***SWAMP NFC CHAMPIONSHIP - GB @ ATL***

***GREEN BAY PACKERS @ ATLANTA FALCONS***

Man ohhhhh mannnn what a double header we got going on today with these Championship games amIright?! First things first, we got the man on a mission himself, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and the red-hot Cheese taking on the Dirty Bird Falcons in Atlanta when they host their last game in the Georgia Dome before relocating across the street to a new home. Many are calling for a firework show when these two offenses go at it today and judging by the shootout down in Atlanta back during week 8 between these gunslingers, they might be right! That game ended in thrilling fashion, with Atlanta QB Matt Ryan finding WR Mohamed Sanu for a TD in the final 30 seconds, eventually kicking the go-ahead extra point to win the game 33-32. I imagine today's game ending in a similar fashion, meaning whoever has the ball last will win the game. Both of these offenses are stellar, under the command of prolific passers and up against sub-par defenses they will surely find success exploiting. As we know, Green Bay is running on fumes with the way their defense has been injured this year, particularly in the secondary - which is clearly their achilles heel. Going up against arguably the best offense in the NFL today in Atlanta, their jobs aren't going to get any easier. Last week in Dallas, once Rookie QB Dak Prescott seemed to of gotten comfortable and in a groove, he was pretty much able to do whatever he wanted against Green Bay through the air. Atlanta has more weapons than they know what to do with. A top WR in the beast that is Julio Jones coupled with complimentary targets like Sanu, the speedster WR Taylor Gabriel, a reliable Tight End group, and the two headed monster at RB in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. It was all of this talent along with Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan calling the shots, that QB Matt Ryan has risen to the cream of the crop when it comes to NFL QBs and has put together an MVP calibers season. Last week he got over the hump winning the rare playoff game at home when the Falcons mopped the floor with the Seahawks. That was a big game for Matt Ryan and his career, and the Falcons came through in a big time, feel-good win for their fans. However, I do think that the game was a lot closer than the final score indicates and a play or penalty from going in a completely different direction, mainly on that Devin Hester kick return, but that is a whole different conversation to be had at another time. Let me get back to business here; my point is that although I know the Falcons theoretically should roll the Packers today, I believe with the way Aaron Rodgers is playing (which is possibly the greatest we have ever witnessed) that the Packers can pull off the upset here and launch themselves to the Super Bowl on what could be the greatest run of all time.

What Rodgers is doing is truly incredible. The Packers have injuries all over the place. WR after WR seems to go down and it is just the next man up factor. Rodgers seems to have a sixth sense with all his guys where it doesn't even matter who is on the field because they all can play the same way. They just keep moving forward and making the necessary adjustments, like using a backup WR at RB! AND ITS WORKING! WHAT?! This is unheard of stuff right here. You are not supposed to be able to win and make a deep playoff run let alone all the way to the Super Bowl without these key components, but they are! Rodgers and the Packers are defying the odds every week. Winning games against stronger teams without the necessary defense or running game, or healthy team in general. I for one will not get in their way today as I believe at this point that they are destined to get to Houston. Do I think they will win there? No, I am not saying that at all. I just believe that with the roll they are on, there is a damn good chance that behind Rodgers, they get it done today or at the least, keep it damn close. Therefore, the SwampMan is rolling with the Cheese Dawg here. In the first matchup, the undrafted free agent CB LaDarius Gunter held his own against a hobbled WR Julio Jones. Surprisingly it wasn't Jones or necessarily the rushing attack that killed the Packers during the shootout in the first matchup. It was Atlanta's number 2 WR Mohamed Sanu that had the big game. Due to a couple of injuries, Gunter was thrusted into the number 1 CB role earlier this season and has been solid at times but also had his troubles like last week against another top WR in Dez Bryant. Gunter will probably be tasked with covering Julio Jones again today who appears to have re-injured his toe in last week's game. I think Gunter can be physical enough once again with Julio to try and limit his production. However now one game away from the Super Bowl, I am sure Julio as well as every other player on both sides who has been listed as "questionable" will try and give it a go today and most likely be just fine. The Falcons defense has really grown throughout this season and when on display for all to see last week against Seattle, they really impressed. The future is bright for Head Coach Dan Quinn and that defense moving forward. Although I do think it is very important to mention that five of the back seven players on this defense are in their first or second year of the NFL. That is a HUGE factor when it comes to experience and facing a guy like Aaron Rodgers and his style of backyard play. Even if Quinn has his boys playing some sound defense to stop the original play, once Rodgers gets moving on the run and is ad-libbing...will these guys be experienced enough to answer without any mistakes? I am not so sure. That being said I believe Rodgers will have another phenomenal game and take advantage of the young defense, he has to. The Packers know the only way they are winning today's game is by outscoring the Falcons since they have very little hope of slowing them down with their swiss cheese defense. The Falcons aren't dummies and know this as well, so what do they try and do? Run the rock to extend drives and kill the clock to limit the Packer's offensive possessions and keep Rodgers cold on the sideline. I believe that is the approach the Falcons will take until the levee breaks and the Packers are scoring, forcing Atlanta into a shootout once again. This time around, I like the Cheese to get it done and Rodgers to keep this magnificent run going to the promised land. So again I am taking the same approach as I did last week, if Rodgers goes down today and is sent 'packing,' it won't be without a dramatic and thrilling ending. The man is cementing his legacy with this historic 'run of the table' to use his own words, and I think there is only one way that it can end, and that is with a trip to Houston! Close game either way, but Swampy likes the upset. PACKERS+6