Falcons Wish To Forget Playoff Loss, I Say Learn From It 

The last time the Green Bay Packers invaded the Georgia Dome, Aaron Rodgers truly began the remarkable run he is still on.  He felt as comfortable in the Falcons' house as Atlanta should have been.  By the end of the third quarter, Cheeseheads felt pretty much at home, too.

Rodgers' 31-of-36, 366-yard, four-touchdown (including one rushing) performance began his magical ride to Super Bowl XVI Most Valuable Player, and it's continued through the start of this season.  He enters Sunday's matchup as the National Football League's highest-rated passer (an unreal 124.6 through four games), and the 4-0 Packers are averaging a league-best 37 points per game. 

Green Bay scored 48 in that January NFC Divisional Playoff Game, and at Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Atlanta's players seemed all too eager to dismiss the 27-point defeat to the Pack. 

"Last year was last year.  It's over, but you remember it," said future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez.  "I'd be lying to you if I sat here and told you I didn't remember it.  It was embarrassing, but at the same time, we're a new team.  They're a new team.  It's a new year," said Gonzalez.

In that playoff loss, the Falcons failed to even muster 200 yards of offense.  The Packers, on the other hand, piled up 442.  Gonzalez had only one catch before leaving late in the second half with a sprained ankle. 

The Falcons also ran the ball a mere 14 times.  Quarterback Matt Ryan blamed one thing:  turnovers.

"Last year is last year.  That game is done.  (But) one of the things we didn't do well was ball security.  We turned the ball over, me specifically, and we put ourselves in a tough spot in the first half," said Ryan.  "And it's difficult when you're down to be able to run the football the way you want to."

Michael Turner had only 10 rushing attempts (for 39 yards) in the playoff defeat.  But as the Pro Bowler pointed out, he had a big game on Nov. 28 game when the Falcons beat the Packers 20-17 (23 rushes, 110 yards and one touchdown).

"We played them earlier in the year last year.  We ran the ball pretty good and came out with a 'W.'  I'm not saying that's the only key to success for us to win this week, but it's one of them," said Turner.

Cornerback Brent Grimes admitted there are things the Falcons can take away from the playoff loss.  He should, because he will be one of the defenders charged with forcing Rodgers into his first poor performance of the young season. 

"You see what they can do if you're not on your job," said Grimes.  "They can put up a whole bunch of points real fast and make you look bad."

Some would say the adjective "bad" would describe Atlanta's 2-2 record through the season's first four games, considering the Falcons led the NFC with a 13-3 mark in 2010.  However, if they learn from their mistakes nine months ago and apply them to their second Sunday night national stage in four weeks, they'll have a chance to avoid the bad-taste scenario of playing the Carolina Panthers next Sunday for the right to stay out of last place in the NFC South.