Falcons vs. Packers: Atlanta's Fortunes In Lambeau Field

The Falcons have played 12 of a total of 29 Atlanta-Green Bay games at Lambeau Field. Their record there doesn't inspire, but take heart, because three-quarters of the franchise's wins in Green Bay have come in the last 15 years, which means some of the mystique of the field has been removed.

I thought we'd take a quick look at the history of Falcons and Packers game at Lambeau Field, given that Monday Night Football will see Atlanta makes its (hopefully) triumphant return to the stadium.

Let's break down each game, briefly.

October 23, 1966: Lost 56-3

The team's introduction to Lambeau Field came in the franchise's first year, and it was a grim experience. The Falcons wound up getting blown off the tundra by a score of 56-3. The Packers would go on to the win the Super Bowl, and Bart Starr treated this Week 7 matchup as a tune-up, throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns. Lou Kirouac scored the only three points for Atlanta.

October 1, 1967: Lost 23-0

The Falcons went to Lambeau again the very next October, and things went poorly again. Three different quarterbacks got on the field for Atlanta, and the team's backs ran 17 times for 23 yards.

October 26, 1969: Lost 28-10

The Falcons were at least a little bit competitive in this one, thanks to a semi-effective ground game. They picked Bart Starr twice, too, but weren't able to overcome the inherent weakness of the offense, a consistent problem for the Falcons in those early years.

September 27, 1970: Lost 27-24

This is closer. The Packers got up 20-3 early on, but the Falcons rallied furiously in the second half and came awfully close to unseating the Packers at home for the first time. Both quarterbacks were turnover machines, with Bob Berry tossing two touchdowns and three picks for Atlanta, while Packers reserve Don Horn went an incredible 1 for 8 with a touchdown and two interceptions. That's an ugly game, friends.

December 21, 1975: Lost 22-13

The Falcons won a game in Milwaukee County Stadium in 1972, but that doesn't count for our purposes. In the first meeting at Lambeau in six years, Atlanta kept it close early in a low-scoring affair despite a lousy day from Steve Bartkowski, but Green Bay took off in the second and third quarters, and a garbage time touchdown is the only thing that made it look respectable.

September 13, 1981: Won 31-17

After five straight losses against the Packers in Lambeau over the first decade of the franchise, the Falcons got the monkey off their back in spectacular fashion. Down 17-0 in the fourth quarter, the Falcons put up 31 unanswered points. Steve Bartkowski overcame four interceptions to toss a critical touchdown, William Andrews powered one in and Fulton Kuykendall had a 20 yard interception return for a touchdown.

December 31, 1995: Lost 37-20 in Wildcard Game

The Falcons wouldn't play a game in Lambeau again for 15 seasons, but they wound up 9-7 and in the playoffs against Green Bay when they did return. They would never get too close in this one, though Jeff George threw 54 passes as he attempted to rally Atlanta in the last week of the season. Brett Favre got one of his first bits of revenge against the team that traded him away, putting up 3 touchdowns in a clean effort.

November 18, 2001: Won 23-20

The second win at Lambeau came 30 years after the first. Chris Chandler had a high-volume but not terribly efficient game, but his two touchdowns and Jay Feely's three field goals put the Falcons over the thrice-intercepted Brett Favre and his team.

September 8, 2002: Lost 37-34 in overtime

Michael Vick would be the most successful quarterback in Atlanta history traveling to Lambeau, and he very nearly pulled off a win in his first visit. Vick threw for 209 yards and a touchdown and ran for 72 yards and another touchdown, while Favre put together an efficient game and Ahman Green ran for 155 yards. That all led to overtime, where a Ryan Longwell field goal doomed Atlanta. Things improved in the second meeting.

January 4, 2003: Won 27-7 in Wild Card Game

The Falcons just stomped the Packers at Lambeau, breaking a legendary playoff streak for Green Bay and firmly establishing the team as a contender again for the first time since 1998. Vick cobbled together an anemic 113 yards and a touchdown on 25 passes, but he didn't turn the ball over, and a vicious Falcons defense picked Favre twice. That was a great game.

October 5, 2008: Won 27-24

You'll likely recall this one, as well. Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers dueled in this one, with each putting up at least two touchdowns and an interception, but the difference maker in this one was Michael Turner, who ran for 121 yards and scored the decisive touchdown in the fourth quarter.

December 8, 2013: Lost 22-21

Aaron Rodgers was out of this one, and the Falcons very nearly pulled off what would have been their fifth win of a lost season. Instead, they squandered a magnificent 71 yard Sean Weatherspoon interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter, with the Packers scoring 13 unanswered points in the second half.

Record at Lambeau: 4-8

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