Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ stats look fine, but the offense is not scoring at a high clip.
The Falcons (4-8) play the Packers (4-7-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Rodgers reportedly was not happy with former coach Mike McCarthy's playing calling and he was fired on Sunday. Associate head coach Winston Moss took to Twitter to contend that Rodgers needed to held accountable, too. He was fired on Monday.
So there’s turmoil in Titletown and former offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was promoted to interim head coach with the charge of placating Rodgers and getting the offense back on track.
“We just haven’t had that production,” Philbin said. “In the last two weeks, we just haven’t had the big plays. When you are not getting big plays and you’re not converting on third downs it’s hard to get into the scoring zone.”
The normally high-scoring Packers have scored over 30 points just twice this season and have averaged 17 points over the past two games, losses to the Cardinals and Vikings.
"We've got to do a better job against not only Atlanta this week," Philbin said. "They do a great job. They have good pass rushers. They have different combinations of both pressures, zone coverages and man coverages that we have to really be on top of to execute and move the chains."
The Falcons still consider Rodgers a formidable foe.
“Aaron is guy who can beat you with his feet and definitely with his arm,” Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley said. “So, we definitely have to get pressure on him. Get him off the spot and alter the game up front.”
The Falcons are expected some curveballs with a new play-caller in Philbin.
“I know there are going to be some unscouted looks with the change in the coaching staff,” Beasley said. “We have to expect the unexpected and just go out there and play with some discipline.”
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