The Green Bay Packers just got absolutely shellacked 35-14 at home against Atlanta, and it was brutal. This wasn’t just any loss; it brought their insane 13-straight home opener win streak crashing down. Now sitting at a miserable 1-2, this is the worst start for coach Matt LaFleur in eight seasons. And yeah, the Lambeau faithful let ’em hear it, with a chorus of boos raining down in the second half. It’s obvious what’s missing, too: stars Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs are nowhere to be found, and their absence is tearing this team apart.
Parsons on the Sideline, Defense on Skates
Man, you could feel Micah Parsons’ absence on every single play, especially trying to stop the run. Bijan Robinson just ran absolutely wild, gashing Green Bay for a ridiculous 194 yards and two scores on 29 carries. He was just running downhill the entire second half, carving up a defense that looked completely gassed. They only managed one sack the whole game, barely putting any pressure on Michael Penix Jr. in his season debut. Penix, by the way, was back after a season-ending injury last fall in 2025’s Week 11, and the Packers defense gave him all the time in the world. Parsons, who tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee last December, hasn’t seen the field all season. He’s on the PUP list, so he’s out for at least one more game. The real kicker? They haven’t even opened his 21-day practice window yet! Coach LaFleur said back on September 17 that Parsons was still “a couple weeks away” from even practicing. That’s a huge problem when your D is getting shredded like this.
Where Did the Offense Go?
It wasn’t just the defense that was a no-show. The offense totally disappeared after their second possession, which was a nice nine-play, 87-yard touchdown drive. After that? Six straight drives with zero points, including three dreaded 3-and-outs. Seriously? That’s how a one-possession lead turns into a 20-point home deficit, and that’s when the “disdain” from the crowd started to really bubble over. The numbers for the run game are just shocking: 17 total rushing yards. That’s their lowest total in a game since 1999! Marshawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson each got four attempts, and QB Jordan Love only had one scramble. Coach LaFleur summed it up perfectly, saying, “I think we’ve got to continue to work with these guys and try to figure out what we do well. Because right now I don’t know what we’re doing well offensively.” Without Josh Jacobs, who’s been their leading rusher for the last two seasons with 2,258 yards and 28 touchdowns over 32 games, this offense is lost. He’s on the commissioner’s exempt list after an offseason arrest and a groin injury in camp. There are reports the NFL might count his time on the exempt list as “time served” if there’s a suspension, which is some silver lining, but they need him back to balance this offense.
This 1-2 start is a mess, and it’s crystal clear that until Parsons and Jacobs are back on the field, this team is going to keep struggling. The season is still early, but the heat is already on in Lambeau.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply