It's been a string of crushing playoff defeats for the Packers, chronicling back to 2011. The most recent of the bunch just last January in Atlanta for the NFC title game, one of which has been well-documented since.

In 2017, the hopes, expectations and goals remain the same. Nothing short of a Super Bowl is acceptable in Green Bay, and a long offseason featuring uncharacteristic roster moves courtesy of general manager Ted Thompson says that the Packers may have gone "all-in" on the season, much to the glee of Aaron Rodgers.

To make another playoff push, the Packers need to conquer their NFC conference foes, and that includes Dan Quinn's Falcons. 

This Sunday night will be the third time the Packers have squared off with the Falcons in less than a year. The first of the trio of meetings will have been the regular season loss in 2016, in which the Packers fell short by a mere point, 33-32.

It was a game that young receivers Geronimo Allison, Trevor Davis and Jeff Janis shined by all catching touchdown passes. The same group will be there this Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but they'll also be joined by Martellus Bennett, Randall Cobb and other additions to the Packers' rejuvenated offense, including full-time running back, Ty Montgomery.

It will also be the first game of the year for Allison, who was just activated to the Packers' roster after serving his one-game suspension.

In their second meeting for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, Jordy Nelson was sporting a kevlar jacket after suffering broken ribs just two weeks before against the Giants. The Packers' team as a whole was far from 100 percent.

Barring any changes to the injury report, which currently features three of the Packers' top four offensive tackles, they'll be relatively healthier than they have been since October of last year.

Thankfully, too. It'll take a high-powered offense to keep up with a team whose own unit ranked among the NFL's elites a season ago. Forget what you saw in Chicago last weekend; no formidable judgment can be made on any team after the first game of the season.

It may very well be a shootout, but the Packers have the speed to keep up. At least, that's what they showed in the second half against the Seahawks.

"We have to stay true to who we are," Nelson said after Wednesday's practice. "If you start trying to get out of character, speed things up, rush your routes, it's only going to play to their advantage."

Nelson was on the receiving-end of a 58-yard completion on the Packers' first drive last October. He split the safety coverage and found an opening down the seam, leading to the Rodgers-to-Nelson score just two plays later.

It could be another big day for Randall Cobb, who was the team's leading receiver last week. His tendency to sit in zone coverage, much like Nelson, and often be the safety valve in third-down situations underneath makes him an invaluable component to the offense, and a component that'll likely be utilized heavily come Sunday night.

Another likely contributor, Allison, caught his first career touchdown against the Falcons last season. It was the first of two he would have by season's end.

If he's anything like what he showed in preseason, including showing off newfound elusiveness after the catch, expect the Packers to look his way in a variety of situations.

"I think what he did last year, going from a practice squad guy to our fourth receiver and sometimes going to our third receiver when Randall [Cobb] was out, and sometimes the second receiver when Davante [Adams] was in the backfield," Nelson said of Allison. 

^{Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison (81) catches his first career touchdown. (Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports)}

"It's amazing how quick of a jump you can have when you have an unbelievable skill set. To be that size, have the speed, the quickness, agility, incredible footwork. It's great to have him back, he's going to be extremely helpful for us."

Coincidentally, Allison was promoted from the practice squad to the Packers' 53-man roster just six days prior to the week eight meeting against the Falcons last season. Now, he was officially reinstated to the Packers' current 53-man roster five days before the next Falcons match-up.

Cornerback LaDarius Gunter, somewhat of a savior when the Packers had nowhere else to turn to at cornerback in 2016, was released in favor of Allison to open a roster spot.

Wherever Allison lines up, which could be anywhere considering his ability to play multiple receiver spots—whether it be on the outside or the slot on either side of the field, his availability will pay dividends for a slow-starting offense from a week ago.

At 6-3, his lanky frame coupled with his previously mentioned versatility could create a variety of mis-match complications for the Falcons.

"I work hard at being special," Allison said. "Just by critiquing myself and learning those guys in front of me. I watch [Randall] Cobb a lot, I watch Jordy [Nelson], I watch Davante [Adams], and just try to implement the things that they do well into my game and help me be a better player.

"I feel much better out there with my routes, with my reads, and just being amongst the guys out there. I'm feeling like I can play better and I can play faster. Less thinking and just react."