The Atlanta Falcons delivered their strongest performance of the 2026 season on Thursday night, defeating the Green Bay Packers 35–14 at Lambeau Field. The Falcons entered the game at 0–2, but Michael Penix Jr.’s return to the starting lineup helped change the direction of their offense. Atlanta overcame an early 7–0 deficit and scored 27 unanswered points before Green Bay finally answered in the fourth quarter. The victory moved both teams to 1–2 after Week 3.
The biggest story of the game was Atlanta’s rushing attack and the production of Bijan Robinson. Robinson finished with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries while also adding 19 receiving yards. Drake London was equally important through the air, catching nine passes for 194 yards. Penix completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception. On the other side, Jordan Love threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, but Green Bay struggled to establish a rushing game.
Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 35 |
| Green Bay Packers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Atlanta finished the night with 35 points after controlling the game for most of the final three quarters. Green Bay scored first, but the Falcons quickly responded and continued building their advantage. Atlanta’s 11 fourth-quarter points included a field goal, a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion.
The 35–14 result also ended Green Bay’s long home-opening winning streak. The Packers had won 13 consecutive home openers before Thursday night’s defeat. Atlanta’s victory gave the Falcons their first win of the season and marked Kevin Stefanski’s first victory as the team’s head coach.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Atlanta Falcons vs Green Bay Packers |
| Date | September 24, 2026 |
| Venue | Lambeau Field |
| Location | Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Result | Falcons won 35–14 |
| Week | NFL Week 3 |
| Atlanta Record | 1–2 |
| Green Bay Record | 1–2 |
The game was played on Thursday night as the opening matchup of Week 3. Green Bay hosted the contest at Lambeau Field, where the Packers had traditionally enjoyed strong results in home openers. Atlanta entered the game looking for its first victory after losing its first two games.
Michael Penix Jr. made his first start of the season for Atlanta, while Jordan Love led Green Bay at quarterback. Penix’s return provided Atlanta with a more consistent passing threat and helped open space for Robinson’s powerful rushing performance.
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Match Overview
Green Bay started quickly and scored the game’s opening touchdown when Jordan Love connected with Christian Watson for a four-yard score. Atlanta responded with a three-yard touchdown run from Bijan Robinson, tying the game at 7–7. The Falcons then took control with a Nick Folk field goal and a five-yard touchdown pass from Penix to Austin Hooper.
Atlanta entered halftime with a 17–7 advantage and continued to dominate after the break. Brian Robinson Jr. added a seven-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, while Folk’s second field goal made it 27–7 early in the fourth. Green Bay responded with a Matthew Golden touchdown, but Bijan Robinson’s second rushing score and a successful two-point conversion put the game beyond reach.
Michael Penix Jr. Player Stats
| Player | Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Penix Jr. | 18/25 | 256 | 1 | 1 | 101.4 |
Penix Jr. returned to the starting lineup and completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception while posting a 101.4 passer rating. Although he had a slow opening stretch, he settled into the offense and consistently connected with Atlanta’s main playmakers.
Penix also benefited from strong protection and a dominant running game. He was not sacked during the contest, allowing Atlanta to maintain its offensive rhythm. His 68-yard completion to Drake London in the fourth quarter was one of the game’s biggest passing plays and helped set up Atlanta’s late scoring drive.
Jordan Love Player Stats
| Player | Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Love | 28/53 | 312 | 2 | 1 | 75.4 |
Jordan Love finished with 312 passing yards on 28 completions in 53 attempts. He threw two touchdown passes and one interception and was sacked once. Despite the passing yardage, Green Bay’s offense struggled to sustain drives because the Packers could not balance the attack with an effective running game.
Love’s touchdown passes went to Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. Golden’s 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter reduced Atlanta’s advantage to 27–14, but the Packers could not generate another sustained scoring drive. Atlanta’s defensive pressure also contributed to Green Bay’s difficulties throughout the game.
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Atlanta Falcons Rushing Stats
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | 29 | 194 | 6.69 | 55 | 2 |
| Brian Robinson Jr. | 10 | 50 | 5.00 | 16 | 1 |
| Michael Penix Jr. | 2 | -2 | -1.00 | -1 | 0 |
| Team Total | 41 | 242 | 5.90 | 55 | 3 |
Bijan Robinson produced the game’s most impressive rushing performance. He carried 29 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.69 yards per carry. His longest run covered 55 yards, and the explosive play immediately demonstrated the problems Green Bay’s defense would face against Atlanta’s ground attack.
Brian Robinson Jr. added another 50 rushing yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown. Together, the two Robinsons helped Atlanta gain 242 rushing yards on 41 attempts. Green Bay, by comparison, managed only 17 rushing yards on nine attempts, creating one of the clearest statistical differences in the game.
