If I'm reading that right, he's just saying the most important opponent is the last for sure playoff team you face. So if there was another team that was last for the Packers it would be them and not the Falcons. Falcons are just a place holder.

I think the Vikings and Giants game are more important. Vikings beat the Packers once with their starting QB healthy. Giants have embarrassed the Packers some lately. I mean if they can't beat the Giants then they're probably going to have a problem in the playoffs weather it's Giants, 49ers or someone else.

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1: Beat your division foes.

2: We need to show that we can defeat the Niners.

3: Beat an improved Falcons team.

Atlanta thought they were gonna cruise to the Superbowl in '10. They had home field advantage and everything was set. We came into their house with a MASH unit roster and knocked them off, on the way to Superbowl victory.

This loss got inside the Falcons' heads as a team. The next season they mortgaged their draft for Julio Jones. The did something similar this year iirc. They got some good players.

This was a building dynasty until we smashed it to pieces. The Falcons are trying to get that back, but they don't have it. Yet.

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Most important opponent for the 2013 Packers, will be the 2013 Packers. If they stop getting in their own way, they'd be unstoppable.

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This is true to some degree, but until this Packer team gets its testicles in order - they will continue to be beaten by more physical teams. Maybe if the Packers would have a season without major injuries, it would be different, but it is painfully obvious that this current Packer team can be outplayed in the trenches.

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Atlanta is overrated and is not improved this year. Their defense will be even more of a liability than it has been, and I am still critical of any team with the weapons they have on offense that isn't pressing yardage and scoring records...I blame their play calling.

I am more concerned about the 49ers and improved teams in the division. With better receivers this year and help on defense the Vikings will be tougher and they were already a playoff team. The Bears won 10 games with a horrendous O-Line (much improved this year) a new OC who doesn't suck and their only big weakness being a lack of depth. Even Detroit has added a few more pieces and were close in a lot of games last year.

Atlanta likely won't win their division and I would not be shocked to see them slip to 3rd in the south.

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