Packers vs. Falcons: 4 Ways Atlanta Can Hand Green Bay 1st Loss

After the Green Bay Packers romped the NFC's top seeded Atlanta Falcons 48-21 in the playoffs last January, the Falcons set out not only to avenge their loss but to recover from their dismantling and return to playing championship football. 

A stellar 13-3 season that included a win in Green Bay was all but worthless by the time the playoffs rolled around. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, fueled by their momentum building win against Michael Vick and the Eagles, simply played a game of throw and catch as the Atlanta secondary ran helplessly around the field.

It didn't help when Matt Ryan threw an errant pass to Green Bay cornerback Tramon Williams who returned his interception for a touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half.

It was by all accounts, a blowout.

Now, months later, Ryan and the Falcons seek revenge on the undefeated Green Bay Packers. While the Falcons have limped, rather than ran, out of the gates to start the season, nothing will upstart Atlanta like a win over the very team that embarrassed them on their home turf in Ryan's most quintessential game of his career.

Here are four ways Ryan and the Falcons can get out of their funk and avenge their playoff defeat.

Tighten Up Offensive Line Play

The Falcons allowed 23 total sacks last season. They've already allowed 13 this season.

While the loss of Harvey Dahl was expected to weaken the overall strength of the offensive line, no one could have foreseen the Falcons letting Ryan get this much heat. Sam Baker has been ripped to shreds week in and week out, and Ryan is feeling pressure like never before.

This not only affects Ryan's efficiency; it also hurts the running game. The Falcons lean on Michael Turner to pave the way for the offense by gaining yards early and opening up the play action for later in the game. With Turner getting stuffed routinely at the line of scrimmage, it's hard to set the tone at the beginning of the game while linebackers corral Turner in the backfield. 

The offensive line certainly has the capability to block for Ryan and Turner, which is evidenced by last year's strong play. It's an issue of individual match ups and the offensive line needs to work more as a unit than as individuals. 

Get Back to Running the Football

While the offensive line play has been spotty to start the season, the Falcons have also nearly abandoned the game plan that brought them so much success last season: Pound. Pass. Pound.

Open the game by pounding out yard after yard with Turner. Use his success to open the passing game. Pound it out again to finish the game.

Ryan may be the star of the offense, but Turner is the cornerstone. Without his establishment, the Falcons struggle to produce offensively. 

Mike Mularkey, the Falcons offensive coordinator, sees throwing the ball more as the next step for the development of Matt Ryan. Giving him more opportunities most certainly will benefit him and make him a better player, but this team was not designed to be an air it out all the time team. 

If Atlanta wants to knock off Green Bay, they need Turner to break through early. For him to do that, they need the offensive line to produce.

It won't be easy with Clay Matthews and the big, bad Packers blitzing down the Falcons' throat, but if the Falcons use the same formula that led them to a win at Green Bay last regular season and 12 other wins, then there is no reason they shouldn't come out on top tonight.

Don't Force the Big Play

The Falcons traded the farm to select Julio Jones sixth overall in the NFL draft in order to stimulate the big play ability of the team. With Roddy White as more of a possession receiver, the hope was someone as big, fast and physical as Jones would fuel the Falcons in their big play ability.

While Jones has certainly made his fair share of spectacular plays this season, in the new pass-heavy offense, it's all too easy for Ryan to force the big play down the field.

While the ability to make big plays was actually a legitimate concern for Atlanta last season, and a large part of why they lost to Green Bay in the playoffs, the temptation to force it is one that needs to be avoided. 

Ryan needs to get back to what he did all so well a season ago: taking what the defense gives him. The term is cliche, but its importance is true. Ryan can't try and force what's not there because if he does, Atlanta will see a score similar to the last score they saw in January, along with more plays that result in Tramon Williams, or someone else, streaking down the sideline. 

Forcing plays down the field plagued Ryan in the playoff showdown last season, and it's plagued him early this season as well. The thought was that the Falcons didn't have enough playmakers to make those plays for Ryan.

Jones may be a step in the right direction for big play ability, but it doesn't mean Atlanta should abandon the run game like they have and swing for the fences every down (aside from last week when Turner got 20-plus touches).

Put Pressure on Aaron Rodgers

Atlanta wasn't afraid to toss some money around this offseason. They saw weaknesses and rightfully addressed them. One of these was their ability to pressure the opposing quarterback. If there was ever an example of this being evident in Atlanta's defense, it was a few months ago when the Packers, as mentioned several times, smashed the Falcons in the Georgia Dome.

Aaron Rodgers sat in the pocket all day and was able to throw the ball down the field because the secondary can only hold receivers at bay for so long. With the defensive line not hurrying Rodgers, he was able to smoothly conduct his offense and lead them down the field time after time.

When the Falcons addressed this weakness this offseason, they targeted Ray Edwards, a defensive end capable of racking up more than 10 sacks a season. His impact has been palpable up to this point, and the Falcons have seen an influx of sacks and hurried quarterbacks.

If Atlanta really wants to hand Rodgers and the Packers their first loss, they'll have to hammer him in the ground, one sack a time.

This means Edwards will have to prove his worth opposite John Abraham and not allow Rodgers to sit back and orchestrate another onslaught.