Week 5 sees the 2-2 Packers back at home for a date with 2-2 Atlanta.  The Packers-Falcons have a few interesting things between them.  Of course, the 1992 trade of Brett Favre for a draft pick from Atlanta to Green Bay ranks at the top of any list.  In favour of the Falcons, there was the 2002 NFC wild card win at Lambeau.  Overall however, the Packers vs. Falcons enters its 25th game.  The Packers lead 12-10 during regular season play. 

Don’t be fooled by these improved Falcons - this is still for the most part - a 4-12 team from a season ago with a rookie QB.  Despite the rumblings since Rodgers hit the turf last weekend - look for him to coming running out of that tunnel Sunday afternoon and start.  Rodgers has to prove his ’soft, oft-injured naysayers wrong’ and at the same time, help the team turn around their seasons fortunes - coach McCarthy says Mr. Rodgers will be a game-time decision but to me, that decision has been made.  You can’t get a better matchup to rebound against after two straight loses at home and on the road.

This Packers team looks like that family on a road trip that took a wrong turn and are just itching to get back on the highway.  I expect Matt Flynn to take the field at some point later in the game to preserve a tender but otherwise healthy Rodgers - to me, that is more the game-time decision; At which point do you take Rodgers out and insert Flynn? Sure the Packers are banged up - buy hey, this is the NFL and it just goes to show their players are paying the price and some, playing through the pain. 

This week the Pack learned they will lose DT Cullen Jenkins for the remainder of the season.  He joins Al Harris on that dubious list.  His spot on the roster was promptly filled by offensive linebacker and Jacksonville Jags castaway Kenny Pettway.  The Packers defensevie injury woes may lighten after Week 6 if tackle Justin Harrell (who is eligible to come of the PUP list) can show he belongs in the NFL.  His time with the organization, due to his ‘injury history’, has narrowed quickly and unless he can somehow overcome injury and remain healthy, the 2007 first rounder may end up on the outside looking in before long.  Linebacker A.J. Hawk will also be a game-time decision.  A.J. has started to come into form this season.

The Falcons are in one of the most improved divisions, the NFC south and the likes of Carolina, New Orleans and Tampa Bay all seem to have an edge on them at this point in the season. 

The Packers need to build a better run D, plain and simple.  It isn’t so much about improving it - its about going back to basics and each guy doing his part and buying into the coach’ ideals.  Let’s hope Michael Turner doesn’t enjoy cooler weather.

In other Packer news..

- Local Fox TV affiliate (CH 11) and cable company Time Warner, are in kahoots over compensation and of course, Fox is airing the game Sunday.  As of midnight Oct 2nd, Time Warner has no Fox on the lineup. So, Packer fans with cable through Time Warner will be forced back to basics - rabbit ears!  Around Green Bay one can pickup all major US Networks (including Fox) free with an antenna.  Seems Time Warner has no problems making sure their customers see the game now, as its been reported there are giving customers free antenna’s. 

-  If your a diehard Packer fan of things #4 (you’ve got to be, to be reading my blog!), then this item recently posted for sale in suburban Green Bay may be just what your looking for. 

- This past Tuesday could have had more impact on the Packers defense and not due to injury this time.   In an incident steeming back to around the start of pre-seaso (reported here in a previous blog of mine), Packers tackle Johnny Jolly had been involved with a brush with the law.  He was to have seen a judge in Houston, TX but the hearing has been postponed until Tuesday Oct 28th.  Good news, for now, for the Packers and Jolly.  The team will at least have his services availble for this weekends game and then games vs. Seattle next weekend, and Indianapolis the following week before heading into the week 8, the Packers bye week.

For the Falcons’ fan perspective on this game, be sure the checkout STB’s Dan Rakusan’ blog here.

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