On a rainy Thursday afternoon in Flowery Branch, the Falcons took to the field to begin preparations for Monday night's game at Green Bay
QB Sean Renfree
Safeties Dwight Lowery (left) and Sean Baker
FS Dwight Lowery
LB Paul Worrilow
LB Nate Stupar
QB Matt Ryan drops back for a pass in the rain
RB Devonta Freeman
Falcons assistant equipment manager Kenny Osuwah
CB Desmond Trufant gives a smile to the camera during stretches
WR Harry Douglas
Stansly Maponga (left) and Robert McClain go through their handshake routine before practice begins
LB Paul Worrilow
The tight ends go way up top for some high-fives before practice
K Matt Bryant
CB Desmond Trufant
S William Moore
S William Moore, CB Desmond Trufant and CB Josh Wilson
CB Josh Wilson
The team gathers for a breakdown before the official start of practice
LB Paul Worrilow
CB Desmond Trufant
RB Devonta Freeman
CB Josh Wilson
QB TJ Yates and teammates look to the rainy skies
We can only imagine what this conversation between punter Matt Bosher (left) and Matt Bryant, the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Month, is about.
LB Paul Worrilow
Tight end Bear Pascoe makes a leaping catch
CB Josh Wilson
WR Harry Douglas
QB Matt Ryan
Safety Dezmen Southward works through drills with assistant special teams coach Eric Sutulovich
CB Desmond Trufant and teammates take a rainy warmup run
LB Nate Stupar poses during stretches
S Dezmen Southward
Safety William Moore shows off the throwing arm during warmups.
The punt and punt return teams line up during practice
Right tackle Ryan Schraeder glares us down as he hits the field
WR Julio Jones fully extends for a catch during warmups
QB Sean Renfree
RB Steven Jackson hits the practice field, looking for another 100-yard effort on Monday
CB Desmond Trufant
LB Paul Worrilow
LB Joplo Bartu hydrates during a break
The kickoff team focuses up before getting a practice rep in
QB T.J. Yates and QB Matt Ryan
RB Jerome Smith
Matt Bryant, the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month, leads the team off the field
WR Harry Douglas was relegated to sideline catches as he continues his recovery from a nagging foot injury
WR Julio Jones
The Falcons have faced elite quarterbacks this season but perhaps none playing at a higher level than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers. Entering Week 14, Rodgers has thrown for 3,325 yards, completing 66.3 percent of his passes, including 32 touchdowns.
Of his three interceptions in 2014, none have come at Lambeau Field, where he is 6-0.
"He's lights-out right now," Falcons safety William Moore said. "His percentage is way up. His turnover margin is way down, and he's balling out this year. He's playing smarter. He's extending plays. He's being Aaron Rodgers, so it's going to be important for us to prepare for those extended plays this week. I've seen a few of their losses come against teams who matched their intensity in extended plays."
In his 10 years in the league, Rodgers has played the Falcons three times in the regular season (1-2), including seven touchdowns and just one interception. Speaking via conference call Thursday, Rodgers said the Falcons' 5-7 record means nothing as they're atop their division, led by a guy known for creating turnovers.
"William Moore is a veteran guy," Rodgers said. "Coming back after his injury, he's a big-time hitter. He has a nose for the ball and is part of a talented group"
Despite allowing an average of 403 yards of offense this season, Atlanta's defense has caused its share of turnovers (plus-six differential). If Mike Nolan's crew is able to figure out a way to do what no other defense has done this season on Lambeau Field, intercept Rodgers, the Falcons may be in a primetime position to pull off a victory.
"When you win the turnover battle, you can come out great in the win column," Moore said. "As long as we cause turnovers, it will get us off the field and get the ball in our offense's hand."
