The Packers (2-3) and Seahawks (1-3) both need this game to help turn around their seasons.  The Packers will likely come out attacking the Seahawks through the air despite Aaron Rodgers playing with a sore shoulder.  He has thrown for 1,274 yards this season and he will likely be moving the ball around to Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Donald Lee against a Seahawks’ defense that is allowing 237.0 yards passing per game (107.3 QB Rating).  The Packers would also like to get Ryan Grant going (267 yards rushing, 3.7 ypc) against a Seahawks’ defense that is allowing 129.5 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.

The Seahawks will likely be starting #3 QB Charlie Frye against the Packers due to injuries to Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace.  With that in mind the Seahawks should get back to what they do best on offense and that’s running the football.  Julius Jones (373 yards rushing, 4.8 yards per carry) is having a great season and the Packers are allowing 161.4 yards rushing per game and 5.1 yards per carry this season.

PREDICTION:  GREEN BAY PACKERS 30, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 24

The Packers’ defense killed any chance of them winning this football game as the upstart Falcons pushed them all over the football field.  The Falcons rushed for 176 yards on 36 carries (4.9 ypc) and they also threw for 194 yards in this game and that was too much for the Packers to overcome.  That’s a shame as a banged up Aaron Rodgers had another solid game throwing the football completing 25 of 37 passes for 313 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 interception.  Ryan Grant had a solid game running the ball rushing for 83 yards on 18 carries (4.6 ypc).  Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Donald Lee each caught a TD pass from Rodgers in this game.  The Packers fell to 2-3 on the season with this loss.

Both of these teams are 2-2 on the season and the matchups look close in this football game.  But, the Falcons have not played well on the road getting beat by a identical 24-9 final score by each the Buccaneers and Panthers on the road.  Still, the Packers are allowing 157.8 yards rushing per game (5.2 ypc) and that will play right into the Falcons’ hands.  Michael Turner (422 yards rushing, 5.5 ypc) and Jerious Norwood (237 yards rushing, 7.0 ypc) will likely have big games against the Packers.  If the Falcons get the running game going, look for Matt Ryan to take some shots deep to WRs Roddy White and Michael Jenkins.  The Packers have 8 interceptions this season already so Ryan must be careful where he goes with the football.

Aaron Rodgers has a bum right shoulder and he will be a game time decision tomorrow.  The Packers can’t afford to be without Rodgers because rookies Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm to not appear ready for prime time quite yet.  Even if Rodgers does play the Packers will likely have to keep the passing game short so Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones will have to venture over the middle of the field.  The Packers might run the ball a lot more than usual with Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson against a Falcons’ defense that is allowing 131.3 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  GREEN BAY PACKERS 21, ATLANTA FALCONS 20

The Packers have lost DE/DT Cullen Jenkins for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle.  His season ends with 13 tackles and 2 sacks for the Packers this season.  Jenkins is one player that the Packers couldn’t afford to lose as he is a good pass rusher and run defender.

The Green Bay Packers pretty much got punked in Tampa last Sunday.  Aaron Rodgers got beat up by the Bucs as he completed 14 of 27 passes for 165 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.  Rookie Matt Flynn finished up and he looked lost completing 2 of 5 passes for 6 yards.  Ryan Grant couldn’t get anything going against the Bucs as he only rushed for 20 yards on 15 carries (1.3 ypc).  WR Greg Jennings was one of the few Packers to really play well in this game as he caught 6 passes for 109 yards (18.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs (25, 48 yards).  The Packers finished up with 28 yards rushing on 18 carries (1.6 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 32 passes for 153 yards.  The Packers only had possession of the football for 23:10 in this game and it’s almost impossible to win that way.

LB Barry Poppinga led a so-so effort by the Packers’ defense with 12 tackles.  CB Charles Woodson also had a solid game with 3 tackles and a interception that he returned 62 yards for a TD.  The Buccaneeers finished up with 178 yards rushing on 41 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 30 passes for 149 yards.  The Packers are now 2-2 on the season after this loss.