Packers vs. Falcons: Highlights, game tracker and more

The Green Bay Packers faced the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept.17 in NFL Week 2 on Sunday Night Football. Here are highlights from the game.

The final opponent in the Georgia Dome will be their first opponent in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Atlanta Falcons take on the Green Bay Packers in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game. In that one, the Falcons downed the Pack, 44-21. Green Bay tried to get some revenge and ruin the Falcon’s home opener in their brand new stadium on Sunday Night Football.

While the Falcons didn’t look like the NFC Champion rendition of themselves in Week 1, they came out looking much like that on Sunday night. Matt Ryan fired the ball all over the field in methodical fashion. Once in the red zone, it was easy work as he handed the ball to Devonta Freeman for the touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead.

Many fans expected a shootout in this game, and it looked like that might be the case early on. After the home team opened things up with a score, the Packers answered. Aaron Rodgers looked in form moving the ball down the field and then capping it off with a Ty Montgomery one-yard touchdown run.

Unfortunately, that was where things turned sour for the Pack.

With injuries to Jordy Nelson, Mike Daniels in this game — in addition to a plethora of others coming into the contest — the Packers offense then hit a wall in the middle of this game. Meanwhile, there was no wall even in sight for Ryan and the Falcons at home. Freeman added another rushing score, Tevin Coleman caught a touchdown and then Matt Bryant kicked a field goal to give Atlanta 17 unanswered points in the second quarter.

It was more dominance from the Falcons in their new home in the second half as Ryan continued to work the Packers defense. Rodgers pulled things together in the fourth quarter with two big drives to narrow the deficit. However, it was far from enough. After Green Bay cut the lead to 11 points, Ryan and the Falcons got the ball back and proved they still have an edge over the Packers.

Highlights

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This one could come back to the forefront by season’s end. Both franchises should be in play for bye weeks following the season, and the head-to-head tie breaker could be huge.