Each week this season, I’ve been taking a trip back in time to look at a game between the Green Bay Packers and their opponent during that given week. A random number generator has been deciding which game I cover. So far, I’ve covered a 1999 win against the Vikings and a 1981 loss to the Jets. This week: let’s look at the Atlanta Falcons, whom the Packers have played 36 total times.
I want to preface this by saying I PROMISE that this number was random. We’re going to look at the 28th overall matchup
between the two teams, which happens to be one of my favorite football games of all time: the 2010 NFC Divisional Playoff game, which took place on January 15th, 2011. I could talk about this game all day, but I’ll try to keep it as concise as possible.
Entering the Game
After a heartbreaking end to the 2009 season which saw them lose what is still the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history, the 2010 Green Bay Packers had been put through the wringer. Week after week, another player suffered a season-ending injury. They lost RB Ryan Grant, DE Justin Harrell, LB Nick Barnett, TE Jermichael Finley, S Morgan Burnett, RT Mark Tauscher, LB Brady Poppinga, LB Brad Jones, DE Mike Neal, LB Brandon Chillar, TE Spencer Havner, S Derrick Martin, S Anthony Smith…who else?
Oh! Rising star QB Aaron Rodgers missed a game with a concussion (his second of the year!), while the team was in the middle of a high stakes battle for the playoffs. LB Clay Matthews missed a game while battling a lingering hamstring injury. Always-reliable WR Donald Driver missed a game due to injury for the first time since the 2003 season. DE Cullen Jenkins missed a number of games with a calf injury. I mean, the Packers quite literally limped into the playoffs as the #6 seed with a 10-6 record.
And then…they won their first playoff game, the Wild Card matchup against the #3 seed Philadelphia Eagles (another game I could talk about for days). Suddenly, we were feeling a little powerful. There was a big, BIG game coming up next, however: the 13-3 #1 seed Atlanta Falcons, who had beaten the Packers earlier that season, 20-17. Their biggest test yet.
Key Moments
Things got off to a horrible start for the offense. After the Packers forced a punt on the Falcons’ first drive, RB James Starks lost 3 yards on 1st and 10. Aaron Rodgers then threw an incompletion. And on 3rd and 10: a 30 yard completion to Greg Jennings…who fumbled.
Already in Packers territory, the Falcons scored, eating up almost 4 minutes of clock in the process. The Packers needed to answer, and they did, with a drive which ended in a 6 yard Jordy Nelson TD. All tied up, 7-7.
The ensuing kickoff by Mason Crosby was promptly returned 102 yards by Eric Weems for a TD. This was, at the time, the longest play in NFL playoff history. For the Packers and their fans watching the game, it was a crushing blow. Falcons 14, Packers 7.
The Packers then…scored again to tie things at 14? I’m sorry, do we have a shootout on our hands? Answer: no! The Falcons got the ball back with 6 minutes left in the first half, and were hopeful of going into halftime with a lead. Instead, Matt Ryan went on to throw an endzone interception to Tramon Williams, who was putting together a nice little playoff highlight reel. We then witnessed an Aaron Rodgers masterclass, as he got the Packers back into the endzone in under 2 minutes. Packers 21, Falcons 14.
But wait! There’s more!
With 37 seconds left in the first half, the Falcons tried their best to get downfield. With the Packers set to have the first possession after halftime, even a field goal would’ve been helpful. They were almost there, but there was enough time left for another play before they attempted to kick. One might even say “they tried to bite off more yardage and…”, well, you know what happened next.
Suddenly, it was halftime, and the game had completely turned on its head. The Packers were up 28-14, and got the ball back to start the second half. What do you know, they scored again! Packers 35, Falcons 14.
After a quick three and out by the Falcons, the Packers got the ball back and, you guessed it: scored again. After being down 14-7, the Packers scored 35 unanswered points, and were up 42-14. The Falcons would go on to score just once more during the remainder of the game, while Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers ate up the remainder of the game clock, adding 6 more points in the process.
The Outcome
When the clock hit 00:00, the Packers found themselves heading to the NFC Championship for the first time in 3 years after taking down the juggernaut Atlanta Falcons, 48-21. Aaron Rodgers gave us one of the greatest games we’ve ever seen from him, completing 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs. James Starks led the team on the ground, rushing 25 times for 66 yards. 4 different receivers had at least 75 yards: James Jones (75), Donald Driver (76), Jordy Nelson (79), and Greg Jennings (101). Tramon Williams finished the night with 2 INTs and 1 TD. Clay Matthews (2), Charles Woodson (1), C.J. Wilson (1), and B.J. Raji (1) all recorded at least one sack.
The Packers would go on to beat the division rival Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship, 21-14, and they traveled back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1997 season. Then, and it never gets old saying this, the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25. Pure bliss.
The 1-1 Packers play their 2026 home opener on Thursday Night Football against the 0-2 Atlanta Falcons at 7:15 PM local time.
