Another Rematch, Another Tough Test

In their first playoff appearance since reaching the NFC Championship game in 2012, the Falcons manhandled the Seahawks, using their own formula against them. Now, they will play the Packers while Aaron Rodgers is on one of his trademark buzz saw tours.

In what is now officially last the game in the Georgia Dome, the Falcons will be tasked with winning their fifth straight rematch game this season.

In their four previous rematches, the Falcons averaged an increase in yards and points per game on offense, and on the defensive side they also averaged a decrease in points allowed and yards per game. Aside from the first Panthers, game where they rushed for 49 yards and then 115 the next, the defense did a fantastic job of making adjustments in the rematches. Granted, most these rematches were against teams not in the playoffs - but two of them were against teams in the playoffs or within a game of making it, one against a team that went the Super Bowl last season and the last against a team that has quarterback just as good as Aaron Rodgers.

These adjustments are the quintessential signs that the program is working. If your offense can continue to improve on a defense that has entire body of film on you to prepare for, thats the sign of a truly lethal offense.

On top of that, a defense that hasn't been noticed for its growth, development and pure athleticism is also making the biggest adjustments when the opponents have a body of film on what works against them.

These are the types of trends you want to see in a team that is gearing up for their fifth rematch of the season. It's the sign of a team that the moment wont be too big for them, their able to overcome losing the first to playing better in the second. They can also handle the pressure of fending off an opponent's revenge factor, both on the road and at home.

This rematch is a much different burden to bear than the others. This time you've got an MVP-caliber quarterback on one of the hottest streaks in football history.

Against most quarterbacks, you want to pressure them and force them out of the pocket to make them uncomfortable. But Rodgers thrives outside of the pocket, in fact, he has a perfect passer rating outside of the pocket during his "run the table" streak. What the Falcons need to do is contain Rodgers in the pocket and when they get a chance to get him, you have to make sure you take him down or he will torch you.

Something the Cowboys got toasted for by the football pundits after the fact is that they didn't run the ball enough to churn the clock and keep the ball out of Rodgers hands. The Falcons are versatile enough on offense to either ground and pound or go for aerial attack. This game will most likely be a shootout with controlled weather conditions in a dome, but what gives the Falcons an edge is that they can also control the clock in the air. They throw the ball to their backs better than anyone, they stretch the field with Julio's crossing patterns and then they hammer you up the middle and on the edges with running game.

The difference maker in this matchup is going to be the defense's ability against Aaron Rodgers. If Beasley and Freeney can rush from the edge with Jarrett, Babineaux & Co. keeping Rodgers in front of them, they'll stand a chance to prevent the big play. Rodgers' improv is what opens a receiver to slip behind the defense. But within the pocket, the defensive backs stand a chance cover routine routes and defend passes.

These are the things you saw against the Seahawks. They contained an athletic Russell Wilson and kept the receivers in front of them, in addition to that, when he did escape outside the pocket they kept the pressure on him. Rodgers is comfortable outside the pocket because most teams don't have a speed demon rusher like Beasley that can chase Rodgers.

Get off the field on third down, keep Rodgers in the pocket and the receivers in sight, and do what you do on offense. Those are the recipes for success this week.

The Falcons have passed the first playoff test. They've passed the last four rematch tests. It starts and ends with the bald guy on the headset. Dan Quinn built an environment in Flowery Branch that doesn't promote any game more important than the last or the next. It's an attitude change that has made a huge difference in the mental preparation. It's an attitude change that has the ability to carry the Falcons to Houston if they can pass their next test.