Falcons' Arthur Smith Very Familiar with Packers' Matt LaFleur

Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith and Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur were on the same staff with the Tennessee Titans in 2018.

When the Atlanta Falcons take the field Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, two coaches who know each other well will face off.

Atlanta's Arthur Smith and Green Bay's Matt LaFleur were on the same staff with the Tennessee Titans in 2018 where Smith was a tight ends coach and LaFleur was the offensive coordinator. Smith succeeded LaFleur when he accepted Green Bay's job in 2019 and held the position for two seasons before Atlanta hired him as a head coach in 2021.

The two have a mutual respect for one another.

"I think Matt [LaFleur]’s done a good job," Smith said. "I think Matt’s a guy – LaFleur – that hasn’t gotten a lot of credit. I think Matt’s a terrific coach and I thought they executed well. When they get down in the red zone and they had a play extension, he worked back and got up one. ... We’re excited about the opportunity this weekend.”

LaFleur's Packers are coming off a 38-20 win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the first win of the post-Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay. Jordan Love is now the full-time starter under center, and he'll have to face off against a Falcons defense that surrendered just 10 points in their win Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

"Certainly, the focus is on the Atlanta Falcons," LaFleur said. "Got a lot of work to do with them, a team that we haven’t played in four years, so there’s going to be a lot of studying that goes into that. Obviously, they’re coming off a big win over Carolina by two scores and there’s a lot of new pieces there, so I’m sure there’s a new excitement around that football team. It’ll be a really tough task going against them."

The Packers and Falcons kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.