NFL Divisional Round: NFC Game 1...

NFC
Atlanta Falcons (1) Vs. Green Bay Packers (6)

The Story…
The Falcons are the number 1 seed, but no one is talking about them as potential champs? Why? Well, they are young (with the exception of Tony Gonzalez, the mercurial Tight End, who adds much-needed maturity this spry gang) and untested. They have all the tools to be a very good team for a very long time, especially if Matt Ryan continues to improve (or at least maintain) the blistering production he’s enjoyed since entering the league a highly-touted youngster three years ago.

This year, though, it seems the Falcons’ sixth seeded opponents, the Green Bay Packers, are being taken more seriously as possible victors come February despite only just scraping into the playoffs as the last Wild Card by virtue of favourable tiebreakers.

These two teams met earlier this season and the Falcons nicked it on the last play with a field goal. The Falcons ended the season 13-3 and the Packers 10-6. That looks a world apart, but those 3 points to the Falcons, courtesy of the kicker’s boot and a sympathetic clock, made all the difference. Had the FG come from Mason Crosby in that matchup, their records would’ve been 12-4 and 11-5…not so different anymore.

A 3 point swing in a head-to-head contest isn’t enough to convince us that Matty ‘Ice’ Ryan has the minerals to oust Aaron Rodgers from the playoffs this year. Ryan will win Super Bowls. I am sure of it. Rodgers will win one. And it could be his years.

Prediction…
Way back last February, when the Packers lost a heartbreaker to my team, the Arizona Cardinals, I went home and placed a bet on them to win Super Bowl XLV. I got odds of 18-1 and they are shortening every week. I still think the Packers have the goods. They are the most explosive team in the NFC. Without the Eagles in the picture, the Packers are the most dangerous thing left on the blue side of the draw. I like the Falcons and think they will put-up great regular season records of the next few years if they hold this team together, but I just don’t see the threat in them. They are too strait-laced to outlast a shoot out, and I believe that is what this game will be. I think the Packers will score a lot of points – a lot! I think the question that persists is whether the Packers’ defence can stand-up to the surgical dissection of Boston’s greatest college product, Matthew Ryan. Who will win? The Packers by a surprising margin.

Recap…
Aaron Rodgers: 31/36 for 366 yards. The Green Bay QB put on a show as the Packers lit-up the score board and melted the icy composure of Matt Ryan by beating the number 1 seeds 45-21. In three career playoff games, Mr Rodgers has thrown for 969 yards and10 touchdowns. In nearly 1,000 yards, he has thrown 1 INT. 1. That is all. He is amazing. He is the next big thing, but RIGHT NOW. The Packers move on the NFC Championship game where they will face their long-time divisional rivals, the Chicago Bears, or the 8-9 Seattle Seahawks, who must travel to Soldier Field and oust the toppers of the Packers’ division is they wish to progress to their second NFC Championship game this century.

What really, really impressed me about this Packers team was their third down efficiency, which has been absolutely outstanding this postseason. 8/12 is a superb 67% success rate, and at one point, Rodgers has completed a string of 10+ yard throws, all on third down, that made the Falcon’s secondary look softer than Smaug’s belly.


Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.

E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.