Falcons respond, trail Pack 34-17 after 3rd

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Matt Ryan led the Falcons outscored the Packers 10-0 to start the third quarter before Green Bay added a field goal to bring matters to a 34-17 Packer advantage.

Atlanta (5-7) went all-out to open the third period to strike a second time on the Packers, needing four downs to do it.

Ryan launched a 79 yard catch-and-run breakaway to Julio Jones on the sideline before the receiver cut to center field untouched to the Packers 3.

Devin Hester and Steven Jackson combined for -2 on two rushes and on 3rd-and-Goal the Packers' Micah Hyde went airborn to bat Ryan's would-be scoring pass for Jones to the turf.

Atlanta ventured the 4th-and-Goal from the 5-yard line, and Matt Ryan found Eric Weems, who snuck underneath the formation to the goal line unseen for the touchdown.

They nearly struck again after a Packer three-and-out when Ryan's pass for Julio Jones in the end zone was caught, but out of bounds. Atlanta had found themselves on the Packers 31 when Micah Hyde grabbed the face-mask of Harry Douglas, who caught a 9 yard pass from Ryan.

But the Packer defense would respond thereafter, as linebacker Clay Matthews stuffed Devonta Freeman for no gain, and then on 3rd-and-10 wrapping his arm around Matt Ryan's neck and dragging him to the earth by force.

Matt Bryant would kick from 50 yards to salvage the Falcons' opportunity.

Green Bay (9-3), lusting after a 7-0 home record, drove for their own field goal over the next four-and-a-half minutes.

Aaron Rodgers converted a 3rd-and-3 to Randall Cobb over the middle as the receiver pounded through two would-be tackles to the Falcons 23. Safety Kemal Ishmael was on the wrong end of Cobb's collision and remained on the ground for two minutes before walking off the field himself.

Rodgers would then roll left off a bootleg that had everyone fooled and dart an easy 28 yard pass-play to Jordy Nelson on the Falcons 19.

Lacy rushed to the 15 and nearly hauled in the following touchdown toss from Rodgers, but lost possession as he was coming down. Mason Crosby kicked from 33 yards to advance the Packers lead 34-17.

Aaron Rodgers finished 22-for-32 on 254 yards passing for the Packers.

Ryan would resume play for the visitors, and quickly found fullback Patrick DiMarco for a 9 yard pick-up. Jacquizz Rodgers carried for the first-down, then caught for another. 

Steven Jackson took a short pass for 9 yards up center field, but was kept from the conversion off a hard defensive push from the right side led by Clay Matthews as the period ended.