Falcons’ Woeful Run D Braces for Packers’ Lacy

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) – The Falcons don’t know if they’ll be facing Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

They do know they’ll have to try to stop rookie running back Eddie Lacy, and that’s a major concern for the NFL’s 30th-ranked run defense.

Atlanta has struggled against the run all season and showed no improvement even when snapping their five-game losing streak last week against Buffalo. C.J. Spiller had a season-high 149 yards rushing in the Bills’ overtime loss. The Falcons are worried the powerful Lacy could be even more difficult to contain.

If Rodgers is held out as he continues to recover from a broken collarbone, the Falcons could follow the trend of other defenses who have loaded the box to focus on slowing Lacy’s runs.