NFL Playoffs | This weekend’s other games

Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons

GREEN BAY

The Atlanta Falcons were just as surprised as most of the fans sitting at home. Until this week, they’d never heard of Green Bay Packers running back James Starks, either. Before Sunday, Starks was a sixth-round pick out of Buffalo who had struggled to get on the field because of injuries and inconsistent practice habits. Then he rushed for 123 yards in Green Bay’s 21-16 playoff victory at Philadelphia. “He came out of nowhere,” Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton said. “I’d never heard of Starks. I’d never seen him on film until the past two weeks. But he’s a talented back.” And after smothering the Packers’ running game when the two teams played back in November, the Falcons certainly don’t plan to allow some rookie to have a big performance in Saturday’s playoff game at the Georgia Dome. “When you can run the ball and pass the ball, that makes you that much more dangerous,” Lofton said. “They tried to run the ball against us the first time, and we shut it down. So that’s what we’re looking to do again.” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Starks has earned a bigger role in the offense. “He’ll have opportunities in Atlanta,” McCarthy said. “How many, the game will dictate that. He has earned that opportunity based off his performance this past week.” Starks says he’s ready. “If you love this game, you love having the ball in your hands,” Starks said. “I would love to have that but I’m grateful for whatever I can get. I’ll take whatever I’m offered.”

Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears

LAKE FOREST, ILL.

Brian Urlacher looked at the talent on the roster and saw no reason why the Chicago Bears would miss the postseason for a fourth straight year. Well, the drought’s over and he thinks there won’t be another dry spell. “No, not at all,” Urlacher said. “I think if we get a couple guys back, we’re set up for a while. If you look at our team, depth-wise, if we get Olin [Kreutz] back and a couple other guys, we have Jay [Cutler] and Pep [Julius Peppers] signed for a while so I think we’ll be set up. It would be good if we go out there and prove it for a while. Talent-wise, we’re going to be good for a while.” The Bears will host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in a divisional playoff game after winning the NFC North and earning a first-round bye. Not since the 2006 team made the Super Bowl had the Bears been to the postseason, and one big reason they’re finally back is the guys doing the tackling. Not quite as ferocious as the old Monsters of the Midway, the defense has ranked among the NFL’s stingiest all season after several mediocre years. Urlacher said this group is as good as the one that led runs to the postseason in 2005 and 2006. “Talent-wise, this defense is up there,” he said. “Our corners are good. We’ve played well at linebacker. We rotate a lot of guys. We’re deep. ... Talent-wise and athletic-wise, we’re up there.” The numbers back him up. The Bears ranked ninth overall on defense, second against the rush and tied for third with 35 takeaways.

Associated Press