TimesFour

November 28, 2010 – Georgia Dome – Atlanta, Georgia

Through their 4 game winning streak, the Packers had met two teams that were the very definition of dysfunction–the Minnesota Vikings & the Dallas Cowboys. The third team, the New York Jets, possibly didn’t take the Packers all that seriously and it cost them.

Such was not going to be the case against the Atlanta Falcons, an exciting young team that was playing with as much, if not more, confidence than the Packers. The Falcons featured an unflappable 3rd year quarterback in Matt Ryan, who had lost only once in the Georgia Dome. Sitting at 8-2 and all but assured of a playoff spot, the Falcons were positioning themselves for an NFC South title, the best record in the NFC and a critical first-round playoff bye.

Chauncey Davis sacks Rodgers

There was not a whiff of turmoil with Mike Smith’s team, and they took the Packers very seriously. The result was a terrific game that offered a glimpse of what might come in the post-season. It was a game that encompassed all that was going well with the Packers in recent weeks. However, it also revealed a few nagging issues that kept Green Bay from attaining the elite status it was looking for.

The Falcons grabbed a quick 3-0 lead on a Matt Bryant field goal. The Packers responded with a nice drive from their own 15 to the Atlanta 4 that ended in a Mason Crosby field goal.

Then came a turning point and the first sign that what had been going so well the previous month might be absent on this day.

The Packers embarked on a nearly 8 minute drive that started at their 15 and went to the Falcons 1. Amazingly, the first 9 plays of the drive were all passes. On first down & goal from the 2. Rodgers tried to sneak in for the score but was stopped a yard short. On 2nd down, he tried again and this time he fumbled at the goal line.

The ball was recovered by Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson & a chance to take an important lead was gone. It was Green Bay’s first turnover in 15 quarters, the teams longest streak since 1963. “That’s what lost the game,” Rodgers said. It wasn’t what lost the game, because the Packers had more opportunities. They simply failed to cash in.

The Falcons grabbed a 10-3 halftime lead on Ryan’s short touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez late in the 2nd quarter but Green Bay tied the game again in the 3rd quarter when Rodgers scored from a yard out with 7:17 remaining.

One more time the Falcons took the lead, this time on Michael Turners 1-yard blast in the 1st minute of the 4th quarter.

The Packers had a final opportunity when they took over the ball with 5:59 to play. 1 more time, Rodgers executed a nearly flawless drive despite being harassed constantly by the Falcons defense. He moved the Packers from their own 10 to the Atlanta 10, converting a huge 4th down along the way.

Then, on 4th & goal from the Falcons’ 10, Rodgers rolled left, bought time, then fired a laser into the endzone that connected with JordyNelson for the score with :56 seconds left in regulation. You will not see a better pass, at the most critical moment in a regular season game, in your life.

It was an epic drive at the perfect time.

“I was thinking overtime at that point,” Rodgers said. However, things didn’t quite work out that way.

Eric Weems took the kickoff and was tackled by Matt Wilhelm, who grabbed Weems facemask as he brought him down. The Packers were flagged for the 15-yard penalty, giving the Falcons the ball at the Green Bay 49. Ryan then completed 4 straight passes to put kicker Matt Bryant in position for the game-winning field goal.

After a Packers timeout, Bryant stepped up and coolly drilled a 47-yard field goal with :09 seconds remaining.

The loss ended Green Bay’s 4-game winning streak but offered enough positive clues that they were still on the right track.

Rodgers hit on 26 of 35 passes for 344 yards and one score. For the 4th straight game he did not throw an interception. However, the Packers also reverted to their reckless days committing 8 penalties for 66 yards, the most they’d had since the disaster in Chicago on week 3.

“It’s discouraging not winning a game we should have won,” Rodgers said. Next up, The 49’ers come to Lambeau Field