If you like offensive football, then Sunday’s NFC Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons will be one you shouldn’t miss. The total is a whopping 60 points on Sports Interaction NFL odds, the highest of any playoff game this century and second-highest overall since a 2000 regular-season matchup between the Rams and 49ers (62). This will also be the last NFL game ever held at the Georgia Dome.
Green Bay Packers vs. vs. Atlanta Falcons
Point spread:Falcons -3.5
Over/under: 60
Date: Sunday, Jan. 22, 3:05 p.m. ET
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Green Bay Packers
The Packers (12-6) are the hottest team in the NFC, on an eight-game winning streak following their 34-31 upset of the conference’s top-seeded Dallas Cowboys on Sunday – one of the best playoff games in recent memory. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is already considered one of the best to ever play at his position, as a two-time MVP and a Super Bowl champion.
The throw he made to set up the winning field goal in Dallas will go down as one of the most amazing plays in postseason history. With the scored tied at 31, the Packers faced a 3rd-and-20 at their own 32-yard line with 12 seconds left. It appeared overtime was a lock — and it should be noted the Packers’ past two postseasons ended in overtime road losses. On the play, Rodgers rolled to his left to avoid the rush, so away from his throwing arm, and tossed a laser to a sliding Jared Cook on the Cowboys’ 32. Cook, a tight end, did a spectacular job keeping both feet in bounds on the sideline. On the next play, Mason Crosby hit the winning 51-yard field goal. Crosby had a game for the ages and became the first kicker to hit two field goals of 50 yards or longer in the final two minutes of a playoff game. He had also hit a 56-yarder with 1:33 to go for a 31-28 lead.
Rodgers, who probably throws better on the move than anyone in league history, proved for just a moment during the game that he’s still a mortal, when he threw an interception for the first time since November 13th. The Packers played without their No. 1 receiver, Jordy Nelson, who was out with broken ribs. His status for the NFC title game won’t be known until later this week. Fellow WR Davante Adams rolled his ankle vs. Dallas but was able to return.
This is Green Bay’s first trip to the NFC Championship Game since the OT heartbreaker that they lost in Seattle.
Atlanta Falcons
I recommended the Falcons (12-5) on an alternate line of -2.5 for Saturday’s home matchup vs. Seattle and Atlanta rolled to a 36-20 victory. It was the Falcons’ fifth straight win, and the NFL’s top regular-season offense has scored at least 33 points in each of those. It was the second-most points ever scored by the Falcons in a playoff game, behind 47 against the Rams in 2004.
Quarterback Matt Ryan, who is expected to beat out Rodgers and New England’s Tom Brady for the NFL MVP Award, threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns in winning only his second playoff game. He didn’t throw a pick, his fifth straight game without one. Ryan was also 10-of-13 (77%) with 154 yards against the blitz.
Top receiver Julio Jones aggravated a toe injury and played a season-low 58% of the snaps, not being able to finish. He finished with six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Jones will be limited in practice this week but obviously will play. Green Bay’s secondary has been injury-ravaged much of the year and is a weak spot. Cowboys rookie QB Dak Prescott threw for 302 yards and three scores against that group. Atlanta also lost their second-best pass rusher in defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who suffered a biceps tear vs. Seattle and is done for the rest of the playoffs. He had 4.5 sacks in 13 regular-season games.
This is the first time since the 1970 merger that all four teams in the conference championship games have an active winning streak of at least five games. It’s the fourth all-time NFC title game for the Falcons and first since the 2012 season. They are 1-2 in the previous three.
Packers vs. Falcons Predictions
These teams played Week 8 in Atlanta and the Falcons won a shootout 33-32. Ryan hit Mohamed Sanu on an 11-yard TD pass with 31 seconds left for the winning points. The Packers went four-and-out on the next possession. Ryan threw for 288 yards and three scores. Jones was quiet with three catches for 29 yards. Rodgers didn’t have No. 2 receiver Randall Cobb or running back/receiver Ty Montgomery that day due to injuries but had four TD passes. Nelson caught four balls for 94 yards and a touchdown.
How can anyone bet against Rodgers the way he’s going, even with as good as Ryan has been? Take the 3.5 points — Green Bay has covered its past four playoff road games — and go under that total only because it’s so high.
