NFL Playoffs: 10 Reasons Aaron Rodgers Will End Matt Ryan's Dominance in Atlanta

It's only the second round of the NFL playoffs, and we already have some great matchups coming our way this weekend. But, of all four matchups on the slate this weekend, the Packers versus Falcons game could very well be the best of them all.

One of the main reasons why: Aaron Rodgers versus Matt Ryan.

Both Rodgers and Ryan are two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL today. Rodgers won his first playoff game of his career last week and is looking to build on it. Ryan has not won an NFL playoff game yet, but his Falcons team are being looked at to not only win one game, but possibly even the Super Bowl.

As of now, Rodgers is playing the best football of anyone heading into the second round. He was brilliant against the Eagles and will look to continue to build on his strong performance and take down Matt Ryan and the Falcons come Saturday.

Here are 10 reasons why Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will take down Matt Ryan and the Falcons in this NFC postseason showdown.

10. No Layoff

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Brandon Jackson #32 of the Green Bay Packers tries to avoid the takle of Ernie Sims #50 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pe

The Packers went in to Philadelphia last weekend and took care of business, leaving with a 21-16 victory and a matchup with the first-place Falcons.

Meanwhile, the Falcons have not played a meaningful football game since their Week 16 matchup against New Orleans back on Dec. 27. That is three weeks now that they have been off.

Some might say that time off helps a team. Personally, I think the fact that Green Bay went into Philly just last week and left with a healthy team and a victory favors them in this one.

9. Better Coaching Experience

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Mike McCarthy, head coach of the Green Bay Packers, looks on during the first quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won the game 31

Mike McCarthy and his staff have reached the playoffs three times in the past four years in Green Bay. On the other hand, Mike Smith and the Atlanta Falcons are 0-1 in the postseason while being in charge.

The playoffs have been a staple in the Packers' organization over the past couple of decades, and when McCarthy took over the head coaching position, he had an understanding of what was expected of him. Now, that the Packers got by their first-round road matchup, McCarthy and Co. will do everything in their coaching power to keep this thing rolling.

8. Good Play In The Secondary

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Tramon Williams #38 of the Green Bay Packers intercepts the pass intended for Riley Cooper #14 of the Philadelphia Eagles late in the fourth quarter during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on J

Just when you thought that Charles Woodson would be the guy in the defensive backfield to be delivering the play of the game, it is cornerback Tramon Williams who intercepts a pass in the end zone with 33 seconds remaining Sunday to seal a 21-16 win over Philadelphia.

Guys like Williams, Nick Collins and Charlie Peprah have been making some of the biggest defensive plays down the stretch for the Packers. The Packers secondary is healthy and have looked strong as of late, which could mean Matt Ryan is in for a long day in this one.

7. Rodgers Has More To Work With

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Safety Patrick Chung #25 of the New England Patriots tackles wide receiver Donald Driver #80 of the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The

Roddy White is an absolute stud at the wide receiver position. But outside of White and an aging Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons don't have all that much skill to work with in their passing game.

On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers has an array of talented guys that he can throw the ball to. Greg Jennings is the go-to guy in the passing game, but guys like Donald Driver and James Jones have shown time and time again that they are capable of making big plays in big games.

If it's between Michael Jenkins and Donald Driver, I am taking Driver any day of the week. He might be up there in age, but the guy can still flat out play football.

6. Clay Matthews

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers sacks Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by

Fear the Locks.

It would be an absolute shock if Clay Matthews doesn't win the defensive player of the year award this season.

Matthews had 60 tackles this season, 14 of which were sacks. As a team, the Packers had an NFC-leading 47 sacks. If Matthews is able to get past the corner and get to the opposing quarterback like he has all season for Green Bay, then Matt Ryan will be in trouble and will be having fits all day trying to fight off that pass rush.

5. Already Battle Tested

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Tony Gonzalez #88 of the Atlanta Falcons and his son Nikko against the Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have gotten over the first hump. They went into Philadelphia and beat up on a team that many thought would be a Super Bowl contender this season. They have a playoff win under their belts, and a good one at that.

On the other hand, what exactly has the Atlanta Falcons accomplished up to this point?

They do have the best record in the NFC, but how far does that get you once the postseason begins?

The Falcons do not have one single player on their roster who has appeared in a Super Bowl. Starting with veterans Tony Gonzalez and Mike Peterson, the roster is filled with players starved for playoff success.

Only three—center Todd McClure and receivers Brian Finneran and Michael Jenkins—were with the team for Atlanta's last playoff win, which was all the way back in 2004.

4. Newly Discovered Running Game

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: James Starks #44 of the Green Bay Packers avoids the tackle of Ernie Sims #50 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Is rookie James Starks the solution to a running game that has been nothing short of nonexistent this season?

The Packers lost starting running back Ryan Grant to injury in Week 1 of the season and have been searching for a viable replacement ever since. They might have found their guy in James Starks. He rushed for 123 yards in the Packers victory over the Eagles last week.

Take that with the fact that the Falcons have a suspect run defense, and things are looking good for Green Bay and their newly discovered ground game.

3. The Chance To Forget About Favre

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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 05: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings hugs Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers following the Vikings victory over the Packers on October 5, 2009 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (P

Not completely, but if Aaron Rodgers can lead the Packers to another road playoff victory and possibly get them all the way to Dallas, Green Bay fans will be able to forget old No. 4, at least for a little while.

Rodgers has been great since taking over the starting quarterback position once Brett Favre left. But Favre won a Super Bowl for that city, and until Aaron Rodgers shows signs of that he might be able to do the same, the pressure will always be on.

It isn't winning the Super Bowl, but beating the NFC's best team on the road is a pretty darn good start.

2. Playing Great at The Right Time

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after a sack against the Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelp

When you get to the playoffs, every team is good. The key for those teams is to be playing your best football at the right time, which is exactly what the Green Bay Packers are doing.

The Packers closed out the regular season with two strong wins over the Giants and Bears, and then beat Michael Vick and the Eagles in the opening round. They have a certain swagger to them, which is needed at this time of year when you go up against the best of the best.

If Green Bay can continue to play as good as they have been as of late, watch out, Atlanta. Your Super Bowl run might be over before it even got underway.

1. Because Aaron Rodgers Is Flat Out Better

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philad

This very well could be one of those playoff series that keeps popping up in years to come, and these two teams could very well begin a rivalry that starts with this game right here.

But the key players who are going to take center stage in this matchup will be the quarterbacks. Matt Ryan versus Aaron Rodgers. Young gun against other young gun.

Matt Ryan had an outstanding season for the Falcons. I said it before and I will say it again, if it hadn't been for those two guys named Brady and Vick, these two very well could have been Nos. 1 and 2 in the MVP voting this season.

But right now, when it matters most, Aaron Rodgers is a better quarterback then Matt Ryan. Not by much. Both are great. But if you had to choose one, give me Rodgers. Now that he has a playoff victory to work with, he wants to get No. 2. If he plays like he is capable of playing in this matchup, he will get that second playoff win. And a big smile to go along with it.