Top matchups in Packers vs. Falcons in Week 2
The Week 2 showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons offers an exciting matchup between two young teams with playoff aspirations in the NFC. The Falcons are led by Arthur Smith, who worked with Packers coach Matt LaFleur in Tennessee. Both teams have young starting quarterbacks, exciting skill position talent and the ability to win at the line of scrimmage and make plays in coverage.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the best individual matchups within Packers-Falcons on Sunday:
Packers DL Devonte Wyatt vs. Falcons RG Chris Lindstrom: Wyatt had six pressures and 1.5 sacks in the season opener, a potential jumping off performance to start his second year. Lindstrom was a second-team All-Pro at guard last season. A perfect test for the Packers’ 2022 first-round pick.
Packers QB Jordan Love vs. Falcons S Jessie Bates: Love didn’t have a turnover during his first start. Bates forced three takeaways, including two interceptions, during his Falcons debut. The turnover battle — and maybe the game — might be won and lost in this matchup.
Packers OLB Rashan Gary vs. Falcons RT Caleb McGary: 2019 first-round pick vs. 2019 first-round pick. Gary was dominant despite playing only 12 snaps in Chicago, while McGary had his hands full with Brian Burns in the opener. Desmond Ridder didn’t complete a pass under pressure in Week 1.
Packers C Josh Myers vs. Falcons DL Grady Jarrett: While flanked by Elgton Jenkins and Jon Runyan on the interior of the Packers offensive, Myers struggled in the season opener and now gets a matchup against one of the NFL’s top interior disruptors. The third-year center must be better in Week 2.
Packers DL Kenny Clark vs. Falcons LG Matthew Bergeron: The Falcons’ second-round pick didn’t allow a pressure in his NFL debut. Can he keep Clark out of the backfield on Sunday? Clark could be a menace against the run.
Packers CB Jaire Alexander vs. Falcons WR Drake London: Despite catching 72 passes as a rookie, London didn’t have a single catch over 47 snaps in Week 1. Will Alexander, who helped shut down D.J. Moore, keep London under wraps again?
Packers TE Luke Musgrave vs. Falcons LB Troy Andersen: Can Andersen, who gave up a couple of catches to Hayden Hurst in the opener, keep up with Musgrave’s speed? The Falcons linebacker has elite speed himself. In terms of overall athleticism, this is a terrific one-on-one matchup.
Packers LB Quay Walker vs. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson: It’s unclear Walker, who is in concussion protocol, will play. The Packers need his athleticism to chase Robinson all over the field, both in the run and passing games.
Packers LB De’Vondre Campbell vs. Falcons QB Desmond Ridder: Of Ridder’s 15 completions in Week 1, eight came behind the line of scrimmage, including five screens. Campbell (and possibly safety Darnell Savage, too) must go hunting against the short passing game.
