When the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers meet on Sunday this will be their fourth match up in the playoffs. This will be the first time meeting in the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship game. Let’s take a look at the prior three contests, and at the end, you will see a link to the “Fly High” Falcons fight song. Yes, the Falcons actually have a fight song.
The Falcons and the Packers first met in frigid Lambeau Field in Green Bay during the Wildcard round on December 31, 1995. Green Bay entered the contest with an 11-5 record and as a 9.5 point favorite. Atlanta’s record was 9-7. With a temperature of 30 degrees and a wind chill factor of 25 degrees, Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre threw three touchdown passes, running back Edgar Bennett ran for an eight yard touchdown and Antonio Freeman returned a punt 76 yards for a score. Atlanta quarterback Jeff George threw two touchdown passes, including a 65 yarder to Eric Metcalf, but also two costly interceptions as the Packers dispatched the Falcons, 37-20.
Atlanta and Green Bay met once again in Lambeau at night on January 4, 2003 in another Wild Card round meeting. Green Bay came into the game as a 6.5 point favorite, and the temperature at kickoff was a balmy 31 degrees. The Packers finished 12-4 during the 2002 season while the Falcons stood at 9-6-1. Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick started his first playoff game and what an impression he made. Vick threw for 117 yards and rushed for another 64 yards. He threw one touchdown pass to Shawn Jefferson and committed no turnovers. Atlanta also scored on a T. J. Duckett six yard run, Artie Ulmer’s one-yard return of a blocked punt, and a 23 yard Jay Feely field goal. The Packers committed five costly turnovers, including three by Favre, in Atlanta’s 27-7 victory. This marked the first time Green Bay lost a playoff game at Lambeau Field.
The most recent contest took place in the Georgia Dome on January 15, 2011 in the Divisional round. Atlanta entered the game as the number 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a 13-3 record during the 2010 season and as a 1.5 point favorite. Green Bay made the playoffs as a wildcard entry with a 10-6 record during the regular season. The story in this game was Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers completed 31 of 36 pass attempts for 336 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score. The game was basically over at halftime as Green Bay scored 28 second quarter points, including a Tramon Williams 70 yard interception return off of an ill-timed pass from Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan on the last play of the quarter. Ryan committed three turnovers in the game as Green Bay routed Atlanta 48-21 on their way to an NFL title.
The Packers have a 2-1 record against the Falcons in the playoffs, 1-1 in Lambeau Field and 1-0 in the Georgia Dome. Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan will square off again Sunday afternoon for the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LI in Houston. This game will mark the last one for the Falcons in the Dome before they move into the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the 2017 season. Las Vegas oddsmakers currently list Atlanta as a 5 point favorite with an over/under of 60 points. So expect a lot of scoring in this game. It’s time to Rise Up Atlanta! Go Falcons!
As promised, here is a link to the Falcons’ fight song.
http://www.falconsroost.com/flyhighfalcons.mp3
Speak Your Mind