The Green Bay Packers suffered a lopsided 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night in their home opener, a defeat that drew boos from the Lambeau Field crowd and raised questions about the team’s direction heading into the season.
The Packers entered the game already dealing with significant personnel losses. Josh Jacobs, who would have anchored the running game, was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property stemming from a May altercation. Additionally, injuries ravaged Green Bay’s offensive line, with left guard Aaron Banks sidelined by a toe injury and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele ruled out for the season after tearing his patellar tendon in the previous week’s overtime victory against the Jets.
The offensive line struggles directly impacted the Packers’ ability to function. According to the report, quarterback Jordan Love had insufficient time to throw, while running back replacements MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson, each receiving only four carries, gained a combined 17 yards for the night.
Atlanta’s rushing attack exposed Green Bay’s suddenly vulnerable run defense. The Falcons accumulated 242 rushing yards compared to the Packers’ 17, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson led the offensive onslaught with 194 yards and two touchdowns. This marked a dramatic turnaround for Green Bay’s defense, which had allowed just 2.9 yards per carry through the first two weeks—the second-lowest average in the league.
Discipline issues also plagued the Packers. Green Bay committed an NFL-high 26 penalties through the first two weeks. A critical penalty in Thursday’s game proved costly: with the Packers leading 7-0, Brenton Cox Jr. was called for roughing the passer on a third-down incompletion, giving Atlanta a new set of downs that resulted in a touchdown and momentum shift.
The loss left the Packers at 1-2 on the season and at what the report describes as a potential crossroads before the end of September. The defeat comes despite team leadership’s confidence in the roster, as president/CEO Ed Policy recently signed coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst to contract extensions.
Key facts
- Bijan Robinson rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons
- Atlanta totaled 242 rushing yards versus Green Bay’s 17
- The Packers committed an NFL-high 26 penalties through two weeks
- Green Bay played without starting linemen Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele
- Josh Jacobs is unavailable after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges