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Green Bay Packers vs Atlanta Falcons: 5 matchups to watch

By Gage Bridgford

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers on the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers on the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

5. Joe Philbin vs Offensive Productivity

The past few years, the offense for the Packers has been overly reliant on Aaron Rodgers’ improvisation. This year, the Packers brought Philbin back to help revitalize the offense by taking it back to the basics. Heading into Week 14, with a middling offense, all eyes are on him to improve this offense from mediocre to a top group once again. McCarthy took the heat which led to his firing, but this could be Philbin’s last shot for a while to earn a coaching gig.

The team currently ranks 16th in points per game, despite being eighth in yards. The issue with this team is that they have been putting up junk time yards, while settling for field goals in the red zone and never playing a complete game. They haven’t played a complete game all season, and this is Philbin’s chance to show that he has the ability to do that for this team. He hasn’t called the plays for any of his teams since he was with Northeastern in 1996 which changes this week.

It would also be a welcome sight to see his ability to generate open looks for Rodgers and the team’s other skill-position players. In Philbin’s first stint with the team, he, McCarthy and Rodgers helped this team to become one of the best offensive team’s in the NFL, but we haven’t seen the same level of production this season. If the Packers struggle at home against one of the worst defenses in the NFL, this season will be even more gone than we thought.

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