*Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.
Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.
Here are some highlights from the Packers-Falcons Week 5 Dope Sheet:*
**ATLANTA (2-2) at GREEN BAY (2-2)
Sunday, Oct. 5 | Lambeau Field | 12 p.m. CDT**
PACKERS HOST FALCONS IN CONFERENCE BATTLE
-Green Bay looks to end its first two-game losing skid since 2006 when it welcomes NFC South foe Atlanta to Lambeau Field Sunday.
-Last weekend, the Packers fell to the Bucs in Tampa Bay, 30-21, and return to Green Bay with plenty to work on. At 2-2, they stand tied atop the NFC North with the Chicago Bears.
-Winners of 10 of its last 12 regular-season home games, Green Bay hosts a Falcons club that has won just one of its last 11 road games.
-Sunday will be the 272nd consecutive sellout (256 regular season, 16 playoffs) at Lambeau Field, the league's longest-tenured stadium.
-The all-time series between the two clubs stands nearly even. The Packers hold a slight edge at 12-10-0, and the teams have split the last four contests.
-Atlanta makes its first appearance at Lambeau Field since the 2002 Wild Card Playoffs, when Atlanta became the first NFL opponent to win a postseason game at Lambeau Field.
-Previously undefeated at Lambeau Field in playoff games (13-0) and during the '02 home schedule (8-0), the Packers fell behind early and never recovered.
-The Falcons had visited Lambeau Field early that season - their last regular-season visit - with the Packers prevailing 37-34 in overtime.
-Both teams have overturned their rosters since then, as each has few players remaining (Atlanta - 4, Green Bay - 5) from the '02 teams.
-Fresh off a 24-9 defeat at Carolina, Atlanta comes into the game 2-2.
WITH THE CALL
-FOX Sports enters its 15th season as an NFL network television partner and will air the contest to a regional audience.
-Play-by-play man Ron Pitts joins color commentator Tony Boselli in the broadcast booth with Charissa Thompson serving as the sideline reporter.
-Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929, heads up the 56-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (color) calling the action. The duo are in their 10th season of broadcasts together across the Packers Radio Network, which covers 47 markets in six states. Fans should note that if the Milwaukee Brewers play Sunday, the Packers broadcast may be switched to WKTI (94.5 FM).
-For out-of-town listeners, the broadcast is available to NFL Field Pass subscribers on www.packers.com as well as on Sirius Satellite Radio (channel 127 WTMJ feed) as part of the network's NFL Sunday Drive.
-DIRECTV subscribers can watch the game in HD on channel 709.
RODGERS REHABBING, INTENDS TO PLAY
-A scan has revealed there's no major structural damage to quarterback Aaron Rodgers' right shoulder, and Head Coach Mike McCarthy said his quarterback has every intention of playing this week against Atlanta.
-It is believed Rodgers suffered the injury on a third-quarter scramble while diving for a first down. He returned on the next series to throw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings but came off the field in obvious pain. After sitting one series, he returned for another before exiting the game for good.
-In his Monday afternoon press conference, McCarthy laid out the practice plan for Rodgers in preparation for Atlanta.
-"They're going to obviously rehab him today and tomorrow and we'll probably have a better idea Wednesday," McCarthy said. "Speaking with Aaron this morning, he has every intention on playing, but I think Wednesday's practice will be a pretty good indicator for us. It's just something we'll have to continue to rehab and see where we are Wednesday."
-Should Rodgers' shoulder prevent him from starting, rookie quarterback Matt Flynn would get the nod. Flynn, a seventh-round selection, led LSU to the BCS National Championship last fall. McCarthy indicated both will be given the necessary reps this week to prepare for Sunday.
-Don Majkowski was the last Packers rookie to start a game under center. He started five in 1987, compiling a 2-2-1 record as a starter.
WHAT 2-2 MEANS IN THE LONG RUN
-It's no secret that early success dramatically increases a team's chances to make the postseason.
-After winning their first two games, the Packers have dropped two in a row to end the first quarter of the season at 2-2.
