Packers-Falcons Halftime Update: Matt Ryan Still Money at the Georgia Dome

In a battle of two of the top teams in the NFC, the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons have hardly provided the high-flying shootout most expected through one half of play.

The Falcons lead the Packers 10-3 at the half.

The Falcons got on the board first with a 38-yard Matt Bryant field goal, but the Packers responded with a 22-yard boot from Mason Crosby as the first quarter expired.

The Packers ate a chunk of the second quarter with an 11-play, 84-yard drive that lasted almost six minutes, but just as they were knocking on the door from the 1-yard-line, quarterback Aaron Rodgers lost his first fumble of the season.

The Falcons recovered in the end zone for a touchback, but they would have to go 80 yards to reach the end zone.

No problem for Matt Ryan and company.

The Falcons answered the Packers’ impressive drive with a 14-play, 80-yard drive of their own, chewing up 7:19 off the clock.

The key play on the drive was a fourth down on which Ryan hit tight end Tony Gonzalez for what the officials called a catch for a first down.

Replay showed it may have been incomplete, but the Packers never challenged.

Gonzalez was on the receiving end of another Ryan pass in the end zone to cap the drive with just eight seconds left in the half, and the Falcons took a 10-3 lead into the locker room.

Ryan was 10-of-13 for 112 yards and a touchdown in the first half, while his quarterbacking counterpart, Rodgers, was 9-of-11 for 115 yards. The glaring difference is Ryan’s touchdown to Rodgers’ fumble on the goal line.

Michael Turner is on pace to break 100 yards on the ground once again, with 55 yards on 13 carries.

The Packers have just 28 yards rushing and their leading receiver is Brett Swain with one catch for 31 yards—hardly the go-to guy on an offense featuring Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones.

The Packers will try to find the end zone early in the second half, as the Falcons will kickoff.

This article can also be found at www.footballnewsnow.com.