If you turned on Thursday Night Football expecting a close battle at Lambeau Field, well… Atlanta had other plans.
The Atlanta Falcons stunned the Green Bay Packers 35-14, turning an early 7-0 deficit into a statement victory and handing Green Bay its first home-opening loss since 2013. (NFL Fantasy)
And the biggest story?
Michael Penix Jr. is back.
After missing the first two games while recovering from his knee injury, Penix returned to the starting lineup and helped wake up an Atlanta offense that had been struggling badly to start the season.
🔥 Atlanta Took Over
Green Bay scored first, but the Falcons didn’t panic.
Instead, Atlanta ripped off 27 unanswered points, turning the game into a runaway before the Packers could recover. (NFL Fantasy)
The Falcons finished with a whopping 498 total yards, controlled the ball for more than 37 minutes and converted 6-of-10 third downs.
That’s how you win football games.
🏃 Bijan Robinson Was A Problem
Bijan Robinson was everywhere.
He ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, while adding receiving production to finish with more than 200 scrimmage yards.
The Packers simply couldn’t slow him down.
And when Green Bay tried to focus on Robinson, Atlanta had another problem waiting.
🎯 Drake London Went OFF
Drake London put together one of the biggest performances of the night.
The Falcons receiver hauled in nine catches for 194 yards.
That’s 194 yards from Robinson on the ground.
And 194 yards from London through the air.
That’s a nightmare for a defense.
👀 Penix Jr. Looked Comfortable
Penix didn’t need to throw for 400 yards to make an impact.
He finished 18-of-25 for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception, posting a 101.4 passer rating. (Packers)
More importantly, he got Atlanta’s playmakers involved.
After a shaky opening possession that ended with an interception, Penix settled down and helped Atlanta’s offense find its rhythm.
That’s exactly what the Falcons needed.
🧀 What Went Wrong for Green Bay?
Pretty much everything after the opening touchdown.
The Packers’ offense couldn’t stay on the field. Green Bay had only 17 rushing yards on nine carries and became almost completely dependent on Jordan Love throwing the football. (Packers)
Love attempted 53 passes and was sacked once.
That’s not the kind of offensive balance you want.
Green Bay also struggled with protection, missed opportunities and dropped passes.
And when the Packers did get chances, they couldn’t finish drives.
One of the biggest moments came late in the second quarter when Green Bay had a chance to pull even, but a 47-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.
Then Green Bay reached Atlanta’s 7-yard line early in the second half and failed to convert on fourth-and-1.
Those missed opportunities added up quickly.
🚨 Packers Defense Couldn’t Stop the Falcons
The Packers defense surrendered 498 yards.
Atlanta also dominated time of possession, holding the ball for more than 37 minutes compared with less than 23 minutes for Green Bay. (Packers)
When you’re watching the Falcons move the chains, control the clock and repeatedly find Robinson and London, eventually something has to give.
For Green Bay, it gave way in a hurry.
🏥 Injury Watch
The Packers also added to their injury concerns during the game.
Jacob Monk left late with a quad injury, while linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was evaluated for a possible concussion after leaving the game in the third quarter. (Packers)
Green Bay entered the game already dealing with several injuries, including offensive linemen Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks and receiver Jayden Reed being unavailable. (Packers)
The Falcons, meanwhile, got an important player back in Penix after his knee injury kept him out to begin the season.
🏈 The Bottom Line
Atlanta came into Lambeau at 0-2 and left with its first win of the season.
More importantly, the Falcons showed what this offense can look like when Penix is behind center and the playmakers are healthy.
Bijan Robinson: 194 rushing yards, 2 TDs.
Drake London: 194 receiving yards.
Michael Penix Jr.: 256 passing yards, 1 TD.
Falcons: 35 points.
Meanwhile, Green Bay has some serious questions to answer after falling to 1-2.
The Packers couldn’t run the football, couldn’t consistently protect Love, couldn’t sustain drives and couldn’t stop Atlanta’s biggest weapons.
Thursday night belonged to Atlanta.
And after watching this one, NFL fans have plenty to talk about heading into Week 4.