-The Packers traditionally have done well in the first month of the season. Over the past 11 seasons (1998-2008), Green Bay's opening-month record stands at 24-15 (.615), fourth best in the NFL over that time.
-During that period, only Indianapolis (25-11, .694), Denver (26-13, .667) and Seattle (24-13, .648) have a better record in the opening month of the season.
-Perhaps most importantly about the 2-2 start is the fact that both wins have come against NFC North clubs.
-One only needs to look to 2007 to see what impact a fast start can and can't have. Of the four teams to reach the conference championship, only Green Bay and New England stood at 4-0.
-The eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants were 2-2, while San Diego was just 1-3.
-A look at NFL teams' records through the first quarter of the year and the rate at which each got to the playoffs, compiled from 1990-2007:
(Record through 4 games) % of teams in playoffs
(0-4) 1.7%
(1-3) 15.6%
(2-2) 34.0%
(3-1) 66.2%
(4-0) 84.9%
INJURIES BEGINNING TO MOUNT
-A number of key contributors were held out of action in Tampa, and a number of others sustained injuries against the Bucs that could put their status for Sunday in jeopardy.
-Besides Rodgers, also injured in the game were CB Will Blackmon (thigh), tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring), safety Nick Collins (back), defensive end Jason Hunter (hamstring), linebacker A.J. Hawk (groin), defensive end Cullen Jenkins (pectoral) and safety Aaron Rouse (knee).
-Those who were held out in Tampa included safety Atari Bigby (hamstring), running back Kregg Lumpkin (hamstring), cornerback Al Harris (spleen), fullback Korey Hall (knee) and wide receiver James Jones (knee).
-The lone player Head Coach Mike McCarthy has ruled out is Harris, who will be out for the coming weeks as doctors monitor how quickly he heals. The team will take a wait-and-see approach with the rest of the injured players.
-For the others, Wednesday will prove to be a big day as the severity of the injuries will be indicated by who practices and how much they do.
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons:
All-time regular season: 12-10-0
All-time, postseason: 1-1
All-time, at Lambeau Field: 5-3
Streaks: The two teams have split the last four meetings.
Last meeting, regular season: Nov. 13, 2005, at Georgia Dome; Packers won, 33-25
Last meeting, at Lambeau Field: Jan. 4, 2003 (2002 NFC Wild Card playoff); Falcons won, 27-7
Last meeting, regular season, at Lambeau Field: Sept. 8, 2002; Packers won, 37-34 OT
COACHES CAPSULES
Mike McCarthy: 24-14-0, .632, (incl. 1-1 postseason); 3rd NFL season
Mike Smith: 2-2-0, .500; 1st NFL season
Head to Head: Never met
vs. Opponent: McCarthy 0-0 vs. Falcons; Smith 0-0 vs. Packers
MIKE McCARTHY...Is in third year as the Packers' 14th head coach.
-Was named Packers head coach on Jan. 12, 2006, his first head coaching job after 13 years as an NFL assistant.
-Honored as the 2007 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year and NFL Alumni Coach of the Year.
-Became the first Packers coach since Vince Lombardi to lead the team to a championship game in his second season.
-Tied franchise record for most victories by a coach in his first two seasons (21).
MIKE SMITH...Is in first year as the Falcons' 14th head coach.
-From 2003-07, served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars and led a unit that ranked fourth in overall defense, third in points allowed and fifth in rushing defense from 2003-06 before a dip to 12th in the rankings last year.
-Prior to joining the Jaguars, spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and was defensive assistant/defensive line coach from 1999-2001, including the team's 2000 Super Bowl season. Was the team's linebackers coach in 2002.
-Before joining the NFL ranks, coached at San Diego State (1982-85), Morehead State (1986) and Tennessee Tech (1987-98).
-Played linebacker at East Tennessee (1977-81) and for Winnipeg of the CFL (1982).
THE PACKERS-FALCONS SERIES
-For a series that began with the Packers cruising to a 56-3 victory over the then-expansion Falcons in their first meeting in 1966, it has evolved into a closely contested rivalry. The Packers hold a modest 13-11 advantage, including postseason.
