The Packers open Week 3 under the lights at Lambeau Field, and the betting market has already moved toward a tighter game. Green Bay is now a 4.5-point favorite over Atlanta for Thursday night’s matchup, down from an opening line of 6.5 points.
A big reason for that shift is the state of the Packers’ offensive line. Zach Bako-Bewele is out for the year and maybe longer, and his replacement, Anthony Belton, was also banged up in practice this week. The trouble didn’t stop there: left guards Aaron Banks and Donovan Jennings both exited last Sunday’s game, which forced rookie Jager Burton to finish it out.
Even with those concerns, Atlanta has done little through two weeks to inspire confidence. The Falcons have not run a single offensive play in the red zone this season, and they managed only three points against the Panthers last week.
The change to Michael Penix, Jr. at quarterback from Cooper Rush or Jack Strand moved the line a full point toward Atlanta, but that hasn’t erased the doubts around a team that has struggled badly early on. Carolina’s defense, after all, gave up 59 points and nearly 300 rushing yards to the Chicago Bears in Week 1.
That’s part of the reason APC is leaning to the under on a total of 43.5 set by FanDuel Sportsbook. Green Bay may find enough offense to score on Atlanta, but the Packers’ defense has also been playing well, especially late in last Sunday’s win over the New York Jets.
The APC picks are lined up the same way across the board: Tex, Jon, Paul, and Zach all have the Packers winning straight up, Green Bay covering the spread, and the game finishing under.
In Other News...
Packers Face An Unusual Lambeau Threat Hours Before Kickoff
A Thursday night game at Lambeau Field usually brings the kind of demand that disappears long before kickoff, but this week has been different. The Packers still have roughly 700 primary tickets listed on the official market, and secondary-market prices have slipped as the matchup with the Falcons has approached, an unusual scene for a franchise known for a long streak of continuous sellouts.
The softening demand appears tied in part to Atlantas poor early-season record, which has not exactly turned this into a must-see draw for casual buyers. With kickoff only hours away, Green Bay may need to lean on pricing adjustments or other channels to move the remaining seats, a rare bit of game-day business intrigue for a place where tickets are usually the hard part. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Case Just Raised A Bigger Packers Question
The legal side of Josh Jacobs battery case took another turn this week when Judge Marc Hammer denied the motion to permanently seal the video evidence tied to the incident. Instead of disappearing into the court file, the material, including footage from inside Jacobs garage, will now be handled by the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, which will be responsible for any public records requests.
For the Packers, the more immediate concern is the football side of a situation that still has no clear endpoint. Jacobs remains on the NFL commissioner exempt list as the league reviews the video, and the lack of a suspension announcement keeps the team in a waiting game, with an important roster question hanging over a player Green Bay expected to be part of its plans. [Read more 🡒]
Packers May Need An Uncomfortable Move To Protect Jordan Love
Zach Bako-Beweles torn patellar tendon in Week 2 was the latest hit to a Packers offensive line that already needs more depth than it can comfortably spare. Losing a player for the season so early forces Green Bay to keep evaluating every available option, because protecting Jordan Love is not a luxury for this group, it is the job.
Taylor Decker, a former Detroit Lions lineman now in free agency, is one name that fits the conversation if the Packers decide to make a move. The fit is not painless, but the bigger discomfort may be standing pat and hoping the current depth holds up through the grind of the season. [Read more 🡒]