The Packers get their home opener Thursday night against an Atlanta team that has not exactly arrived in Green Bay with much momentum, but the Falcons do have one important change under center. Michael Penix Jr. is back at quarterback, and that gives Atlanta at least a jolt heading into Lambeau Field.
Penix hasn’t played since tearing his ACL last year, so there’s some uncertainty around how sharp he’ll look right away. Still, he brings a different level of threat than the Falcons have had, especially with Bijan Robinson in the backfield. Robinson is the kind of weapon who forces a defense to stay honest snap after snap, and the Packers will need to handle him while also keeping an eye on Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
That said, Green Bay’s defense has earned some trust through two games. It held down Breece Hall last week and has generally started the season on solid footing. That’s a big reason the Packers’ staff is leaning toward a Green Bay win, even with questions swirling around the offense and an offensive line that has struggled.
The bigger concern for the Packers is whether the offense can finally put together a cleaner night. There’s been some uncertainty about what Jordan Love and the unit will deliver, and the short week plus thin depth up front only adds to that. Still, there’s a sense that this is a game where Matt LaFleur should push to get the run game going and let the defense and special teams help carry the load.
Atlanta’s defense also presents an opening for Green Bay. The Falcons are missing their top two pass rushers and have placed their best cornerback on injured reserve, which makes this a chance for the Packers to find some rhythm offensively if they can protect Love well enough. On the other side, Atlanta has been struggling badly on defense, with little pressure on opposing quarterbacks and no real takeaway production.
The predictions from the Packers coverage team all point toward a Green Bay win, though the margins vary. Pete Dougherty sees the Packers pulling away 24-14.
Tom Silverstein likes Green Bay 27-17, with the defense doing plenty of the heavy lifting. Ryan Wood also has the Packers winning 27-16, while Dominique Yates expects some rough patches but still has Green Bay on top 20-14.
The common thread is simple: the Packers have the better defense, the more reliable pieces around them, and a home setting that should matter on a short week. The question is whether the offense can finally match that side of the ball.
In Other News...
Bijan Robinson Suddenly Has A Rare Falcons Milestone In Reach
Bijan Robinsons name has already become central to the Falcons offense, and now it sits next to a piece of team history that would be unusual even by Atlanta standards. Amid a run of recent NFL milestones around the league, Robinson has given the Falcons something more immediate to watch in Week 3: the possibility of a running back reaching a franchise mark that has been on the books for years.
It is the kind of threshold that says as much about how the offense is using him as it does about Robinsons own versatility. For Atlanta, the larger point is not just that he is piling up touches, but that he is being put in position to leave a mark in a category not often associated with backs. The record is there, the opportunity is there, and now the Falcons have one more reason to pay close attention when the ball gets near the goal line. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Londons Frustration Puts Falcons Quarterback Decision Under A Spotlight
Drake Londons body language told the story during a recent Falcons game, when the receiver was seen yelling and pointing on the sideline as Atlanta struggled to find a rhythm on offense. It has not been the start London or the Falcons wanted, with the third-year pass catcher working through two games alongside backup quarterbacks and producing 6 receptions for 80 yards.
Michael Penix Jr. looms over the conversation because the pairing has already shown real promise when given time together. In 14 games with Penix, London has piled up 91 catches for 1,286 yards and 9 touchdowns, a track record that makes the quarterback decision feel even more important as Atlanta tries to stabilize its passing game and keep one of its top weapons engaged. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Face An Ugly Reality Entering Packers Matchup
The Falcons head into their Week 3 trip to Green Bay already carrying the kind of concerns that can make a road game feel even longer. The Packers bring the cleaner roster and the steadier quarterback situation, while Atlanta is still trying to find reliable play under center and across the board, two issues that have already shaped the early part of the 2026 season.
For Atlanta, the matchup is less about matching the Packers punch for punch and more about avoiding another lopsided afternoon that deepens the pressure around the team. Green Bay is being forecast to handle this one comfortably, which leaves the Falcons with an ugly reality in front of them and a chance to show some progress in a spot where the margin for error looks thin. [Read more 🡒]