Winners, Losers As Falcons Soar Past Packers On Thursday Night Football

Winners, losers as Falcons soar past Packers on Thursday Night Football originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

If there were supposed to be a one-sided game at Lambeau Field Thursday night, not many would’ve expected this outcome.

The Atlanta Falcons crushed the Green Bay Packers 35-14 on Thursday Night Football, earning their first win of the season. The Packers fell to 1-2.

Michael Penix Jr. returned under center for Atlanta to boost their previously tough situation, while the running game proved too much for Green Bay to handle.

Green Bay’s offense, meanwhile, had a rough night as the team’s 13-game home-opener win streak came to a painful end.

Let’s analyze the Week 3 opener further with winners and losers:

WINNER: Bijan Robinson, Falcons

The best running back in the league? There’s certainly a dialogue to be had.

Robinson exploded for 194 rushing yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns, including a long of 55 early in the game. His burst and agility just couldn’t be matched by Green Bay. Even his backup, new signing Brian Robinson Jr., enjoyed a healthy night with 50 rushing yards and a score on 10 carries. Atlanta has a lethal Robinson duo in the backfield.

LOSER: Packers’ run game

Green Bay’s offense looked all out of sorts, from a lack of energy to dropped passes and minimal explosive plays. Jordan Love wasn’t completely at fault, but it didn’t help that the offense doesn’t have a complementary run game.

With Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, MarShawn Lloyd led the team with just 11 rushing yards on four carries. Kaleb Johnson had four carries for six yards. Compare that to Atlanta’s aforementioned success and it’s extremely dark.

WINNER: Michael Penix Jr., Falcons

After a few weeks of Cooper Rush and Jack Strand under center, the Falcons desperately needed their QB1 to return. The timing couldn’t be better, as Penix Jr. played in his first game since November of 2025 when he tore his ACL.

He started the game with an early pick, but settled in and proved why he’s the team’s top option over Tua Tagovailoa, who also had been nursing an injury. Penix Jr. finished the game with 256 passing yards on 18 of 25 completions, one touchdown and the aforementioned pick. Atlanta’s season isn’t over yet, but it cannot afford another Penix Jr. injury.

LOSER: Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons

Atlanta accumulated 498 total yards of offense on the night. Kyle Pitts Sr. owned just five of those, which came on a single catch. It continues a poor start to the season, as he had no catches in the opening week before having just one catch for 15 yards last time out.

Something desperately needs to change for the 2021 No. 4 overall pick, who recently inked a lucrative three-year extension to stay in Atlanta. If this trend continues, trade rumors will start to circulate — and it won’t be surprising.

LOSER: Packers’ season outlook

Green Bay came into the game missing star defender Micah Parsons, Jacobs in the backfield, offensive lineman Zach Bako-Bewele and wideout Jayden Reed. But even when they do return, how many wins do they add to this ailing Packers side?

The Packers are clearly a tier below the NFC’s elite. It doesn’t help that the NFC North is a brutal division, too, with the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings all in a competitive spot at the moment. If the Packers aren’t careful, it might be their turn to finish last. And Matt LeFleur may be on the hot seat.