The Falcons vs Packers game on Thursday Night Football turned into one of the most lopsided nights Lambeau Field has seen in years. The Atlanta Falcons beat the Green Bay Packers 35-14 on Thursday, September 24, with running back Bijan Robinson rushing for 194 yards and two touchdowns and wide receiver Drake London catching nine passes for a career-high 194 yards.
The result leaves both teams at 1-2 after three weeks, and it snapped a run of 13 straight home-opener wins for Green Bay, which had not lost its first home game of a season since falling to the San Francisco 49ers in 2012.
Falcons vs Packers: how Atlanta took over
Green Bay drew first blood, but the game was level at 7-7 after the first quarter and Atlanta pulled clear from there. The Falcons led 17-7 at half-time and 24-7 after three quarters before adding two more scores in the fourth, with the Packers managing only a late touchdown.
The difference was on the ground. Atlanta ran the ball at will while Green Bay finished with just 17 rushing yards, and the Falcons held the ball for more than 37 minutes, keeping the Packers offense on the sideline for long stretches as boos rang around Lambeau.
Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Michael Penix Jr.
Robinson carried 29 times for his 194 yards, grinding down the Green Bay front and scoring twice. London matched him yard for yard through the air, and the two made it a rare night on which a running back and a receiver from the same team both reached 194 yards.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., named the Falcons starter ahead of Week 3, was efficient rather than spectacular, completing 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception. It was also a first win in Atlanta for head coach Kevin Stefanski.
For Green Bay, Jordan Love threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, but needed 53 attempts to get there, completing 28, and was also intercepted once.
Matt LaFleur: “a humbling night”
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur did not hide from the performance afterwards, calling it a humbling night and admitting he was not sure what his team was doing well on offense. He said everybody needed to take a long, hard look at themselves before the team returns to work.
The heavy home defeat has put LaFleur under scrutiny, with the Packers’ run game non-existent and the defense unable to slow Robinson.
What’s next for the Packers and Falcons
Green Bay have extra rest before visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, October 4, at 1pm ET (12pm CT) on FOX. Atlanta head to the Caesars Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football on Monday, October 5, at 8:15pm ET (7:15pm CT) on ESPN.
