Do the Packers have the corners to put an extra guy in the box and still hold up on the outside? Yes.

Does the Packer offense have enough healthy hamstrings to get a substantial lead and force the “jamoke” (ha!) to throw? Not so sure.

Can the Pack (or any team) expect their tackling to IMPROVE as the season progresses, given the limitations of the current CBA? I dunno.

Will the game be a blast to watch? Hell yeah!

GPG!

Thanks for the write-up, this was very helpful. After making do without Christian Watson last week, the Packers may be without Watson AND Aaron Jones. That would be tough.

Good article. Thanks.

This will be a tougher challenge from their runners. They also have Patterson as a gadget type. Ridder isn’t mobile, but they will look to spread us out horizontally and try to get their athletes in a position to do damage with ball in hand. Their O is more like a college approach than any other NFL team’s.

To be fair, just as our safeties weren’t tested deep, neither really were theirs. Their corners are not as good as ours either. However, they will rush better and blitz. Our OL will have a sterner challenge protecting Love in terms of both opposing talent and aggressive calls. Their weakest points against our run would seem to be outside. We need to be willing to play Wilson if Jones can’t go and just use Dillon to pound them north/south from under center.

If the Packers defense can contain Atlanta's run game and keep the game close the Packers should be able to take this game. They need to build a lead and make Atlanta try to win with the pass.

This game could have a very similar feel as the game against the Bears. Specifically keep it close for the first half. Figure out what will work, adjust and come out in the second half ready to dominate and pull away. Once again the Packers OL and defense will be the keys to the game. Closer than last week's game but I like the Pack 27-17. Thanks, Since '61

The bottom line. -
I'd sit them all. Safe is better than sorry.
This game is about the QBs. Growth.
Where is your faith in Love now?

Forget the ifs with this Defense.
They're healthy enough
to win it by themselves.

"A.J. Dillon’s lack of production is a growing concern. Whether he’s lost a step or he’s failing to see and hit the right holes, the regression that started last year"

It's hard to see a hole that is getting pushed back into your face. They have to figure a way to help Myers (if they insist he's the best option), and he has to start getting off the ball. Maybe following the fullback through? Have Love under center and let Dillon go.

Atlanta also uses the same playbook as the 2020-2022 (aka Allan Lazard) Packers: add Mack Hollins to the WR group and their pass catchers are big and physical. Pitts didn't come out with much acumen as a blocker, but he can bully CBs and Ss in the run game. They want to spring their runners into space and allow those guys to take their defenders out of the mix. Rasul Douglas is big enough to hold his own, but not Jaire, Savage, or Nixon. Being able to stop the run and force favorable down/distance with the front 7 is priority 1 this week...discipline on the edge, secure the tackle.

"Atlanta’s defensive stats last year were only slightly better than Chicago’s, so they signed one of the best safeties in the league in Jessie Bates. "

An upper-echelon S makes a huge difference in a defense. The Packers could really use one.

"The desert denizens have moved the Packers from slight favorites to slight underdogs."

It's kinda trite, but the Packers need to find a way to score first and play with a lead. Atlanta won't abandon the run even if they're down by two scores, but it will force them to take more chances, which plays to the Packers' strength on defense. Playing with a lead keeps the whole playbook open for Love and the offense, and keeps even a meh defense like Atlanta's from being able to stop playing run.

“He blames bouts of unhappiness in his late teens on Dan Devine.”

- Sometimes I read the bio. Thank you for the laugh, Jonathan Krim!!!!

1) Christian Watson: highly talented but he might be too fragile for the pro game. Potential is pointless when you're on the sideline.
2) The same thing with Aaron Jones. Among the league's best runners but is less available to play as time goes on.
3) I doubt the Packers can stop the Falcons offense all game. The question is whether the Packers will be able to score.
4) The Falcons will be +3 merely for the home field advantage.

I would like to say the game is a toss up but right now I'm leaning to a Falcons close win. Don't forget the Packers beat the Bears last week, the team that was fighting last year for the worst team in the league.

I don't know enough about the Falcons to say where they have advantages at and where GB has more. So instead of advantages/disadvantages I will change it to concerns and feel goods.

Concerns:
- Falcons running game. Robinson is already a stud. He didn't put up monstrous numbers in week 1. But he has flashed already. In the first game they ran 25 times for 131 yards and 2 TD's. They scored 3 TD's in the game and Allgeler and Robinson had all 3.

- Kyle Pitts. He is a matchup nightmare.

-GB's Injuries. To me this is the biggest one. It looks like Watson is going to miss week 2. Jones hasn't practiced and even if he would play, we have to anticipate him being on a pitch count. Jones is the heart and soul of our offense. Dillon needs to step it up big time! Walker is also a concern if he can't go.

