Falcons-Packers Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Ryan isn't ready for Lambeau FieldThis game is worth watching to compare two young franchise quarterbacks who are expected to be the cornerstones of their respective teams. QB Matt Ryan is being counted on to resurrect the struggling Falcons, while QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to keep the Packers at, or near, the top of the NFC North. Both teams are 2-2 and hope to rebound, after losing last weekend, by featuring their hard-running ball carriers who fight for every yard they get.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
ATL	11-5	391	325	7-1	4-4	3-3	8-4
GNB	6-10	419	380	4-4	2-6	4-2	5-7
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Atlanta Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Ryan 58.3 2916 22 14 Redman 58.0 781 4 3

Green Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rodger... 64.7 4434 30 7 Flynn 58.3 58 0 1

Atlanta Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Turner 178 871 4.9 10 Snelli... 142 613 4.3 4

Green Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Grant 282 1253 4.4 11 Rodger... 58 316 5.4 5

Atlanta Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD White 85 1153 13.6 11 Gonzal... 83 867 10.4 6

Green Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jennin... 68 1113 16.4 4 Driver 70 1061 15.2 6

Full Player Stats: Atlanta | Green Bay

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	ATL	361.0
	GNB	351.0
Yards Passing	ATL	208.5
	GNB	238.3
Yards Rushing	ATL	152.7
	GNB	112.8
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	ATL	348.3
	GNB	334.3
Pass Yds Allowed	ATL	220.4
	GNB	202.8
Rush Yds Allowed	ATL	127.9
	GNB	131.6

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Atlanta leads 3-2
Nov 13, 2005	ATL 25, @GNB 33
Jan 4, 2003	ATL 27, GNB 7
Sep 8, 2002	ATL 34, GNB 37
Nov 18, 2001	ATL 23, GNB 20

The Green Bay Packers are accustomed to having a quarterback that can play through injuries. If Aaron Rodgers has his way, that will continue this weekend.

Rodgers and the Packers try to avoid a third straight loss when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers intends to play this weekend despite suffering a shoulder injury in Green Bay's 30-21 loss at Tampa Bay last Sunday. Rodgers hurt his throwing shoulder in the third quarter when he reached the ball out trying to get a first down and was tackled hard. He initially thought he separated the shoulder, but the Packers (2-2) are calling it a sprain.

If he's healthy, Rodgers will be making his fifth start since taking over for Brett Favre, who started a quarterback-record 253 consecutive regular-season games for Green Bay before he was traded to the New York Jets.

"Listen, I want to play every game," Rodgers said. "I don't need that, 'Oh, you've got to play because Brett played 250 in a row.' I don't need that. I have pride in myself. I've played with some serious injuries before, so that's personal pride. I don't need any extra fuel to play."

Rodgers, who was 14-of-27 for 165 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions last Sunday, performed only a few handoffs before leaving practice on Wednesday. Rookie Matt Flynn is expected to back up Rodgers, whose main concern is building strength in the shoulder.

"He's very positive, feels that he's improving," McCarthy said, "and I'm going to give him every possible chance to play in the game."

McCarthy hopes to have Rodgers back, given the struggles of the Packers' running game. Green Bay was held to a season-low 181 yards of total offense against the Buccaneers on Sunday, including only 28 yards rushing -- its fewest rushing yards since having only 21 in a loss to Minnesota in 2005.

The Packers' net rushing yard total has also declined in each of their four games. Ryan Grant, who broke out in his rookie season for 956 yards and eight touchdowns last year, has 186 yards and no touchdowns this season. He had only 20 yards on 15 carries Sunday as he continues to battle through a hamstring injury.

"It all fits together," McCarthy said of the connection between the struggles of the run game and Grant's health. "You make statements of rhythm, timing, footwork ... they all mean something. The cohesiveness of it all working in conjunction together is important and that's definitely not there right now."

The Packers opened the season with wins over NFC North rivals Minnesota and Detroit, but are now trying to avoid three straight losses for the first time since 2006. They have a good chance at doing so against the Falcons, whose struggles on the road this season so far have been even worse than those from last year.

Atlanta (2-2) has lost five straight and nine of the last 10 on the road, including two road losses this year. The Falcons averaged 13.5 points on the road last season -- fifth-worst in the NFL -- and 306.5 offensive yards per game on the road -- ninth-worst -- but they've struggled even more in the two road games this season, scoring only nine points in each.

The Falcons are coming off a 24-9 loss at Carolina last Sunday. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan was 21-of-41 for 158 yards while Michael Turner, who rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Kansas City the week before, was held to 56 yards on 18 carries against the Panthers.

Turner has rushed for 324 yards and five touchdowns in the home wins while he's been limited to 98 yards and no touchdowns in the road losses. Ryan has had similar inconsistency. He's completed only 45.9 percent of his passes on the road with two interceptions and no touchdowns, while at home, he has a completion percentage of 67.7 and has two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Falcons scored 34 points in their home win against Detroit on Sept. 7 and 38 in a home win over Kansas City on Sept. 21.

"We know we can improve," receiver Brian Finneran said. "We know we can play better at different times. We won great at home ... We need to figure out why we're not doing it on the road."

This is the first meeting between the teams since 2005 and the first at Lambeau Field since the Falcons' 27-7 playoff victory on Jan. 4, 2003.

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