As the Atlanta Falcons are set to take on the Green Bay Packers in their Week 3 matchup tonight, most of the major storylines have been on offense. Michael Penix Jr. is back and the offense badly needs a get-right game, but it's overshadowing a more intriguing storyline on the other side of the ball: Za'Darius Smith having a homecoming-of-sorts at Lambeau Field.
Long before he ever signed with the Falcons, Smith was a Packer from 2019 until 2021--and logged 26 sacks across his first two seasons in Green Bay before missing most of 2021. So he's familiar with this team and this building, but this matchup is particularly advantageous not just for No. 55, but Atlanta's defensive line a whole
The reason for this? The Packers genuinely might have the worst offensive line in the NFL. Their run game has been affected plenty by the loss of Josh Jacobs, but the offensive line hasn't done them any favors--which should bode well for the his second game at Lambeau since leaving the Packers.
Za'Darius Smith and the Falcons' pass rush will destroy the Packers' O-Line
Za'Darius Smith has enjoyed a career renaissance with the Falcons since coming out of retirement this summer. His 2.5 sacks lead the team and are tied for sixth in the NFL while he is tied for the NFL lead in tackles for loss. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was turning back the clock to his prime Packers years anyways--and he's making an impact both on an off the field.
He just continues to prove Kevin Stefanski right for signing him, as he's kept the Dirty Birds' pass-rush afloat with both Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. sidelined. And that's been the trend so far, but that should only continue against a Packers' offense that has done everything to make Jordan Love's life tougher.
According to ESPN, the Packers rank dead last in pass-block win rate and Love has already been sacked seven times through two games. Also, Green Bay just lost star tackle Zach Bako-Bewele (formerly Zach Tom) for the season due to injury after he tore his patellar tendon on Sunday.
Speaking of win rates, Smith's 36% pass-rush win rate through the first two weeks of the season is tied with Vikings standout Dallas Turner for the most among all edge rushers despite playing 20 less snaps. He hasn't played an every-down role, but when he rotates in he's been absolutely lights-out.
I'm not the only one who thinks he'll be a problem for the Packers: a Packers expert does too. I spoke to Lombardi Ave. site expert Freddie Boston about possible weaknesses the Falcons could exploit on Thursday NIght Football, and he didn't hesitate to highlight what Smith could do against this weak OL.
"The weakness is an easy answer: the offensive line," Boston said. "Expect Za'Darius Smith to cause a few problems in his return to Lambeau Field. It'll be his mission to spoil the day in Green Bay's home opener, and he looks as good as ever."
Even without Samson Ebukam (who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury), generating pressure on this Packers OL shouldn't be an issue since the Falcons have actually been getting more pressure from the interior of their defensive line than their edge rushers and are one of just five times to do so.
According to Next Gen Stats (and ESPN's Marc Raimondi), Atlanta's 41.5% pressure rate has mostly been ignited by their IDLs--including Gervon Dexter Sr. and Maason Smith--so the nucleus of players designed to take pressure off the 34-year-old against the Packers are here and ready to do damage.
Considering the worst offensive line in the NFL doesn't have the personnel to find any sort of answers for Za'Darius Smith, it feels like he's about to go nuts in Green Bay.
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