Good evening, everyone. The Green Bay Packers will be looking to add a fourth win to their season at Lambeau Field on Monday night. Their opponent for this game will be the Atlanta Falcons, who are 0-3 so far this season. Despite their record, the Falcons should not be overlooked. For the Packers, they need to be 100% focused on getting the win and not looking ahead. I am here to give you my thoughts on what Green Bay needs to do to get the win on Monday night.
On offense, the key for the Packers is to have a balance of run and pass in order to keep the Falcons’ defense honest. Matt Lafleur has been a great play-caller so far this season with trick plays and finding ways to get receivers open. I have plenty of confidence that he will continue that on Monday night. I am sure that the Packers running game, which is led by Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, will be productive in terms of getting yards throughout the game. I also think that the running backs will be used in the passing game in creative ways (with the help of head coach Matt Lafleur’s great play-calling). After a great game last week, Allen Lazard is now out for at least 3 weeks after core muscle surgery (he was put on injured reserve). There was hope that Davante Adams would come back, but he will not play on Monday night. With both Adams and Lazard out, it is up to the rest of the receivers (including Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Malik Taylor) to step up and play well on Monday night. Aaron Rodgers needs to throw the ball accurately to the receivers, who need to catch every pass thrown by him. Against a Falcons defense that is 31st against the pass, I am sure that the Packers will get plenty of yards through the air. As always, the offensive line needs to continue protecting Rodgers from any sacks and create the running lanes for Jones and Williams (plus AJ Dillon) to run through. As long as they convert third downs and not turn the ball over (plus avoid drive-killing penalties), the Packers should win the time of possession battle while producing plenty of points in the process. When they get in the red zone, Green Bay needs to score touchdowns instead of settling for field goals. I have a feeling that the Packers will have over 40 points on offense against the Falcons. As long as they avoid too many mistakes, I think that 40+ points will be very possible.
On defense, the key for the Packers is to limit the impact of the Falcons running game. I hope that Kenny Clark comes back on Monday night to help the defensive line keep Todd Gurley in check. The defense also has to account for him in the passing game, along with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Speaking of Jones and Ridley, they (along with the rest of the receivers) need to be covered well by the Packers defense. I have a feeling that the duo will be mainly covered by Jaire Alexander and Kevin King during the game. I think that the pass rush (including Preston and Za’Darius Smith, plus Rashan Gary) will get a couple of sacks on Matt Ryan (and maybe force a fumble in the process). Even if they don’t get the sack, any pressure on Matt Ryan will force him to throw a pass that can be an interception in Green Bay’s favor. One thing that the Packers defense needs to do a lot better than last week is to limit the chunk plays. The biggest chunk plays can happen due to poor tackling and plenty of yards after the catch. The defenders need to tackle the ball carrier properly to keep those big plays from happening. As always, it is important for the Packers defense to keep the Falcons from converting too many third downs and limit them to mostly field goals in the red zone. If the Packers get into a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter, the defense needs to limit the amount of points allowed in “garbage time.” Even with their 0-3 record, the Falcons can still put plenty of points on the scoreboard if the Packers defense is not playing well. I have hope that the defense will get the big stops and create a couple of turnovers to help Green Bay improve to 4-0.
On Special Teams, the Packers need to continue to avoid crucial mistakes and turning the ball over. The momentum of any game can be changed quickly with a big special teams play. That play could be a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown, which I still hope happens this season in Green Bay’s favor. On the other end, the Packers return coverage unit needs to keep those big returns from happening. This is assuming that there is a kickoff or punt that is returnable for either team and is not a touchback or fair catch. When he is called upon, Mason Crosby needs to make every field goal and extra point kick during the game. JK Scott needs to punt the ball deep in Falcons territory when/if he is called upon. Hunter Bradley (the long snapper) needs to snap each ball accurately to make sure that everything goes smoothly with every kick and punt. For the blocking unit, their job is to keep the kicks from being blocked, which has not happened to this point (knock on wood). There is still some hope that the Packers will block a field goal or a punt this year. Maybe it could happen on Monday night. As long as they avoid silly mistakes, the Packers will be fine on Special Teams against Atlanta.
Doing all of these things should help the Packers win on Monday night to go to 4-0 heading into an early bye week. Not only am I hoping for no additional injuries, but also for no cases of COVID-19 within the Packers organization (knock on wood again). The Packers players and coaches need to do their part in being smart away from the field during the bye week, along with every other team in the NFL. After what happened with the Tennessee Titans (18 total cases among players and staff), I hope that the season has no more postponed games. All the Packers need to focus on now is to take care of business at home and get another win. Stay tuned for my post-game thoughts on Tuesday. Have a great night, everyone. Go Pack Go!
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