The Green Bay Packers fended off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt from the Atlanta Falcons to secure their 10th win of the season and maintain control of the second seed in the NFC Conference.
The Packers started the game on the front foot as Aaron Rodgers led his side downfield before handing the ball off to James Starks on the three-yard line to rush in for the three-yard touchdown.
Atlanta were able to hit back when Matt Ryan strung a series of passes together to shift his side into the redzone, and he was able to hand off to Steven Jackson, who levelled the scores with a four-yard rush.
At the start of the second quarter, Eddie Lacy powered through the line on more than one occasion for big gains to get his side rolling again and they reached the redzone where Rodgers handed off again, and the 24-year-old found the endzone with a one-yard rush.
The Packers had the opportunity to push further ahead as Rodgers once again guided his side into Falcons' territory, but this time he couldn't find an open man and was forced to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Mason Crosby.
Ryan then committed a costly turnover for the visitors as he picked out Morgan Burnett on the sideline when trying to find touch. The defensive back put the ball into the redzone with the return and Rodgers notched his first touchdown strike of the game with a shovel pass to Lacy.
Green Bay extended their lead just before the break as Rodgers showed his mobility in the pocket to evade the rush of the Falcons before delivering a strike to Jordy Nelson in the endzone.
The Falcons managed to get back into the game in the third quarter when Ryan fired a deep completion to Julio Jones, who was brought down on the goalline. However, Ryan then threw to Eric Weems on the goalline for the two-yard score.
Minutes later, Matt Bryant added a 50-yard field goal to bring his side back within two scores, but Crosby added a 33-yarder to put the Packers ahead by 17 once again.
In the fourth quarter, Jones continued his excellent game for the Falcons when he went above a defender to haul in a 22-yard touchdown on a fade route.
The Packers hit right back as they reached the 40-point mark as Rodgers faked the handoff to Lacy and then fired deep pass over the middle of the field for Nelson to catch and run in for a 60-yard score. However, Crosby missed the kick on the extra point.
Atlanta weren't deterred as they rallied once more as Ryan fired to the endzone for Roddy White for a six-yard touchdown, but they failed on the two-point conversion as Jacquizz Rodgers was stopped on the goalline.
Crosby made the home side's lead more comfortable with a 53-yard field goal, but once again the Falcons gave themselves hope when Ryan delivered a strike to Harry Douglas to leave his side just once score behind.
The visitors tried an audacious onside kick to steal possession back, but they failed to win the ball and the Packers were able to run out the clock to claim the victory.
Simon Sinclair
