Bijan Robinson delivered a standout performance, racking up 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as the Atlanta Falcons took advantage of quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s return to guide the team to a convincing 35-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Atlanta, now sitting at 1-2 on the season, erased an early 7-0 shortfall by unleashing a 27-point streak that effectively seized control of the game, all while enduring a chorus of boos echoing through Lambeau Field. The Falcons outgained the Packers on the ground by a wide margin, amassing 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 loss snapped a remarkable stretch of 13 consecutive home opener victories that spanned from 2013 through 2025, a run that tied the NFL record held by the Miami Dolphins, who also won 13 straight home openers 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 his presence helped revive an Atlanta offense that had struggled to generate any momentum during the first two weeks of the season when Cooper Rush was at the helm. 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, providing a potent aerial complement to Robinson's ground attack.
Green Bay's quarterback Jordan Love completed 28 of 53 attempts for 312 yards, throwing for two touchdowns but also tossing an interception. The Packers' backfield was largely ineffective, 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 on Sunday, ending his season. In response, rookie fifth‑round pick Jager Burton, a former Kentucky player, earned his first career start at left guard, and 2025 second‑rounder Anthony Belton filled in at right tackle. Discipline problems that plagued Green Bay in its opening two contests resurfaced on Thursday.
After the Packers opened the game with a 7-0 lead and appeared to force a third‑and‑11 incompletion late in the first quarter, Brenton Cox Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer. On the very next play, Robinson burst through for a 55‑yard run that set up his own three‑yard touchdown plunge, shifting the momentum in Atlanta's favor.
The Packers have been penalized an NFL‑high 26 times over their first two weeks, a trend that continued to bite them in this matchup. Robinson's lengthy carry also gave Atlanta its first snap inside an opponent's 20‑yard line this season, ending a stretch where the Falcons had been the first team since the 2008 Rams to enter the red zone without a single play in the first two weeks.
Atlanta dominated the remainder of the first half, entering the halftime break with a 17-7 lead. Kicker Nick Folk extended the Falcons' advantage with a 44‑yard field goal with 4:48 remaining in the second quarter.
After Zach Harrison blocked Trey Smack's 47‑yard attempt, Penix connected with Austin Hooper on a five‑yard touchdown pass on third‑and‑goal with just 59 seconds left before halftime. The Packers squandered a red‑zone chance early in the second half when Love failed to find Christian Watson on a fourth‑and‑one from the seven-yard line. Atlanta responded by stretching the lead to 24-7 on the ensuing drive, capped by Brian Robinson's seven‑yard touchdown run after a 10‑play, 92‑yard march down the field. Folk added a 31‑yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Love managed to pull one back with a 15‑yard touchdown pass to Matthew Golden with 8:18 remaining.
However, the Falcons sealed the game when Bijan Robinson punched in a two‑yard touchdown run, finalizing a 35-14 triumph. The game highlighted the stark contrast between the two franchises: Atlanta's balanced attack, bolstered by a healthy Penix and a dynamic running game, versus Green Bay's injury‑plagued line and recurring discipline lapses. The Falcons' ability to convert long runs into scoring opportunities and to capitalize on the Packers' penalties proved decisive.
Looking ahead, the Falcons will aim to build on this momentum as they continue their season, while the Packers must address their line injuries and penalty issues if they hope to return to the winning ways that defined their home‑opener streak. Fans can catch every moment of the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including full coverage of 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.