Michael Penix Jr. looked every bit as good as everyone expected in his first game back from a major knee injury, and Atlanta absolutely rolled over the Packers with a surprising 35-14 win in Green Bay. This wasn’t just a win for the Falcons; it was a loud statement, making it clear they’re a team to take seriously. On the flip side, the Packers are staring down a 1-2 record, looking like a broken team with no clear fixes in sight.
Robinson Ran Wild, and Green Bay Had No Answer
Man, did you see Bijan Robinson on Thursday night? The guy looked unstoppable! He put on a show in Green Bay, racking up 194 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. This marks his 11th game with at least 150 yards from scrimmage since he entered the league, a feat only bested by Derrick Henry since 2022. Robinson’s case for being the NFL’s best running back is strong, producing huge plays even with an “OK” offensive line and a passing game that doesn’t give him much protection. He forced eight missed tackles and produced 175 rushing yards on Thursday. The Falcons just marched up and down the field with little resistance after an early interception of Penix. It’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
Green Bay’s O-Line Is Beyond Saving
While Penix and Robinson were tearing it up, the Packers’ season looks like it’s spiraling. Their offensive line is, quite frankly, beyond saving right now. Coming into the game with the league’s worst rushing attack, a measly 17-yard performance against the Falcons won’t change that. But pass protection? That’s been an even bigger issue. Jordan Love has been under fire all season, and the Falcons’ defense pressured him on 42% of his dropbacks, with an average time-to-pressure of a horrifying 2.28 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats. It’s tough to do anything when you’re getting swarmed that fast.
The defense, which had been better than expected, and Lukas Van Ness had been a bright spot, just couldn’t hold up. This is a bad football team right now, and it feels like the Packers are further away from winning a Super Bowl than they’ve ever been in LaFleur’s eight years on the job, which has produced just three playoff wins. A 1-2 start isn’t impossible to climb out of, and they’ll eventually get Micah Parsons back, but the problems facing this team may not be solvable. If LaFleur can’t turn this season around, questions about his job security will absolutely persist, especially given his recent offseason contract extension and the team’s financial situation that makes firing him tricky.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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