Falcons defense vs. Packers offense: Who wins this matchup?

For the first time since 1999, the Falcons franchise has the glorious opportunity to go 0-4. Yes, even the infamous 2007 team managed to win a game in the first quarter of the season, so we are really charting new ground here. Going into Green Bay is going to make that new record seem even more possible. Can the Atlanta defense ... actually, let’s just get to the inevitable conclusion.

In the trenches

The Falcons have Grady Jarrett. He’s a true monster in the middle and deserves our continuous praise. He also got injured on Sunday, so god knows if he makes this game. Takk McKinley is also another big question mark and I’m sorry, but no one is afraid of the duo of Allen Bailey and Steven Means. John Cominsky, on the other hand, has shown flashes of becoming a good rotational pass rusher while Dante Fowler Jr. has yet to make a big impact. This unit is ok, but they looked much better in week 1 than they have the past couple of weeks.

On the flip side, the Packers have a very good OL. David Bakhtiari is one of the best LTs in the league and C Corey Linsley is having a career year so far. Guards Elgton Jenkins and Lucas Patrick are solid on the interior and are both good pass blockers while RT Billy Turner is the only relatively weak link in the unit. This is one of the better overall tandems in the league.

Even if the Falcons have all of their guys healthy, this is a tough matchup. If Takk and/or Grady miss, this overwhelmingly goes to the Packers.

Advantage: Packers

The skill positions

The Falcons may have more corners on the sidelines than on the field. With A.J. Terrell still on the COVID list and Darqueze Dennard hitting IR, the CB depth is now Isaiah Oliver (yeesh), Blidi Wreh-Wilson (decent) and recently activated Jordan Miller. Then you get to a bunch of guys who, frankly, no one knows. Keanu Neal still hits hard, but his mobility is hampered. Damontae Kazee loves to fly around, but often flies out of position. Deion Jones is our best coverage player - you know, as middle linebackers should be (???) and rookie LB Mykal Walker looked pretty good against the Bears. This unit is depressing as hell.

Aaron Rodgers is still freakishly good. He’s the top ranked QB by PFF right now. Hooray. Devante Adams missed the week 3 game, but if he plays watch for him to toy with the Falcons island of misfit corners. Marcedes Lewis is having a good start to the year at TE and random WRs like Allen Lazard and Marqueze Valdes-Scantling figure to look like All-Pros on Monday night. RB Aaron Jones is no Ezekiel Elliott, but he may look like him against the Falcons set of second stringers.

My only hope is that Aaron Rodgers has mercy on ... yeah, scratch that. He’s going to light us up.

Advantage: Packers

Overall

The Falcons really have no chance on paper, which probably means they’ll randomly win this game 12-9. That said, there’s no way in hades I’d vote a red cent on them right now and this Green Bay offense is primed to go off in unholy and painful ways. God bless my liver.

Advantage: Packers