Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton has been nursing a right knee injury and didn't play in the second half of the Falcons' previous game, against Carolina on Jan. 2. Stopping the run will be important against the Packers, and Lofton is the Falcons' leading tackler. The Falcons' run defense finished 10th in the NFL, giving up 105.2 yards per game. "Overall, in terms of our run defense, we gave up too many explosive plays," coach Mike Smith said. "We gave up an 80-yard run, a 50-yard run and a 60-yard run. There are three large chunks that you can't give up." The defense spent time over the bye week reviewing their angles and getting ready for some misdirection plays. "They ran the ball about as effectively as they have all season," Smith said. "They committed to running it. They had almost 140 yards running. I was very impressed with the rookie sixth-round draft pick [Starks]." Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