Feels Good:
- Trenches. Our lines are very good. our OL gives our offense time to throw the ball. Our DL is vastly improved from last year. Wyatt has emerged and was unblockable at times. Win the trenches win most games.

- Love. I mean it always feels good when you have Love. Love looked very poised and very good in his debut as the new starter. There will be ups and downs with Love as a first year starter. But he looked like nothing is going to phase him. We should definitely feel good about Love.

- Young talent. We have the youngest team in the league. But we have some very key veteran players in the positions that we need them the most. LT and CB. Our defense in general is a veteran unit. But even with that we have a lot of young great players playing.
There will be some learning curves along the way. But the talent is there. Reed and Musgrave on offense have definitely injected some energy into those positions. Tom has been a stud at RT. Wyatt, Wooden and Brooks were very good in their debuts. Walker looks like he has taken a year 2 jump. We have a ton of young talent.

The Packers should win this one, and I think the D will shine.

DM to our visiting posters from Minnesota: FUMBLE!

This Packer team is going to have firsts every game this. Last week was could they dominate the Bears. Answer: Yes.

This week: Can they limit the Falcons running game. And will the defense pressure their QB into forcing errors. I think that the offense will put up some points to make the game at least winnable.

Another week and another challenge to overcome. A great time to be a Packer fan.

1-0, the Vikings have lost two straight, the Bears are still the Bears, why people revel in negativity I can't understand. Stop predicting, trust the evidence of your eyes. Try enjoying the season as it presents itself, ups and downs. The arrow points upward.

I'm still not committed to this latest version of the Packers. Quarterback is still raw. Defense/pass rush was good. . . against the Bears. But Bears still made some good runs against the defense, and there was too much bad tackling here and there. Defense still has to prove itself against much better teams. Same with offense. Way too soon yet to get a decent evaluation on the Packers. The whole team is way too raw yet, inconsistent. And the constant hamstring problems. That was the take on Watson, for example- too injury prone.

A lotta ifs, yet.

History! I'm not much of a history buff, except when it comes to the Green Bay Packers and I love their history. 13 World Championships and memories that take me back to the great playing days of Bart Starr to our new and exciting Jordan Love. With the NFL (Not For Long) we are adding around 8 or more new Packers players every year, so the team and the chemistry is somewhat different each year. This year, I am excited to watch our new team in person next week when we play the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field in our season opener. If there were a place where Cheesehead TV guys do or could meet up before a game, it would be fun to chat in person with the guys who post on this board. Does such a location exist? I'm stuck in California and only get to games periodically, so it's a special day to see the Packers play in person.

I hope the Packers sit Jones this week. Let that hamstring heal. Watson too, but that guy needs to find some way to stay healthy. Can't last in this league if you're made of glass. The offense is a little concerning without Jones though. The OL needs to rush block better, and its about time Dillon lived up to the nickname. You'd think he'd be barreling through the line, but he runs like a slight wind can take him down. Rush defense will be on notice this week.

It's not all gloom and doom, just tempering expectations after a week one win against a terrible opponent. If the defense can shutdown the Falcons backfield, it'll be huge. Rookies on offense will see plenty of time. Let's see what Wilson can do. Reed looks great already, Musgrave too. NFC North is there for the taking. Close game, Packers 2-0. GPG!

With the hobbled offense, another game of complimentary football will be needed on the road. The week 7 bye could prove to be a blessing for the youngsters. Improve everyday. GPG

" A.J. Dillon’s lack of production is a growing concern."

So Jonathan, has anyone, anywhere actually analyzed "Dillon's lack of production"?

You know, plot his run production based on the play and were he took the handoff? It is my perception AJD's production from the shotgun, draws, handoffs standing still to run between the Guards...and quick pitches for runs to the perimeter, have gained few, if any yards.

My equal perception is his solid production taking handoffs running downhill, off tackle, between G/T, swing passes in the flat on the move.

Only perceptions of mine. Data would be helpful.

"he seems determined to prove that he can win with any jamoke at quarterback. "

I had a jamoke shake at Arby's the other day. It was delicious.

I doubt it could play QB effectively, though.

Myers' poor run blocking at center is what will hold the Packers offense back. If Myers can't cut it, the Packers should quickly go with Zach Tom at center and Rasheed Walker at right tackle. We need to run the ball well against the Falcons even with Aaron Jones being questionable to play.

BOY O BOY...I hate to bring this up...AND I HOPE I AM TOTALLY WRONG...but, when I watch A.J. Dillion run, my mind flashes back to John Brockington as he went down hill. I love what A.J. brings to the Packers backfield and the team as a whole! I hope this weekend against the Falcons erases John Brockington from my mind!!

GO A.J. GO..."run for daylight!"

Dillon is a durable guy who hangs onto the rock and is in the last year of his deal. We should squeeze everything out of him and Jones this year.