2011 NFL Playoffs: Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons Preview

January 13, 2011   ·   Zach Kruse   ·   Jump to comments

To explain why the Green Bay Packers (11-6) and Atlanta Falcons (13-3) will play on Saturday to decide who goes to the NFC Championship game, both franchises can look back on one very significant decision.
The selection of their quarterback.
The Packers took Aaron Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 draft, and after three seasons behind Brett Favre, Green Bay gave Rodgers the keys to the whole franchise in 2008.
He's led the Packers to two straight playoff appearances since, and has had one of the greatest three-year stretches of quarterback play in franchise history (12,394 yards and 86 touchdowns).
The Falcons took a similar, but yet very different route to their quarterback. Just a year removed from losing the immensely popular Michael Vick to prison, Atlanta drafted Matt Ryan with the third pick in the 2008 draft, and he's been the starter ever since.
Ryan has led the Falcons to 33 wins since taking over, including three straight winning seasons for the ...

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