It’s been mentioned numerous times in one way or another. The Green Bay Packers could face the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs and thus, they did themselves no favors in losing on Sunday night.
The Falcons are a different team at home on turf than they are on the road, on grass. The Packers’ best chance to beat them would be in Lambeau Field.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked if he felt his team closed the gap on the Falcons since the NFC Championship blowout. His response was telling.
“I think we can beat anybody at home. So I don’t know. We don’t look at it as closing the gap. Obviously, if it comes down to some sort of tiebreaker when we get down into December and January, this game could be a big one and we might have to come back here. But I think we can beat anyone at home.”
Clearly, Rodgers knew what was potentially at stake in that game. He also obviously doesn’t want to play in Atlanta again.
The response also suggests Rodgers isn’t confident the Packers can win in Atlanta. And that’s fine, because neither is anyone else. The Falcons are built for speed and they play in the perfect environment for that type of team. Outside on grass, they’re just like anybody else.
Rodgers said it after the NFC Championship game — we need home-field advantage in the playoffs. It wasn’t the Packers night for any number of reasons, but everyone knows they squandered a huge opportunity.