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The Packers will have to do without Aaron Rodgers again

Since they lost their starting quarter back, the Green bay boys are on a 0-4-1 record, having been recording only 16,4 points in that period (compared to the 30,3 in the eight games before that)

After a rocky start to the season, the Green Bay Packers won four times in a row and seemed to be taking big steps towards the play off. But, something that might destroy their season happened then. Aaron Rodger was on the path of getting the MVP title this season up until he broke the collar bone in the game against the Bears. That is why he missed the last five games. His team didn't win any of those five (0-4-1). The defeat in Detroit 40-10 was particularly painful - they slipped to the third position of the North Division after it.

- We're still in. We need the Lions to lose at least two games, but the most important things is that we win the four remaining ones. We have to control what we can do. It starts this weekend. We simply have to win - said Rodgers, who won't be able to help his team tonight.

- Aaron Rodgers is still not ready to play. He won't be in the game on Sunday. That's very frustrating for him - coach McCarthy confirmed on Friday. His team is meeting only one opponent who have a positive record till the end of the season.

Rodger's not playing means Matt Flynn will be in. He completed 10 out of 20 passes for only 139 yards with one interception in his first start for the Packers this season. He is the fourth quarter back who played for the Packers this season. Rodger and Wallace are out due to injuries, and Tolzien is out because he passed for only one touch down with five interceptions in the three games he played.

- I think he did quite well today - coach McCarthy said about his quarter back after the Friday practice.

Running back Eddie Lacy, who is ninth best in the league in rushing yards (822), could be busy tonight. He certainly won't lack motivation having recorded only 16 yards in ten carries in Detroit. 

Since they lost Rodgers, the Green Bay boys are recording only 16,4 points (compared to 30,3 they were recording in the first eight games). If that goes on in the same fashion, the defense could be under a great pressure by the Atlanta Falcons who are in just slightly better mood after the Sunday game in which they managed to beat the Bills in Canada in over time. Mike Smith's chosen men thus ended their five-game losing run, at the same time making the fact they won't play the play off slightly less horrible.

- I think we can always do better. I think we can always hope things will get better. We simply have to be consistent in what we do day after day, week after week - said Steven Jackson, who advanced 84 yards in 23 carries (his best this season), having been recording only 36,4 in the last seven games.

The Falcons advanced 423 yards against the Bills, and despite being sacked 6 times, Matt Ryan completed 28 out of 47 passes for 311 yards and one touch down. That was the first time in the five games that he passed for more than 300 yards. Roddy White caught 10 of his passes, advancing 143 yards. Tony Gonzales scored a touch down despite struggling with a finger injury. He is one of the four players who couldn't practice properly during this week, but who should play today. The other three are Peter Konz, line backer Weatherspoor, and substitute safety Motta.

Defense was the Falcons' great problem so far - they are conceding 28,3 point in average, but we have to see whether Flynn can take advantage of its weaknesses.

Having almost reached the final last year, the Falcons opened this season with a lot of ambition, but they never actually 'klicked', and the injuries in some crucial moments didn't help much either. The play off is water under the bridge, but they proved there's still motivation left last week when they managed to make a comeback against the Bills and win in extra time. Jackson and White are back on track, Matt Ryan has a much more impressive sheet than Matt Flynn, who is the forth quarter back that played for the Packers this season. Rodgers and Wallace are injured and won't play, and Tolzien lost his position in the team after passing for only one touch down with five interceptions in the three games he played. Flynn started for the first time this season last week in Detroit where he completed 10 out of the 20 passes for only 139 yards with one interception. True, the Falcons defense is not even remotely as good as the Lions', but I sincerely doubt Flynn's quality since he was losing staring positions throughout his carrier, despite being announced as the starter or at least the first understudy prior to the seasons (Seahawks, Raiders, Bills). He is a far cry from Rodgers and how much the Packers miss their starting quarter back is clear if you know they've been scoring 16,4 points without him, having been scoring 30,3 in the previous eight games. I would not be surprised if the Falcons leave the Lambeau Field in a much better mood than the home team.