This had the makings of a down-to-the-wire contest between two groups with playoff aspirations within the NFC. That’s precisely what we acquired with the Falcons rising with a slender 25-24 victory to maneuver to 2-0 on the season. It was a 25-yard subject objective from Younghoe Koo that gave the Falcons the deciding lead.

Sunday’s efficiency was removed from excellent, however these are the forms of video games that good groups win. It’s been some time since we’ve been capable of say that about Atlanta. Then once more, it’s been some time because the Falcons began a season 2-0.

With that, let’s get to some takeaways.

Falcons proceed to indicate workforce resiliency

There have been a number of moments within the Falcons’ first two video games of their younger season the place the result threatened to get away from them. In these situations, Atlanta’s response was spectacular.

The perfect response for the Falcons on Sunday got here within the fourth quarter. After Inexperienced Bay took a 24-12 lead late within the third quarter, Atlanta’s objective of beginning 2-0 seemed unlikely. Offensively, the Falcons as soon as once more turned to their run sport to prepared the ground, and a few explosive cross performs helped preserve the Packers off-balance. Defensively, a decided run protection slowed down Inexperienced Bay.

The end result was a lopsided fourth quarter within the Falcons’ favor that allowed the house workforce to earn a powerful victory in what felt like an early combat between two NFC playoff groups. Smith’s tenure up to now has been outlined by his workforce’s means to remain in video games all the way down to the wire. That was as soon as once more the case Sunday, however the on-hand expertise is now adequate to emerge with precise victories as a substitute of ethical ones.

Bijan Robinson crosses 100 yards on the bottom

In solely his second profession NFL sport, Robinson topped the 100-yard mark on the bottom. Whereas it’s been touch-and-go for the Falcons’ offense up to now this season, Robinson has been electrical with the ball in his fingers.

His imaginative and prescient, burst and physique management have all translated totally to the skilled degree, and one can’t assist however maintain one’s breath every time he has the ball. In opposition to a stout Packers entrance, Robinson was extremely environment friendly and the driving pressure for Atlanta’s offense.

It was Robinson who broke free for 7 yards on a crucial fourth-and-1 late within the fourth quarter, which was arguably the deciding play of the sport. The extremely touted rookie completed with 19 carries for 124 yards – a mean of 6.5 yards – and caught 4 passes for 48 yards.

What’s Atlanta’s offensive identification?

It’s nonetheless very early within the season, and I might truly be fairly shocked if we already had a solution to this query. However the truth that I can’t actually establish what this Falcons offense is true now’s both a extremely good factor or a extremely dangerous factor. For the reason that constructive final result is a longer-term idea, let’s go forward and handle the regarding facet of the coin.

This unit’s manufacturing appears to vacillate wildly from drive to drive. Contemplate the primary two possessions after halftime. The primary: a three-and-out that featured 4 consecutive incomplete passes by Ridder. The second: a 13-play, 60-yard drive that featured eight runs and 4 passes, solely one in every of which – a good finish display – was accomplished.

Smith has not been secretive about his need to indicate extra stability offensively this 12 months, nevertheless it’s clear at this level within the season that the Falcons’ run sport is getting outcomes and their cross sport is getting them in bother. It’s not incorrect for Atlanta to proceed throwing the ball, as a result of it does in the end want that stability. The correct mix simply hasn’t been there persistently but.

Hollins’s tip-toe landing overturned

Atlanta’s offense returned to its roots within the third quarter, turning to its proficient operating backs to impose its will on the Packers. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier responded, carrying the ball eight occasions for 49 yards and reestablishing the Falcons’ rhythm.

The workforce appeared to be all the way in which again when Desmond Ridder discovered Mack Hollins behind the tip zone for a leaping seize. Initially, it was dominated a landing with Hollins getting each units of toes down in bounds. After reviewing the play, nonetheless, the decision was overturned and the Falcons confronted a second-and-10 from the 11-yard line.

Atlanta misplaced 2 yards on every of its subsequent two performs, and Arthur Smith despatched in Younghoe Koo to shut the deficit to 17-12. It was one more missed alternative for the Falcons within the pink zone, a defining theme of Sunday’s sport.

Hollins had a powerful outing in his second sport for Atlanta, catching three passes for 60 yards, together with a deep shot on a trick play. Ridder struggled at occasions on Sunday, however he completed with a good stat line: 19-of-32 for 237 yards with a landing and an interception.

A story of two pink zones

Every offense on this sport began with a three-and-out – the Packers had two – earlier than placing collectively prolonged drives that resulted in factors. Sadly for the Falcons, the Packers got here away with seven factors whereas Atlanta may solely muster three.

After reaching the 1-yard line because of a cross interference penalty, the Falcons had three makes an attempt to cross the objective line however got here up brief every time. The sequence concerned two cross performs and one run from Bijan Robinson that was stuffed. Atlanta lined up for a play on fourth-and-1, doubling down on its try to stroll away with seven factors, however a false begin introduced Younghoe Koo on for the triple.

The Packers, in the meantime, earned contemporary life close to the objective line when an A.J. Dillon run was deemed lengthy sufficient after a problem by Matt LaFleur. Inexperienced Bay reached the tip zone on the very subsequent play when rookie receiver Jayden Reed turned the nook on a reverse and crossed the pylon for a 9-yard rating.

Koo’s miss the distinction at halftime

After the Packers padded their lead with a powerful drive within the second quarter, the Falcons used their last possession of the primary half to tack on their first landing of the sport. The drive featured a gutsy fourth-down name that was transformed by Bijan Robinson and ended with a landing cross from Ridder to Drake London.

It was the second time Atlanta sustained a drive, offensively, and a great signal for the workforce heading into halftime. The workforce’s constructive momentum was undercut barely when the usually dependable Younghoe Koo pulled his extra-point try to the left. In fact, he’d later redeem himself.

The Falcons additionally missed a giant alternative to double up their opponent by getting the ball to start out the second half. Consecutive errant passes by Ridder resulted in a three-and-out for Atlanta, holding Inexperienced Bay’s lead intact. The Packers added to that lead on their first possession after halftime when Love related with Dontayvion Wicks for a 32-yard landing.