Falcons vs. Packers: Score and Twitter Reaction from 'Monday Night Football'

Not all division leaders are created equal. 

That was evident on Monday night. The NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers scored 31 first-half points and held off a late comeback attempt to earn a thrilling, 43-37 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, whose loss ensures that this season's NFC South champion will have at least eight losses. The NFL's official Twitter account noted that this was Green Bay's fifth consecutive win:

Strengthening his grip on the MVP race, Aaron Rodgers led the offensive attack with a surgical effort, completing 24 of 36 throws for 327 yards and three touchdowns. He has now started 100 career games and compares rather favorably to a former Packers QB, per ESPN Stats & Info:

He briefly commented on his first 100 games after the win, via the team's official Twitter account:

Rodgers, who now has 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last five games, looked as comfortable as can be in the freezing temperatures at Lambeau Field. Displaying tremendous footwork and elusiveness in the pocket, he consistently bought himself extra time and found the open receiver, leading the Packers on five consecutive scoring drives to begin the game. 

The last of those scores was perhaps the most impressive, as he evaded Kroy Biermann, scrambled to his right and fired a laser to Jordy Nelson in the end zone (0:36 mark):

Nelson, who ensured the victory with a 60-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, finished with eight catches and 146 yards to go with his two scores. 

But the star of the night for the Packers was undoubtedly Rodgers, who garnered praise from Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzolo and Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen:

While the Falcons had no answer for Rodgers or the Packers' running game, allowing 502 total yards, their offense showed plenty of bright spots. 

Or, at the very least, one blindingly bright spot. 

Julio Jones pulled down 11 receptions for 259 yards and a touchdown, setting a career high in receiving yards for the second straight week. Able to do whatever he wanted against Green Bay's secondary, he ran wild all night and accounted for an astounding 69.1 percent of Matt Ryan's passing yards, despite missing the final five minutes with a hip injury. 

The team's official Twitter feed put the transcendent performance into perspective:

As Grantland's Bill Barnwell pointed out, though, the Falcons' overall performance was a microcosm of the team as a whole:

Ryan finished with 375 yards and four touchdowns; the Falcons tallied 465 total yards and scored on all five of their possessions of the second half, eventually cutting Green Bay's lead to six points late in the fourth quarter. 

But the defense left zero room for error. Fox Sports' Knox Bardeen noted the immense difference in first-half production, as the Pack jumped out to a 24-point lead:

The hole was simply too big to escape, and after Ryan connected with Harry Douglas to trim the deficit to six, Nelson recovered the ensuing onside kick, and James Starks busted loose for a game-clinching 41-yard run down the sideline. 

Atlanta returns home for a matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers next week, but the division will ultimately come down to Weeks 16 and 17 against the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. 

As for the Packers, their red-hot offense will be tested over the final stretch with games against the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, Football Outsiders' No. 3 and No. 1 defenses, respectively. 

The latter will prove crucial in deciding the NFC North, but right now, Green Bay looks intent on sealing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.