Bijan Robinson delivered a standout performance, racking up 194 rushing yards and crossing the end zone twice as the Atlanta Falcons seized a decisive 35-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The win came after the Falcons welcomed back quarterback Michael Penix Jr., whose return helped Atlanta overturn an early 7-0 deficit and surge ahead with 27 unanswered points, all while enduring a chorus of boos from the Lambeau Field crowd. Atlanta, now 1-2 on the season, dominated the ground game, amassing 242 rushing yards compared to Green Bay's meager 17.
The Packers, also 1-2, suffered a rare home‑opener loss – their first since a 30-22 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. That loss snapped a remarkable streak of 13 consecutive home‑opening victories that spanned from 2013 to 2025, a run that had tied the NFL record set by the Miami Dolphins between 1976 and 1988. Penix, who had been sidelined after tearing the ACL in his left knee during a November 16 loss to Carolina, completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his first action back. Atlanta had struggled offensively in his absence, relying on Cooper Rush to start at quarterback for the first two weeks, which resulted in a sputtering offense that failed to generate meaningful yardage.
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, complementing Robinson's explosive rushing display. On the Packers' side, quarterback Jordan Love completed 28 of 53 attempts for 312 yards, throwing two touchdowns but also a turnover.
Their rushing attack was virtually nonexistent, with MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson combining for just 17 yards on eight carries. Love's efforts were hampered by an offensive line that was missing key pieces: left guard Aaron Banks was nursing a toe injury, and right tackle Zach Bako‑Bewele suffered a torn patellar tendon that will keep him out for the remainder of the season. In response to those injuries, rookie fifth‑round pick Jager Burton, a product of Kentucky, earned his first start at left guard, while 2025 second‑round selection Anthony Belton took over at right tackle. Despite the personnel changes, the Packers continued to struggle with discipline, a theme that resurfaced Thursday.
After taking an early 7-0 lead, Green Bay appeared to force a third‑and‑11 incompletion late in the first quarter, but a roughing‑the‑passer penalty on Brenton Cox Jr. nullified the play. On the very next snap, Robinson burst through for a 55‑yard run that set up his own three‑yard touchdown, shifting momentum back to Atlanta.
The Packers have been penalized heavily this season, accumulating an NFL‑high 26 penalties through the first two weeks, a trend that persisted in Thursday's matchup and contributed to their inability to sustain drives. Robinson's long run also gave Atlanta its first snap inside the opponent's 20‑yard line of the season. Prior to that, 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 build on its lead throughout the first half, entering the locker room up 17-7. Kicker Nick Folk extended the margin with a 44‑yard field goal with 4:48 left 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 remaining before halftime, pushing the score to 24-7.
The second half began with Green Bay squandering a red‑zone opportunity; Love's pass to Christian Watson fell incomplete on fourth‑and‑one from the seven‑yard line. Atlanta answered quickly, widening the gap to 24-7 after Brian Robinson (no relation to Bijan) punched in a seven‑yard rushing touchdown following a 10‑play, 92‑yard drive.
Folk added a 31‑yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, further solidifying Atlanta's lead. Love finally found the end zone with a 15‑yard touchdown pass to Matthew Golden with 8:18 left on the clock, but the Falcons sealed the game when Robinson capped the scoring with a two‑yard rush, finalizing a 35‑14 victory. The game highlighted several broader storylines for the 2026 NFL season.
Atlanta's resurgence with Penix back at the helm suggests a potent offensive unit capable of balancing the run and pass, while Robinson's breakout performance positions him as a premier dual‑threat back in the league. Conversely, Green Bay's ongoing disciplinary issues and injury‑plagued line underscore challenges that must be addressed if they hope to return to their historic home‑opener dominance.
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