Green Bay just witnessed an absolute clinic from the Atlanta Falcons, who flipped a switch after an ugly start and rolled over the Packers 35-14. After two rough weeks, and a rough start to this game, many of us were bracing for the worst when Michael Penix Jr. threw an interception and the Packers grabbed a quick score. But then, man, everything changed.
That Early Scare Was a Head Fake
Seriously, if you only watched the first few minutes, you would have thought the Falcons were still stuck in that early season slump. That Penix pick and the quick Packers drive had “trouble on the horizon” written all over it. But then, boom, the switch flipped. The Falcons figured out what they were supposed to be all along, and what followed was an absolute rout. It is wild how much they turned it around, totally torpedoing a struggling Packers offense and straight up eviscerating a solid Packers defense. The nerves, the sour feelings, all that dumb stuff from the first two weeks just floated away into the brisk Green Bay air.
Penix, Robinson, London Went Absolutely OFF
The playmakers truly took over after that slow start, and it was a sight to behold. Bijan Robinson was running all over Lambeau Field, piling up nearly 200 yards on the ground. Michael Penix Jr. settled right in, ditching the early hesitation and throwing some absolute darts. And Drake London? He ran roughshod all over that field for almost 200 yards receiving. On the other side of the ball, the Falcons’ pass rush rattled Jordan Love all game long, and their secondary made some seriously nice plays on the rare quality balls Love managed to get off. They even picked off Love’s final pass to seal the deal. It was the kind of dominant effort we hoped for, but honestly, didn’t dare dream would happen in a hostile environment like that.
This wasn’t just a win, it was an absolutely lopsided asskicking we haven’t seen from these Falcons in a while, and it felt like a total repudiation of the idea that this team was doomed by anything more than poor quarterback play. We shouldn’t declare their season fixed after one game any more than we should have declared it totally lost after two, but this was crystal clear evidence. These Falcons can be something more than mediocre, keyed by a quarterback who faced a lot of doubt and a coaching staff gaining confidence. Their playmakers just needed to settle in and do what they do best. If the sky feels like too high a limit for this team, they certainly showed they’re capable of getting way off the ground. Now, it is all about what they can build off this. The hope I am feeling today is going to taste very, very sweet for the next ten days, for sure.
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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