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Week 3 kicked off with a stunning result on Thursday Night Football as the Atlanta Falcons, who had looked listless in an 0-2 start, went into Lambeau Field and delivered a decisive blow to the Green Bay Packers.
The Falcons, coming off a blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers, flipped the script behind a dominant rushing attack and the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was making his first start under head coach Kevin Stefanski. Atlanta scored more points than any visiting team has in a Packers home opener since 1971, the year after the AFL-NFL merger.
For Green Bay, the implications are troubling. The Packers had already suffered a collapse in Minnesota and needed overtime to squeak past the Jets in a game they trailed by 10 late. Now at 1-2, they find themselves searching for answers in a division that appears wide open, with the Bears at 1-1, the Vikings at 2-0, and the Lions at 1-1.
Falcons' Ground Game Powers Statement Win
Atlanta's victory was anchored by running back Bijan Robinson, who was the clear star of the evening. Robinson amassed 213 yards from scrimmage on 31 touches, including 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. The Falcons rushed for over 200 yards as a team, finishing with a 242-17 advantage on the ground.
After a shaky first quarter in which Penix threw an interception and completed just 2 of 7 passes for 22 yards, the rookie settled in. Over the final three quarters, he completed 16 of 18 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown, finishing the game 18 of 25 for 256 yards and a score. Wide receiver Drake London was his favorite target, hauling in nine catches for 194 yards.
The Falcons' offensive line, a veteran unit, controlled the line of scrimmage, and the defense, despite missing key players like Jalen Walker, James Pearce, and A.J. Terrell, delivered a complete performance. They stopped the run and pressured Jordan Love consistently.
Perhaps most impressive was Atlanta's final drive. After the Packers cut the lead to 13 points on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Love to Matthew Golden early in the fourth quarter, the Falcons responded with an 8-play, 67-yard march that ended any hope of a comeback. Seven of those eight plays were runs.
Packers' Struggles Mount as Pressure Builds
For Green Bay, the loss adds to a growing list of concerns. The Packers have now dropped two of their first three games and have yet to find consistency on either side of the ball. Head coach Matt LaFleur, in his eighth season, and quarterback Jordan Love, in his seventh year with the team and fourth as the starter, are facing increased scrutiny.
There are reasons for optimism: the expected return of Jaden Reed, the continued development of young receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, and the growing comfort of tight end Tucker Kraft. The defense should also benefit from the return of Micah Parsons, and Lucas Van Ness has shown promise through three weeks. However, the boos from the Lambeau faithful were audible, and the pressure to turn things around is palpable.
With the division looking up for grabs, the Packers have time to correct course, but the early signs are not encouraging.
Chargers Face Critical Test in Buffalo
Looking ahead to Sunday, the Buffalo Bills host the Los Angeles Chargers in a game that pits two teams heading in opposite directions. The Bills, coming off a long week after playing last Thursday, have impressed with wins over the Texans and Lions. Josh Allen appears to be at the peak of his powers, and the skill group around him—Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, James Cook, and a banged-up D.J. Moore—may be the most balanced he's had.
The Chargers, meanwhile, are reeling. At 0-2 after losses to the Cardinals and Raiders—teams that were supposed to be easy wins—they now embark on a brutal seven-game stretch. After Buffalo, they travel to Seattle, host Denver, visit Kansas City, take a bye, then face the Rams (technically a road game but effectively a home game), host Houston, and finish at Baltimore. That's four true road games, including cross-country trips to Buffalo and Baltimore and a trip to Kansas City.
For Jim Harbaugh's program, this is a litmus test. The Chargers have struggled to run the ball for two weeks, a hallmark of Harbaugh's best teams. Justin Herbert needs to play better, and the defense under first-year coordinator Chris O'Leary must improve. At the very least, the Chargers need to show signs of life after back-to-back double-digit losses.
Rams-Broncos: A Potential Super Bowl Preview
Sunday night's matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos is widely considered the game of the week. Both teams stumbled in Week 1—the Rams were blown out by the 49ers in Australia, and the Broncos were routed at Arrowhead—but both rebounded in Week 2 with trademark victories. The Broncos wore down Jacksonville in the second half, while the Rams outlasted the Giants.
This was Albert Breer's preseason pick for Super Bowl 61, and he still believes it's very much in play. The game features intriguing matchups: Bo Nix against a Rams defense that played well in Week 2; the Rams' front without Myles Garrett against Denver's elite offensive line; and the Broncos' receivers, now including Jalen Waddle, against a revamped Rams secondary that added Trent McDuffie and Jalen Watson.
Both teams face critical stretches over the next month. The Broncos host the Rams, then travel to San Francisco, visit the Chargers, and host Seattle. The Rams play at Denver, at Philadelphia, and then host Buffalo. While a stumble may not cost either team a season, it could affect seeding and whether playoff games are played at SoFi Stadium or Mile High in January.
With so much on the line, both teams need to have their act together. The loss in Week 1 already cost them some margin for error, making every game in this stretch crucial.