Green Bay Packers Rushing Stats
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarShawn Lloyd | 4 | 11 | 2.75 | 6 | 0 |
| Kaleb Johnson | 4 | 6 | 1.50 | 5 | 0 |
| Jordan Love | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Total | 9 | 17 | 1.89 | 6 | 0 |
Green Bay’s rushing production was a major problem throughout the contest. MarShawn Lloyd led the Packers with only 11 yards on four carries, while Kaleb Johnson added six yards. Love did not record positive rushing yardage, leaving the Packers with just 17 yards on the ground.
The lack of a running threat allowed Atlanta’s defense to focus heavily on Love and the passing game. Green Bay attempted 53 passes, compared with only nine rushing attempts. The imbalance made it difficult for the Packers to control possession or consistently move the chains against Atlanta’s defense.
Receiving Player Stats
| Player | Team | Receptions | Yards | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake London | ATL | 9 | 194 | 68 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 2 | 19 | 17 | 0 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | 2 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| Matthew Golden | GB | 5 | 100 | 45 | 1 |
| Christian Watson | GB | 7 | 96 | 34 | 1 |
| Skyy Moore | GB | 3 | 31 | 12 | 0 |
Drake London was Atlanta’s leading receiver and one of the game’s biggest offensive stars. He caught nine passes for 194 yards, averaging more than 21 yards per reception. His 68-yard catch in the fourth quarter gave Atlanta another explosive play and helped keep the Packers’ defense under pressure.
Green Bay received strong individual production from Matthew Golden and Christian Watson. Golden finished with five catches for 100 yards and one touchdown, while Watson recorded seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Watson opened the scoring with his first-quarter touchdown, while Golden’s fourth-quarter score briefly gave Green Bay hope.
Team Comparison
| Statistic | Falcons | Packers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 498 | 328 |
| Rushing Yards | 242 | 17 |
| Passing Yards | 256 | 311 |
| First Downs | 25 | 18 |
| Total Plays | 66 | 63 |
| Third Down | 6/10 | 6/15 |
| Time of Possession | 37:05 | 22:55 |
| Penalties | 6–83 | 6–45 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Atlanta’s 498 total yards represented a huge offensive advantage. The Falcons produced 242 rushing yards and 256 passing yards, while Green Bay gained 328 total yards. Atlanta also held the ball for 37:05 compared with 22:55 for the Packers.
The third-down numbers also favored Atlanta. The Falcons converted six of 10 third-down opportunities, while Green Bay converted six of 15. Atlanta’s ability to sustain drives, combined with its superior rushing attack, helped keep the Packers’ offense on the sideline for long stretches of the game.
Key Moments and Turning Point
The game’s major turning point came after Green Bay’s early touchdown. Atlanta scored 27 consecutive points, turning a 7–0 deficit into a 27–7 lead. Bijan Robinson’s explosive 55-yard run helped establish the Falcons’ rushing dominance, while the defense repeatedly prevented Green Bay from converting promising opportunities into points.
Green Bay had chances to make the contest closer but struggled in critical situations. The Packers failed on a fourth-down opportunity in the red zone and also had a field-goal attempt blocked. By the time Matthew Golden caught his 15-yard touchdown from Love, Atlanta already had a 27–7 advantage. Robinson’s late two-yard touchdown ended any realistic comeback attempt.
Why the Falcons Won
Atlanta won by controlling the line of scrimmage and creating explosive plays. The Falcons ran 41 times for 242 yards, while Bijan Robinson alone produced 194 yards and two touchdowns. London added 194 receiving yards, giving Atlanta two major sources of offensive production. The Falcons also maintained possession for more than 37 minutes and converted 60% of their third downs.
Penix’s return also provided stability at quarterback. He completed 72% of his passes and avoided being sacked. Atlanta’s defense contributed by limiting Green Bay’s running game to just 17 yards and applying pressure on Love. NFL.com reported that the Falcons recorded 12 quarterback hits and 23 pressures, helping disrupt Green Bay’s passing attack.
Match Summary
The Atlanta Falcons finished Week 3 with a convincing 35–14 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Bijan Robinson led the way with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London produced 194 receiving yards. Michael Penix Jr. completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his first start of the season. Atlanta’s balanced offense produced 498 total yards and controlled the game for most of the night.
Green Bay finished with 328 total yards, but the offense struggled to run the football and managed only 17 rushing yards. Jordan Love threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, with Matthew Golden and Christian Watson finding the end zone. However, Atlanta’s 27-point scoring run put the game out of reach. The Falcons improved to 1–2, while the Packers also moved to 1–2 after their first home-opening loss since 2012.
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