enter the game 1-0 and both teams feature very strong quarterbacks. Of course, the Packers have former MVP and Super Bowl winner Aaron Rodgers at the helm. Rodgers opened his season with an impressive night, throwing for 311 yards against the Seattle Seahawks a week ago. He once again showed that he was the master of the 'free play' in the NFL, punishing Seattle when they failed to man the field properly. Overall Rodgers was 28 for 42 in the game, thereby helping his side to a 17-9 victory. On the negative side, the former MVP did throw an interception and he was sacked four times.
Matt Ryan, the quarterback of the Falcons, played on the road last week and enjoyed success against the Chicago Bears. Last year's MVP threw for a total of 321 yards, completing 21 of 30 passes in the road game. Ryan kept the sheet clean for interceptions and the Bears defense only tracked him down twice behind the line of scrimmage.
In many ways, the game resembled the form that Atlanta fans grew accustomed to last season - a season where he won the most-coveted individual-player award that the NFL offers and took the Falcons all the way to the NFC title.
Looking further than the quarterbacks
The next key player in the game, both teams combined, promises to be Atlanta receiver, Julio Jones.
Like Ryan, Jones was a player that seemed to pick up right where he left off. Against the Bears, he had four receptions for a nice 66-yard night. That averaged out to 16.5 yards per reception which is more or less what he did last season. Jones didn't score last week and perhaps the game against the Bears was a little too close for comfort for some Atlanta fans. But a win on the road for Atlanta at a time in the season where it's not totally clear who is who yet was still a good result for the Falcons.
The Atlanta/Green Bay game will be aired on NBC with a start time of 8:30 PM ET on Sunday. This is Atlanta's home opener and fans should be looking for them to come out strong in their new building.