-Over the last decade-plus, Atlanta-Green Bay clashes have proven memorable. In 1994, the Packers defeated Atlanta in the final NFL game in Milwaukee (Dec. 18). Brett Favre's lunging, 9-yard TD scramble on the game's final play sealed the 21-17 victory.
-A scant year later, the Packers and Falcons crossed paths in the postseason for the first time - on Dec. 31, 1995, in Lambeau Field. With Edgar Bennett rushing for 108 yards, the NFC Central Division champion Packers pulled out a 37-20 victory with the aid of a 76-yard scoring punt return by rookie Antonio Freeman.
-In the 2002 regular season opener (Sept. 8), Favre and Michael Vick fought into overtime. Favre guided the Packers to four TDs and three field goals in a 37-34 sudden-death victory. The Falcons, however, delivered a reverberating, 27-7 win in the 2002 playoffs, Green Bay's first playoff loss in franchise history at Lambeau Field.
{sportsad300}NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
Atlanta DT Grady Jackson played previously for the Packers (2003-05)...Falcons assistant head coach/secondary Emmitt Thomas was Green Bay's defensive coordinator in 1999, the same year McCarthy was quarterbacks coach...Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and Green Bay CB Will Blackmon were teammates at Boston College. As a senior in 2006, Blackmon switched to WR and was Ryan's main target, leading the team in catches and receiving yards...Four Falcons -- WR Michael Jenkins, C Alex Stepanovich, TE Ben Hartsock and DE Simon Fraser -- were all teammates on Ohio State's national championship team in 2002 with Green Bay LB A.J. Hawk...Atlanta DT Jason Jefferson and LS Mike Schneck both played collegiately at Wisconsin. Schneck is a Whitefish Bay, Wis., native...Green Bay FB John Kuhn and Atlanta CB Brent Grimes both played in college at Shippensburg and are the second and third players, respectively, following retired Green Bay LS Rob Davis, to come to the NFL from that school...Green Bay backup QB Matt Flynn and Atlanta CB Chevis Jackson, both rookies, were college teammates on LSU's national title team last year. Flynn was a seventh-round draft choice this past year by the Packers, while Jackson was a third-round selection by the Falcons...Packers OL Jason Spitz and Breno Giacomini and Falcons WR Harry Douglas and S Antoine Harris were all college teammates at Louisville.
INDIVIDUALLY VS. FALCONS
Donald Driver has 17 catches for 192 yards in two career games against the Falcons...In his only career game against Atlanta, Nick Barnett posted a sack and two fumble recoveries.
LAST MEETING, REGULAR SEASON
Nov. 13, 2005, at Georgia Dome; Packers won, 33-25.
-Green Bay got its second win of the season behind 103 rushing yards and three touchdowns (one receiving) from Samkon Gado, who was making his first career start on his 23rd birthday.
-The Packers sacked Atlanta QB Michael Vick three times, one each by Nick Barnett, Aaron Kampman and Al Harris. Barnett's recovery of a Roddy White fumble and subsequent return to the Atlanta 2-yard line set up Gado's third TD of the day and a 33-17 Green Bay lead late in the fourth quarter.
-Donald Driver had 10 receptions for 114 yards, and Ryan Longwell booted four field goals, the last two from 53 and 51 yards.
LAST MEETING, AT LAMBEAU FIELD
Jan. 3, 2003 (2002 NFC Wild Card playoff); Falcons won, 27-7.
-Atlanta and Vick swept to a 24-0 halftime lead en route to a 27-7 victory against a Packers team minus Pro Bowl running back Ahman Green and starting wide receivers Driver and Terry Glenn, sidelined by injuries.
-Vick personally accounted for 191 yards of Atlanta offense, completing 13 of 25 passes for 117 yards and adding 64 rushing yards in 10 attempts. It was the first home playoff loss ever for the Packers, who were the NFL's only 8-0 home team in 2002 and had tied for the league's best record (12-4).
