The Green Bay Packers scored the most points in postseason franchise history. Aaron Rodgers had one of the best performances in NFL postseason history.

One of the reasons the Rodgers and the Packers looked so good, so dominating, so efficient on Saturday night in their 48-21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional round of the playoffs was because of how well they played on third downs.

"We were able to get in reasonable third down situations," said wide receiver Greg Jennings, who was on the receiving end on eight of Rodgers' passes on the evening. "There were some long third-and-longs that we just had the confidence that we were going to get them no matter what, and we were able to pretty much accomplish that."

On the night, the Packers converted eight of 12 third downs into first downs, a 67% success rate. It was much better than the first time the Packers faced the Falcons during Week 12 of the regular season, a 20-17 loss, when they converted only four of 11 third downs, a success rate of only 36%.

The evening didn't start out so promising. On the Packers' first third down of the game, Jennings took a pass from Rodgers, split a pair of Falcons defenders and was off to the races. After 30 yards, Jennings fumbled and the Falcons recovered in Packers' territory.

"Barring a fumble on the first third down... we were pretty much rolling today," said Jennings. "But it was just a mindset we had all week really, and we just tried to embrace it."

That would be the last third down the Packers failed to convert until the fourth quarter when an incomplete pass led to a Mason Crosby 50-yard field goal attempt with the Packers already nursing a 42-21 lead.

Prior to that point, the Packers had connected seven of eight third down attempts, converting at an 88% clip.

Perhaps no third down was as important as the first one of the second half with the Packers ahead 28-14.

"We knew if we were able to take that ball down and score, that would definitely break their will a little bit," said Rodgers.

Due to deferring until the second half, the Packers received the second-half kickoff and took possession of the ball on their own 20 following a touchback. The opening play from scrimmage resulted in a sack by the Falcons' John Abraham and a 10-yard loss, making the prospect of getting a first down infinitely more difficult.

On second-and-20 the Packers were able to get back seven yards on a completion to Jennings.

Then on third-and-13, Rodgers eluded a sack by spinning out of the pocket, kept his eyes downfield and found James Jones open for a 15-yard completion and a first down.

"Somehow the Lord was helping me with eyes in the back of my head today," said Rodgers. "I was able to spin out of that, and James made a great reactionary play.

"After that first down, we got rolling. When we went up three scores, it was just a matter of not turning the ball over and we kept it rolling."

For Jones, that play combined with a leaping touchdown in the endzone and another reception in which he was able to tip-toe 34 yards down the sideline, he was able to put last weekend's highly publicized drop behind him.

In all, Jones had four reception for 75 yards on the evening.

All the third down conversions had one more significant consequence in last night's road victory for the Packers.

"Well, we didn't punt today," said Rodgers. "Like I said, it was a special day."

Indeed, it was.