The Birds are looking to avenge a one-point loss at Green Bay 22-21 on the exact same day as last year's contest and capture its 13th victory in the series out of 27 games played. The only difference in this year's game is it's in front of a nationally-televised audience on Monday Night football.
On November 18, 2001, Atlanta opened the second half of its season at the Frozen Tundra staring at a 4-4 record and trying to build some momentum down the stretch.
Things started out on the right foot (or hand you might say) for the Falcons.
On the second play of the game, Atlanta CB Ashley Ambrose picked off QB Brett Favre's pass at the Packers 44-yard line. The drive stalled, but was a precursor for the rest of the day as P Chris Mohr pinned the Pack on their own seven-yard line as the Falcons would constantly win the battle of field position.
After getting on the scoreboard with a short field goal, Atlanta's opportunistic defense struck again. DE Patrick Kerney stripped Favre of the ball on a sack and DT Shane Dronett recovered at the Green Bay 26-yard line. The turnover set-up another field goal for a 6-0 early lead.
The Falcons then finally put together a touchdown scoring march in the second quarter. QB Chris Chandler executed a series of deftly called swing passes and screen passes to move to the Packers 21. FB Bob Christian culminated the 11-play, 79-yard drive by taking one of Chandler's swing passes out of the backfield, then breaking several tackles on the way into the end zone for the 21-yard score.
The defense stepped up again stealing another Favre pass in the second quarter as CB Ray Buchanan plucked one away, this time at the Atlanta 39 to thwart a potential score. The Birds chipped in with another field goal for a 16-3 lead.
The Pack scored just before halftime though on a Favre to WR Bill Schroeder four-yard pass to bring the score close at intermission.
The Falcons continued their strong offensive exploits to open the second half with two drives deep into Green Bay territory. But both times Chandler threw untimely interceptions to stymie their efforts. The second turnover resulted in a Packers field goal to cut the margin to 16-13 heading into the final quarter.
Atlanta countered by marching right down towards the Green Bay goal line. The Birds got some help from the home team when an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Packers allowed the Falcons to convert a third and 12 situation from their own 20-yard line.
WR Brian Finneran capped it off with a 12-yard scoring catch to make it 23-13.
Determined not to be out done, Green Bay came storming back when WR Antonio Freeman hauled in a 23-yard touchdown with 6:31 remaining to pull within a field goal.
The Packers had one more chance with 1:52 left poised to register yet another familiar Favre comeback in the Frozen Tundra.
Green Bay moved to the Atlanta 45-yard line, but Favre's pass into the end zone was picked off by Ambrose with 1:18 remaining to secure the hard-fought 23-20 Falcons victory.
