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Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers: To-Do Checklist For Week 8

By Eric Robinson

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) celebrates his interception from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (not pictured) in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) celebrates his interception from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (not pictured) in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) hands off to running back Devonta Freeman (24) in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) hands off to running back Devonta Freeman (24) in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Feed Free 

I know that the Packers are ranked first overall in the league in the run department. Allowing only 71.8 yards per game on the ground will garner a lot of respect from teams and viewers.

What if I were to tell you that I’m not a great believer in their run defense?

What if I were to tell you that five of the Packers six opponents this season are ranked 24th or below in rushing offense. Which means that those particular offenses are not that stellar in the run element anyway.

More from Atlanta Falcons News

Which also means that I feel running back Devonta Freeman is more than capable of gashing the Packers run defense. Freeman has not posted a 100-yard contest since week three at New Orleans which seems like a lifetime to go and he only has two rushing touchdowns since then. However, he is averaging 4.8 yards per carry this season and will probably see a significant workload with the injury to Tevin Coleman likely to keep him sidelined. During the first seven contests in 2015, Freeman posted three games of at least 25 carries and averaged at worst 4.6 yards a carry in each of those three contests. The double-teams are starting to accumulate for receiver Julio Jones and one way to combat that easily is to let the third-year running back tote the rock.

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