Can’t recall the last time I said I was looking forward to a Monday. But here we are on rare occasions. Football does something to me.

The Packers have a chance to go 4-0 (for the first time since 2015), back at home against the Falcons who have yet to get a win this season. Green Bay has won three straight home games in a row against Atlanta. The odds seem in our favor.

It seems as though it’ll be another high scoring game for Green Bay if you take into account Atlanta’s defense is ranked dead last. They blew two huge leads the past two games against Dallas and Chicago, and while Todd Gurley was able to play like Todd Gurley usually does this past week, Matt Ryan wasn’t playing up to his fullest potential.

The 2020 Falcons are the first team in NFL history to blow a fourth-quarter lead of 15-plus points in consecutive games.

Granted, he was down Julio Jones and lost Calvin Ridley halfway through the game. Injuries may also be a deterrent for Atlanta again this week, on top of their already struggling defense.

If both Jones and Ridley are healthy to play Monday night’s game, I think the matchup between them and our secondary with cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Kevin King will be a fun battle to watch play out.

The Falcons secondary has been riddled with injuries, as mentioned previously. Starting safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen haven’t practiced, cornerback Darqueze Dennard was put on IR earlier this week, first-round pick A.J Terrell is on the COVID-19 reserve list, and cornerback Isaiah Oliver has really struggled. 

While we might not have some of our biggest weapons, I still don’t think Atlanta’s secondary will be able to keep up.

Yikes.

Speaking of injuries.

Yikes x2.

This news of Allen Lazard having surgery this week completely came out of the left field. Shook me. S H O O K me.

In absence of Davante Adams, Lazard played the best game of his career, proving that he can show up when called upon. Walked off the field like everything was cool, did interviews like everything was cool, and then all of a sudden I’m getting word that he’s undergoing surgery? Excuse me, WHAT???

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, via Michael Baca of NFL.com, Lazard will miss “at least one month”.

A month folks. At LEAST.

I’m not worried this week considering the Falcons are the worst scoring defense in football, and they’ve allowed the second-most passing yards and passing touchdowns in the NFL entering Week 4.

Aaron Rodgers is used to playing with some of his star players down, and is still able to make big time plays. We still have Aaron Jones leading the offense and I think he’ll be able to carry the offense to at least get past this Falcons defense.

I’m also expecting Jamaal Williams to make some noise this game, as I feel we will be a little bit more dependent on the run game this week, to keep some things consistent while making some moves in the receiver position to compensate for Lazard now being out, along with Adams most likely not playing this game to ensure he is 100% for some big games coming up.

On the brighter side of the IR, Davante Adams practiced this week, along with Kenny Clark who is limited when it comes to that, but practicing nonetheless.

After Thursday, Adams was still unsure if he is healthy enough to play on Monday night. Being a veteran player, he is one of those guys that can miss practice all week and do a walkthrough before the game and still see the field on Monday.

I just think it would be better to sit this one out considering the matchup.

Speaking of matchups, Aaron Rodgers against Falcons QB Matt Ryan will make for a somewhat decent game. While Ryan has been executing fairly well in the first half of the game, it’s clear that as the game goes on you see a drop in numbers, especially coming into that second half.

Rodgers on the other hand, comes alive in the second half, especially if we aren’t in the lead come halftime. Y’all know exactly what I’m talking about.

So if it comes to that point where for some reason we aren’t up a TD or two by half, I expect Atlanta to blow another lead and Rodgers to come out guns blazing and finish the game off. WORST case scenario.

Best case, easy win, Packers 34, Falcons 20. I don’t think Atlanta will go down too easy that first half, but thats just me being nice.

Another rare occasion.

To week 4.

Cheers, cheeseheads.