Green Bay is trying to snag their second straight win and hit 2-1 this season, all while extending an insane 14-game home opener win streak when Atlanta rolls into Lambeau Field for “Thursday Night Football” this week. Matt LaFleur’s crew has looked shaky through two weeks, but coming home to face a struggling Falcons team could be exactly what they need to right the ship.
The O-Line Is Crashing and Nobody Knows When It Stops
Let’s be real, the vibes are not great. Zach Kruse, one of the staff writers, isn’t feeling super confident, giving a Packers win a 5 or 6 on a 1-10 scale. Why? That offensive line, man. It’s been the center of what’s messed up the Packers so far. If Atlanta had any kind of pulse, this game would be a true toss-up just because of the O-line’s play. Add in losing Jayden Reed for an unspecified time and Zach Bako-Bewele for the season, plus Aaron Banks also being out, and it’s a mess. The Packers’ offensive grade from Pro Football Focus is a brutal 55.8, tied for last in the league with the Falcons. And it’s showing for Jordan Love, who’s got the lowest completion percentage in the league at 52.1% among QBs with at least 30 attempts. The pass-blocking just isn’t giving him time to do his thing efficiently.
Defense and Rookie Rust Might Save the Day
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. The Packers defense? That’s been a real strength. They are ranked eighth in rushing yards allowed per game, which is massive against a guy like Bijan Robinson, who Atlanta will definitely try to feed. The Falcons’ defense is first in rushing yards allowed, but Green Bay hasn’t exactly been running the ball much anyway. Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his season debut for the Falcons, and you know there could be some serious rust there. Plus, Atlanta’s pass rush has already generated 48 pressures, but the Packers are still favored in their home opener. Winning ugly might just be the way forward until that rebuilt offensive line actually settles in. Defense and special teams have to be the plan.
This home opener is a huge chance for Green Bay to finally find some rhythm on offense, even with those O-line issues and missing key players. Can they put up points against a Falcons defense that gave up two touchdowns to Darren Waller last week and one to Pat Freiermuth in Week 1? The staff is backing them to get more points on the board. Keep an eye on Tucker Kraft getting more involved; it sounds like that’s a key to getting the offense rolling for the Pack.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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