Bijan Robinson delivered a standout performance, racking up 194 rushing yards and finding the end zone twice, as the Atlanta Falcons seized a 35-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The win came shortly after the Falcons reinstated quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who helped the team turn a tentative start into a dominant display.
Atlanta, now 1-2 on the season, erased an early 7-0 deficit by stringing together 27 unanswered points, a surge that unfolded under a chorus of boos echoing throughout Lambeau Field. The Falcons out‑gained the Packers on the ground by a wide margin, accumulating 242 rushing yards compared with Green Bay's meager 17. The loss marked the Packers' first home‑opener defeat since a 30-22 setback to the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. That game ended a remarkable streak of 13 consecutive home‑opener victories that spanned from 2013 to 2025, a run that tied the NFL record set by the Miami Dolphins between 1976 and 1988.
Penix, returning from a torn left‑knee ACL suffered in a November 16 loss to Carolina, completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception. This was his first meaningful action since the injury, and it was a stark contrast to the Falcons' offensive struggles in the first two weeks of the season when Cooper Rush had been at the helm. With Penix back, Atlanta finally found a rhythm that had been missing.
Robinson and wide receiver Drake London made history by becoming the first pair of teammates to each record at least 150 yards from scrimmage in a single game against the Packers at Lambeau Field. London hauled in nine receptions for 194 yards, showcasing his big‑play ability alongside Robinson's ground dominance. On the other side of the ball, Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love completed 28 of 53 attempts for 312 yards, throwing for two touchdowns but also tossing an interception. The Packers' rushing attack was virtually nonexistent, with MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson combining for just 17 yards on eight carries.
Love's performance was hampered by an offensive line riddled with injuries. Left guard Aaron Banks was sidelined with a toe issue, while right tackle Zach Bako‑Bewele suffered a torn patellar tendon that will keep him out for the remainder of the season. In response, rookie Jager Burton, a fifth‑round pick out of Kentucky, was thrust into his first career start at left guard, and 2025 second‑rounder Anthony Belton took over at right tackle. Discipline problems that plagued Green Bay in its opening two games resurfaced on Thursday.
After the Packers opened the scoring with a 7-0 lead, a potential third‑and‑11 incompletion was nullified when Brenton Cox Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer. On the very next play, Robinson broke free for a 55‑yard run, setting up his own three‑yard touchdown rush. The Packers have been penalized at an alarming rate, committing an NFL‑high 26 penalties in the first two weeks of the season.
Those costly mistakes have contributed to stalled drives and missed opportunities. Robinson's long run also gave Atlanta its first snap inside the opponent's 20‑yard line this season. Until that point, the Falcons had been the first team since the 2008 Rams to go through the first two weeks without a single red‑zone rushing attempt. Atlanta continued to dominate the first half, heading into the locker room with a 17-7 advantage.
Kicker Nick Folk extended the lead with a 44‑yard field goal with 4:48 remaining in the second quarter. After a blocked 47‑yard field‑goal attempt by Trey Smack, Penix connected with tight end Austin Hooper on a five‑yard touchdown pass on third‑and‑goal with just 59 seconds left before halftime. The second half began with Green Bay squandering a red‑zone chance on its opening drive, as Love failed to hit Christian Watson in the end zone on a fourth‑and‑one from the seven-yard line.
Atlanta answered by widening the gap to 24-7 on its next possession, capping a 10‑play, 92‑yard drive with a seven‑yard touchdown run by Brian Robinson. Folk added a 31‑yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, pushing the lead further.
Love managed to get a late score, throwing a 15‑yard touchdown pass to Matthew Golden with 8:18 left on the clock, but the Falcons sealed the game when Bijan Robinson punched in a two‑yard touchdown run, bringing the final tally to 35-14. The game underscored Atlanta's resurgence with Penix back under center and Robinson in top form, while Green Bay's ongoing injury woes and lack of discipline continue to hinder their progress. The Falcons now look to build on this momentum as the season advances, whereas the Packers must address their penalty issues and bolster their offensive line if they hope to return to winning ways.
Fans can follow the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast every game, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027. For the latest Sky Sports offers or to stream without a contract, visit NOW.