Bijan Robinson delivered a spectacular performance, racking up 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns, 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 overturn an early 7-0 deficit by scoring 27 unanswered points, all while a chorus of boos echoed throughout Lambeau Field. Atlanta, now standing at 1-2 on the season, dominated the ground game, amassing 242 rushing yards compared to the Packers' meager 17. The Falcons' relentless attack forced Green Bay into a defensive scramble and ultimately turned the contest into a one-sided affair.
For the Packers, the loss marked the first home opener defeat since a 30-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. Green Bay had previously strung together 13 consecutive home opener victories from 2013 through 2025, a streak that tied the NFL record set by the Miami Dolphins between 1976 and 1988.
The defeat snapped that remarkable run and underscored the challenges the team faces early in the season. Penix, returning from a torn left‑knee ACL suffered in a November 16 loss to Carolina, completed 18 of 25 pass attempts for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
This was his first snap in action since the injury, and his performance helped lift a Falcons offense that had struggled to find rhythm during the first two weeks, when Cooper Rush had started at quarterback. Penix's poise under pressure was evident as he guided the team down the field and connected with key targets. Robinson and wide receiver Drake London made history by becoming the first pair of teammates to each record at least 150 yards from scrimmage against the Packers at Lambeau Field. London hauled in nine receptions for 194 yards, showcasing his deep‑ball ability and providing a vital complement to Robinson's ground dominance.
On the Packers side, quarterback Jordan Love completed 28 of 53 attempts for 312 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, Love was forced to operate without his left guard Aaron Banks, who was sidelined with a toe injury, and right tackle Zach Bako‑Bewele, who suffered a torn patellar tendon on Sunday and will miss the remainder of the season.
The depleted offensive line struggled to protect Love and open running lanes, as evidenced by the meager 17 rushing yards contributed by MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson combined. The Packers also introduced several inexperienced players on the line. Rookie Jager Burton, a fifth‑round selection from Kentucky, earned his first career start at left guard, while 2025 second‑round pick Anthony Belton took snaps at right tackle. Their inexperience contributed to the 26 penalties the Packers had already accumulated in just two games, the highest total in the league at that point.
Discipline issues resurfaced Thursday. Green Bay opened the game with a 7-0 lead and appeared to force a third‑and‑11 incompletion late in the first quarter, only for Brenton Cox Jr. to be flagged for roughing the passer.
On the very next play, Robinson burst through for a 55‑yard run, setting up his own three‑yard touchdown rush and shifting momentum firmly in Atlanta's favor. Robinson's long strike also gave the Falcons their first opportunity inside the opponent's 20‑yard line this season.
Prior to this game, Atlanta had been the first team since the 2008 Rams to go the first two weeks of a season without a single red‑zone play. The breakthrough run helped Atlanta capitalize on scoring chances and build a 17-7 halftime lead. In the second quarter, kicker Nick Folk extended the Falcons' advantage with a 44‑yard field goal with 4:48 remaining.
After a blocked 47‑yard field‑goal attempt by Trey Smack, Penix delivered a five‑yard touchdown pass to Austin Hooper on third‑and‑goal with just 59 seconds left before halftime, pushing the lead to 24-7. The Packers squandered a red‑zone chance early in the second half when Love failed to connect with Christian Watson on a fourth‑and‑one from the seven‑yard line. Atlanta responded by extending the lead to 24-7 on the next possession, as Brian Robinson (no relation to Bijan) punched in a seven‑yard touchdown after a methodical 10‑play, 92‑yard drive. Folk added a 31‑yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, further widening the gap.
Love managed to get a late touchdown, a 15‑yard strike to Matthew Golden with 8:18 left, but the Falcons had already sealed the game. Bijan Robinson capped the scoring with a two‑yard touchdown run, finalizing the 35-14 result.
The game highlighted the stark contrast between the two franchises' trajectories. Atlanta's offense, now invigorated by Penix's return and Robinson's explosive playmaking, appears poised to contend for a playoff berth. Meanwhile, Green Bay must address its line injuries, penalty discipline, and offensive inefficiencies if it hopes to revive the storied home‑opener winning streak that has now been broken. Fans can continue to follow the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast every game, the playoffs, and Super Bowl LXI scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027.
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