Falcons vs. Packers: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

Week 14 of the NFL season features a bevy of contests that will result in alterations to the playoff picture, and a clash between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football is no exception.

While the Falcons hold a 5-7 record, they sit atop a struggling NFC South due to a tiebreaker over the New Orleans Saints. Atlanta will be well aware of how the Saints fared Sunday against the Carolina Panthers before they take the frozen tundra in Green Bay.

The Packers come into the game with a 9-3 record and will be looking to fend off the 8-4 Detroit Lions, as well as overtake the 9-3 Arizona Cardinals for the NFC's top seed. A win will help both of those causes; however, a loss will set Green Bay back into the thick of the wild-card race.

This matchup favors a Green Bay team that hasn't lost at home yet this season, but Atlanta is coming in with some momentum and has won its last two road contests.

Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood

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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the catalyst behind Green Bay's flawless home record this season. He's been nearly unstoppable through six home contests, propelling the Packers to win four of those by margins of at least 21 points.

Just why is Rodgers to credit? Here's a look at his home-versus-away splits this season:

Split	CMP%	YDS	TD	INT	RAT
Home	65.9	1,781	20	0	134.4
Away	66.7	1,544	12	3	104.0

The veteran signal-caller threw at least three touchdown passes in five of those six home contests, and that's not a good sign for a Falcons pass defense ranked dead last in the NFL, allowing an average of 284.9 yards per game through the air.

Generally, the best way to combat a dangerous aerial attack is to apply pressure on the quarterback. However, that won't be easy for Atlanta. The Falcons pass rush is almost as bad as its pass defense, ranking 31st in the league after generating just 14 sacks through 12 games this season.

Although, there is one saving grace for the Falcons—they rank eighth in the league with 14 interceptions and 10 recovered fumbles on the year. While Rodgers doesn't make many mistakes—especially at home—Atlanta is a team capable of capitalizing should the All-Pro quarterback slip up.

Action Jackson

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Let's not sugarcoat anything: If the Falcons are going to compete on Monday night, they're going to need to put up some points. Containing Rodgers is difficult and stopping him is nearly impossible. Now that we have that out of the way, here's how Atlanta will be able to keep up: run the ball.

Steven Jackson has been the team's workhorse out of the backfield this season, and he hasn't found overwhelming success, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. However, the veteran ball-carrier really got it going in Week 13 against a stingy Cardinals defense, carrying 18 times for 101 yards while averaging 5.6 yards per rush.

Jackson's recent stellar performance is a great sign coming into a game in which he'll be needed more than ever. The Packers biggest weakness is against the run. They're ranked 28th in the league in that department, allowing an average of 132.3 yards per game on the ground.

Unfortunately, Jackson's rushing total should be considered an outlier, as Dan Hanzus of Around the NFL noted how long it had been between 100-yard games for the running back:

Running the ball with efficiency will do two things for Atlanta. First, it will establish a balanced offense, slowing down Green Bay's pass rush and allowing time for quarterback Matt Ryan to throw the ball accurately. Second, it will help sustain long scoring drives, keeping Rodgers and Co. on the sidelines. After all, when Rodgers doesn't have the ball in his hands, he can't throw touchdown passes.

The Falcons really need to make an effort to get Jackson going early and often on Monday night. He's the team's best hope of keeping pace with the prolific Packers for a full 60 minutes.

When: Monday, December 8

Where: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Channel: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Betting Info (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 55.5
• Spread: Packers -13

Team Injury Reports

Player	Pos.	Injury	Status
Harry Douglas	WR	Foot	Questionable
Roddy White	WR	Ankle	Questionable

Player	Pos.	Injury	Status
Sam Shields	CB	Concussion	Questionable

Injury info will be updated once released, via ESPN.com.

Prediction

There's a reason why Green Bay is favored by a full 13 points—Rodgers is one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks and has an incredibly favorable home matchup against the league's worst secondary. It really doesn't get much more lopsided than that.

The Falcons would do well to hold the veteran signal-caller to less than five touchdown passes on Monday night, and considering Atlanta hasn't eclipsed 30 points since Week 3 this season, it certainly appears unlikely it will be able to keep up with the Packers' second-ranked scoring offense that averages 31.7 points per game.

If Green Bay gets out to an early lead, Atlanta's game plan will be scrapped, and Ryan will be forced to throw far too often in an effort to keep up. That's a bad omen for the Falcons, as the Packers lead the league in turnover differential at plus-15.

Prediction: Green Bay 42, Atlanta 23