Green Bay Packers fall to 1-2
The Green Bay Packers fell to 1-2 after a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on September 24 at Lambeau Field. The defeat also ended Green Bay’s 13-game home-opener winning streak.
Atlanta scored 27 straight points after Green Bay took a 7-0 first-quarter lead. The Falcons built a 27-7 advantage before the Packers scored again with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Green Bay Packers lose ground battle
Green Bay rushed for only 17 yards on eight carries against Atlanta. The Falcons ran the ball 41 times for 242 yards, creating a 225-yard advantage that helped shape possession throughout the game.
Bijan Robinson led Atlanta with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. His 55-yard run set up the Falcons’ first score, while his late 2-yard touchdown completed the scoring.
Green Bay Packers allow 498 yards
Atlanta finished with 498 total yards compared with Green Bay’s 328, a 170-yard difference. The Falcons also recorded 25 first downs and converted six of 10 third-down attempts during the game.
Atlanta controlled possession for 37 minutes and five seconds, while Green Bay held the ball for 22 minutes and 55 seconds. That imbalance limited the Packers’ chances to sustain drives.
Jordan Love throws 53 passes
Jordan Love completed 28 of 53 passes for 312 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His passer rating finished at 75.4 as Green Bay leaned heavily on the passing game.
Love connected with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden for touchdowns, but Green Bay went scoreless during the second and third quarters. The Packers’ 17 rushing yards increased the passing burden.
Matthew Golden reaches 100 yards
Matthew Golden recorded five catches for 100 yards and his first regular-season touchdown. His 15-yard scoring reception with 8:18 remaining cut Atlanta’s lead from 27-7 to 27-14 in the fourth quarter.
Christian Watson added seven receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. His first-quarter score gave Green Bay an early lead and marked his fourth receiving touchdown through three games in 2026.
Green Bay Packers miss scoring chances
Green Bay missed two scoring opportunities before Atlanta extended its lead. Trey Smack had a 47-yard field goal blocked in the second quarter, and the Packers later failed on fourth down.
Early in the third quarter, Green Bay faced fourth-and-1 near Atlanta’s goal line. Jordan Love targeted Christian Watson, but the pass sailed high, giving the Falcons possession at their 8-yard line.
Michael Penix Jr. returns for Atlanta
Michael Penix Jr. returned from injury and completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards. He finished with one touchdown, one interception, and a 101.4 passer rating in Atlanta’s victory.
Xavier McKinney intercepted Penix on Atlanta’s opening possession, but the quarterback later helped the Falcons produce 498 total yards. Atlanta entered the game 0-2 and earned its first victory of 2026.
Drake London reaches 194 receiving yards
Drake London caught nine passes for 194 yards, matching Bijan Robinson’s rushing total. His production included a 68-yard reception early in the fourth quarter that moved Atlanta deep into Green Bay territory.
London later added a 40-yard catch on Atlanta’s final touchdown drive. Those two long gains helped the Falcons stretch the field while Green Bay struggled against both the passing and rushing attacks.
Green Bay Packers allow three rushing scores
Green Bay’s defense allowed three rushing touchdowns while Atlanta averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Bijan Robinson scored twice, and Brian Robinson Jr. added a 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
The Falcons produced 242 rushing yards and converted six of 10 third downs. Those numbers helped Atlanta sustain possessions and keep Green Bay’s offense off the field for long stretches.
Green Bay Packers end home opener streak
The defeat ended Green Bay’s streak of 13 consecutive home-opener victories. The run stretched from 2013 through 2025 and matched Miami’s 1976 through 1988 streak for the longest in NFL history.
Green Bay had also won its previous four regular-season meetings with Atlanta at Lambeau Field. The September 24 defeat ended that venue streak along with the Packers’ extended run of home-opener victories.
Fun fact: Lambeau Field still had wooden bleachers during the famous 1967 Ice Bowl. They were not replaced with aluminum until before the 1969 season.
Green Bay Packers enter short-handed
Green Bay entered the Falcons game without starting left guard Aaron Banks, who was ruled out with knee and toe injuries. Receiver Jayden Reed also missed the matchup because of a neck injury.
Tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and defensive tackle Warren Brinson were also ruled out before kickoff. Those absences reduced Green Bay’s depth during a short week following its September 20 overtime win.
Green Bay Packers start season 1-2
Green Bay’s first three regular-season results produced a 1-2 record. The Packers lost 39-22 at Minnesota, beat the New York Jets 20-17 in overtime, then fell 35-14 to Atlanta at home.
Across those three games, Green Bay scored 56 points and allowed 91, leaving a negative 35-point differential. The Packers entered Week 4 fourth in the NFC North with 14 games remaining.
Panthers quarterback Will Grier ends NFL career at 31, closing a professional run that included multiple teams while shifting attention toward whatever comes next beyond football.
Green Bay Packers face Tampa Bay next
Green Bay travels to Tampa Bay on October 4, then hosts Chicago on October 11 and Dallas on October 18. Those games give the Packers one road contest followed by two at Lambeau.
The full 17-game schedule includes seven opponents that reached the previous season’s playoffs, including four division champions. After starting 1-2, Green Bay has 14 regular-season games remaining on its schedule.
“New days and continued blessings,” Ryan Clark celebrates a major investment, extending his post-ESPN expansion into business ownership as his independent media strategy continues to take shape.
Was Green Bay’s 35-14 loss mainly caused by its weak rushing attack, defensive struggles, or missed scoring chances? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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