Falcons upset Packers in Michael Penix Jr.'s return from ACL

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Have the real Atlanta Falcons stood up?

After one of the most futile offensive stretches in NFL history over the first two weeks of the season, the Falcons looked reborn in a 35-14 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field. Michael Penix Jr.'s return from a torn ACL reignited the team's offense in an impressive performance on the road in primetime against a depleted Packers team playing without edge rusher Micah Parsons (ACL) and running back Josh Jacobs (commissioner exempt list).

Penix was 18-of-25 passing for 256 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He settled down after throwing a pick on his third pass.

Penix's presence opened up the running game, which was dominant to the tune of 244 yards. Bijan Robinson had 194 of those with a touchdown and Brian Robinson Jr. added a touchdown, as well. Falcons wide receiver Drake London had nine catches for 194 yards.

The Falcons' defense stymied Packers quarterback Jordan Love all game, taking advantage of a Green Bay offensive line that was missing two starters and Jacobs.

Love was 28-of-52 for 312 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions. The Packers had only 17 rushing yards.

Over the first two weeks of the season, the Falcons, led by third-string quarterback Cooper Rush, scored 16 combined points, a league low. Atlanta had 17 points by halftime Thursday night. And the Falcons were able to end a 27-drive streak without a red zone snap, which is tied for the second longest to start a season over the past 45 years.

Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

QB performance: It started off disastrously for Penix, who threw an interception on his first series of the game. But the third-year quarterback settled in nicely in his season debut once the second quarter hit. Penix was 13-of-15 passing in the second and third quarters -- with a touchdown to tight end Austin Hooper -- and a perfect 5-of-5 on third downs over that stretch.

Stat to know: In the first quarter, the Falcons ended their streak of 27 consecutive drives to start the season without taking a snap in the red zone. That is tied with the 1997 Detroit Lions for the second longest streak in the past 45 seasons, per ESPN Research. The 1992 Patriots had the longest at 34.

Trend to watch: The Falcons put star cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. (groin) on injured reserve earlier this week, but the team's secondary got a boon from the return of corner Billy Bowman Jr., who tore an Achilles last November. Bowman, C.J. Henderson and Avieon Terrell, AJ's younger brother, did a great job keeping quarterback Love in check despite the loss of Terrell, whom Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich calls one of the league's top boundary corners. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: Oct. 5 at New Orleans Saints

Green Bay Packers (1-2)

The Packers have more problems than just their offensive line, but if they don't give Jordan Love at least a few more seconds to throw and also try to create at least some running lanes, then Love might not make it through the season healthy and the Packers might finish last in the league in rushing.

Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) is done for the season, and left guard Aaron Banks (toe/knee) can't ever seem to stay healthy. They've started three different left guards in as many games, and the experiment with Jacob Monk at right guard hasn't worked, either.

Two weeks after Love was hit 15 times by the Vikings in the opener, the Falcons hit him 11 times.

Only once in Love's career as a starter have the Packers come back to win when trailing by double digits at halftime, and that was in his first home start in 2023 (down 17-0 against the Saints, they came back to win 18-17). Not only was there no comeback Thursday, there wasn't even the threat of one.

The Packers have salvaged seasons before after 1-2 starts, and edge rusher Micah Parsons will be back in a few weeks, but even that might not matter. They were booed off the field at halftime, and the boos continued in the second half.

Most surprising performance: The Packers were off to a solid start defending the run -- until Thursday. Through two games, they allowed 87 rushing yards per game (eighth in the league) and held their opponents to 2.9 yards per carry (second best). And then they let Falcons running back Bijan Robinson run wild. He rushed for 111 yards in the first half alone. The Falcons totaled 244 rushing yards and averaged 6.3 yards per run. Robinson certainly did his part to create problems, but the Packers created some of their own problems with myriad missed tackles.

Stat to know: When Love heaved it to no one on fourth-and-1 from the Falcons' 7-yard line to start the second half, it was the Packers' fourth failed fourth-down conversion in as many attempts to start this season. That's the most attempts without a fourth-down conversion in the NFL this season. 

Trend to watch: Maybe Josh Jacobs would have made somewhat of a difference, but without their leading rusher the past two seasons, the Packers have no running game. None. They came into the game dead last in the league in rushing yards per game (64.5), and now that number will get even lower after they rushed for only 17 yards. Of course, they ran only nine times because they were behind most of the game, but when they did run, they got nowhere. MarShawn Lloyd carried four times for 11 yards. Kaleb Johnson carried four times for 6 yards. The Packers have now rushed for a total of 146 yards this season. That is their fewest rushing yards through the first three games of a season since 1933, per ESPN Research. -- Rob Demovsky

Next game: Oct. 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers