A short week may be exactly what the Atlanta Falcons need after the kind of Sunday they’d rather bury.
Atlanta heads to Lambeau Stadium on Sept. 24 to take on the Green Bay Packers in Thursday Night Football, and the quick turnaround gives the Falcons a chance to move on fast from a brutal 34-3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers. With the season still sitting at 0-2, there’s no time to sit on the damage.
“I mean, that’s a great way to look at it,” said Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes. “Either way, we’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror and fix that for future reference. It’s always good to have a short week, get back to work, and forget this one.”
The Panthers game was a flat one for Atlanta, and the quarterback situation became the headline almost immediately. Cooper Rush opened the game with a fumble on the first play, then threw two interceptions before the home crowd turned on him and he was replaced by undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
“In a week like this, it’s hard playing in four days,” Rush said. “But it’s also kind of a blessing. We’ll be chomping at the bit as a group.”
Rush likely won’t be the one under center on Thursday, though. Michael Penix Jr. has been named the Falcons’ starting quarterback for the primetime matchup, and his return from a partially torn left ACL gives Atlanta a different look at a position that has been in flux.
That’s one of the few things the Falcons can carry into a game that comes with plenty of pressure and very little recovery time. They’re crossing the country, playing twice in four days, and trying to stop a slide that has left them winless. Still, the upside is simple: a fresh quarterback, a quick reset, and another shot before the bad taste from Carolina lingers any longer.
Atlanta will also need cleaner production from its biggest weapons. That means more work for Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. alongside Bijan Robinson, who has been the workhorse in the offense. On defense, the Falcons have to settle on a better rotation after uneven play in Week 1 against the Steelers and a step back in Week 2 against Carolina.
The challenge is a strong one. Green Bay enters at 1-1 after a 20-17 win over the New York Jets, and the Falcons are still chasing their first victory under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time, with Prime Video carrying the game as Atlanta opens a stretch of three straight primetime matchups.
In Other News...
Falcons Loss Got Even Worse With One Panthers Hit Now Under Scrutiny
The Falcons 34-3 loss to Carolina already had plenty of ugly moments, but one late sequence added another layer to an afternoon Atlanta would rather forget. Bryce Young carved up the defense for 287 yards and three touchdowns, while Devin Lloyd helped swing the game with two interceptions, a sack and a pick-six, leaving Atlanta buried long before the final whistle.
Trevis Gipson Sr. then drew attention late in the game when he landed on a downed Falcons player, a play that could come under NFL review for possible discipline. Even in a lopsided result, those are the kinds of moments that can linger after the game film is done, and Atlanta may end up hearing more about the hit than it wanted after a rough day on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Have Another Reason To Be Furious About Panthers Loss
The Falcons already had plenty to stew over after a 34-3 loss to the Panthers, a game in which Bryce Young carved up Atlanta for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Devin Lloyd also made life miserable with two interceptions, a sack and a pick-six, leaving the Falcons staring at a lopsided result and another rough day against a division rival.
Then came a late-third-quarter moment that only added to the frustration. Panthers defender Trevis Gipson Sr. came down on a pile with a wrestling-style elbow after the whistle, a sequence that could draw NFL review for possible discipline and gives Atlanta fans one more reason to focus on everything that went wrong in the defeat. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Finally Get The Penix News Fans Have Been Waiting For
Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his long-awaited return as the Falcons starting quarterback in Week 3 against the Packers, a notable shift after Atlanta opened the 2026 season with Cooper Rush and Jack Strand under center. Penixs comeback comes after he recovered from a torn ACL, giving the Falcons a different look at the games most important position just as the schedule starts to settle in.
The timing matters, too, because Penixs presence has already changed the way the matchup is being viewed, with the Falcons odds improving once his return was announced. For a team trying to establish some stability early in the season, getting Penix back is more than a lineup note. It is the kind of development that can alter both expectations and the tone around the next game. [Read more 🡒]