The Green Bay Packers were blown out 35-14 by the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field on Thursday night, a home-opener loss that dropped Green Bay to 1-2 and intensified questions about head coach Matt LaFleur.
Green Bay had won 13 straight home openers before Thursday’s defeat to an Atlanta team that entered the game 0-2. The loss capped a shaky start to the season for the Packers, who suffered a second-half collapse against the Vikings in Week 1 and needed overtime to beat the New York Jets in Week 2 despite being heavily favored.
Against Atlanta, the same issues resurfaced: an offense unable to balance the run and pass, struggling offensive line play, and quarterback Jordan Love facing heavy pressure in the pocket. The sold-out Lambeau Field crowd booed throughout the game as Love and his receivers failed to connect and drives repeatedly stalled.
Since last season, including the Wild Card Round, the Packers are 1-7 in their last eight games. LaFleur signed a multi-year contract extension at the start of this year that was not described as a “prove-it deal,” according to ESPN. He is entering his eighth season with Green Bay and is the only active NFL head coach with that tenure at one team who has not reached a Super Bowl.
Atlanta’s Breakout Night
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson dominated the game, rushing for 194 yards and two touchdowns, including a 55-yard run. Atlanta had entered the week vowing to establish Robinson early, and Green Bay’s defense could not contain him despite having identified him as the key threat.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., making his return after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2025, threw an interception on Atlanta’s opening drive but settled in from there. Once the Packers were forced to respect Robinson’s running, Penix found success on play-action passes, most of them directed at receiver Drake London.
London finished with 194 receiving yards on nine catches, including a 68-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter that put the game away for Atlanta. It was London’s best game of the season and came after Atlanta’s offense had struggled to get going behind quarterback Cooper Rush in the first two weeks.
For new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, the win offers early evidence that competent quarterback play can unlock the roster he has assembled, particularly if the defense continues performing at the level it showed Thursday.
For the Packers, the loss leaves a fan base already frustrated after one home game and a coaching staff facing renewed scrutiny just three weeks into the season.
