The Green Bay Packers held on in a must-win game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field to keep their playoff hopes alive.
- Quarterback Matt Flynn displayed the good and the bad in the Packers' win. When he makes quick decisions and gets the ball out quickly, he can be effective. However, too often he hops around in the pocket and isn't decisive. He still struggles with deep passes, but he completed enough throws to wide receiver Jordy Nelson to get the Packers the win.
- Neither of these defenses are very good. The Packers held the Falcons scoreless in the second half, but they weren't exactly stalwarts. Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews was invisible for most of the game. The Packers didn't take advantage of a weak Falcons offensive line. The Falcons' defense was predictably soft. The unit's five sacks had more to do with Flynn holding the ball too long than a great pass rush.
- If not for two turnovers, the Falcons wouldn't have made it close. Quarterback Matt Ryan couldn't get things going for his offense, and his receivers dropped several catchable passes. Running back Steven Jackson showed some spryness on cutback runs, taking advantage of Packers defenders leaving their lanes. The Falcons had just 26 yards on the first four possessions of the second half.
- Packers tight end Andrew Quarless had a great game. The fourth-year pro consistently got open and was a viable target for Flynn over the middle. Quarless led the team with seven targets.
- Green Bay's Eddie Lacy struggled again this week against a stacked box. The rookie running back had just 65 yards on 20 carries.
- The Packers now sit one-half game back in the NFC North. Needless to say, the calls for quarterback Aaron Rodgers' return will be loud in Green Bay this week.
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