GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Atlanta Falcons went into Lambeau Field on Thursday night looking for their first win of the 2026 season.
They left with one of the most impressive road victories of the year.
Atlanta defeated the Green Bay Packers 35-14 on Thursday Night Football, overcoming an early 7-0 deficit before dominating the final three quarters and handing Green Bay its first home-opening loss since 2013.
The Falcons scored 27 consecutive points after Green Bay’s opening touchdown and controlled the game on both sides of the football. Atlanta finished with 498 total yards, including 242 rushing yards, while holding Green Bay to just 17 rushing yards on nine attempts. The Falcons also controlled the clock for more than 37 minutes.
Perhaps the biggest storyline entering Thursday night was the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Making his first start of the season after returning from injury, Penix didn’t have the cleanest possible beginning. His first possession ended with an interception. But after that, the Falcons’ quarterback settled into the game and consistently found Atlanta’s playmakers.
Penix finished 18-of-25 for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception, good for a 101.4 passer rating. He also connected with Austin Hooper for a five-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Most importantly, Penix looked increasingly comfortable as the game progressed.
His ability to stretch the field opened things up for Atlanta’s running game and allowed the Falcons to consistently create explosive plays.
But if Penix’s return was the biggest storyline entering the game, Bijan Robinson’s performance was arguably the biggest storyline coming out of it.
Robinson carried the ball 29 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He also added 19 receiving yards. His 194 rushing yards came within one yard of his career high.
Robinson’s second touchdown came with just 3:35 remaining and effectively put the game away. Atlanta followed the score with a successful two-point conversion, extending its lead to 35-14. The Falcons finished with 242 rushing yards as a team, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Brian Robinson Jr. also played a significant role, rushing 10 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. Together, Atlanta’s rushing attack consistently kept Green Bay’s defense on its heels.
While Robinson dominated on the ground, Drake London was nearly unstoppable through the air.
London caught nine passes for 194 yards, including a 68-yard reception. His 194 receiving yards were the most by a Falcons receiver in the game and helped Atlanta finish with 498 total yards.
London repeatedly created separation downfield, giving Penix an explosive option whenever the Falcons needed to move the football. One of the biggest plays of the night came early in the fourth quarter when Penix connected with London for a 68-yard completion on third-and-2.
That play helped set up Nick Folk’s 31-yard field goal, extending Atlanta’s advantage to 27-7.
The Falcons’ offensive production received most of the attention, but Atlanta’s defense played a major role in the victory.
Green Bay managed just 17 rushing yards on nine attempts. That forced quarterback Jordan Love to throw the football 53 times. Love finished 28-of-53 for 312 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, but much of that production came while Green Bay was playing from behind.
The Packers had opportunities to make the game competitive but couldn’t consistently finish drives.
Atlanta also got a major special-teams play when Zach Harrison blocked a Green Bay field-goal attempt in the second quarter. The Falcons ultimately held the Packers to just 328 total yards.
Green Bay scored its second touchdown with just over eight minutes remaining when Love connected with rookie receiver Matthew Golden for a 15-yard touchdown.
That cut Atlanta’s lead to 27-14 and briefly gave the Packers life. But the Falcons answered immediately.
Atlanta leaned on Robinson and then hit London for a 40-yard completion to move inside the Green Bay 15-yard line. Robinson finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, and Penix connected with Chris Blair on the successful two-point conversion.
Just like that, Atlanta had a 35-14 lead. The Packers’ final possession ended with an interception by Xavier Watts, allowing the Falcons to close out the victory.
The victory moves Atlanta to 1-2 on the season and gives the Falcons their first win under head coach Kevin Stefanski.
It also ends a 13-season streak in which Green Bay had won its home opener at Lambeau Field.
The Falcons’ performance was particularly notable because of how thoroughly they controlled the line of scrimmage. Atlanta ran the ball 41 times compared to Green Bay’s nine rushing attempts, won the time-of-possession battle 37:05 to 22:55, converted 6-of-10 third downs, and produced 25 first downs.
For a team that struggled offensively through the first two weeks of the season, the return of Penix combined with Robinson’s rushing performance and London’s explosive night provided a dramatically different look. The Falcons will now return home with momentum after one of their most impressive regular-season road wins in recent memory.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Phelps/AP
