I must grudgingly admit my admiration for the Atlanta Falcons. This is a team that knows it’s identity and sticks to the game plan. The Atlanta Falcons are going to run the ball hard using Turner and then allow Matt Ryan to pick away until a big play opens up. Time and time again the Falcons have been in hard fought NFL games, only to hang around and deliver the kill shot in the last minute. It’s a game plan that has brought Atlanta to the #1 seed in the NFL. It works for them.
The Green Bay Packers are a more explosive team. Aarron Rodgers has to deliver for them to be successful. And he’s done it. I think it’s safe to say that Rodgers has gotten past the whole Favre ghost and made his mark in Green Bay. Throw in a Packers defense that can shut down opponents and get that crucial turnover and it’s easy to see why Green Bay is drawing fans to their camp. And the Packers may have found their x-factor. Running back James Stark exploded in the Wild Card round against the Philadelphia Eagles, running for 123 yards and giving Rodgers an effective weapon to keep defenses honest.
So it comes down to this: Which team can impose it’s will against the other, force their opponent into changing their style? Atlanta is 20-2 with Matt Ryan in the Georgia Dome. That’s a tough thing for the Packers to handle. But I belive Aarron Rodgers is up to the task. No winner picks here but this is going to be a hell of a game.