The Atlanta Falcons ended a slow start to the season with a statement road win, rolling past the Green Bay Packers 35-14 on Thursday night. Bijan Robinson ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns while Michael Penix Jr., in his first game back from an ACL tear, completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards as Atlanta seized control at Lambeau Field.
Running game sets tone; Penix returns with efficiency and a turnover
After falling behind 7-0 early, the Falcons ripped off 27 straight points to take command of the game amid a chorus of boos from the Lambeau crowd. Atlanta dominated on the ground, finishing with 242 rushing yards to Green Bay’s 17 and repeatedly breaking through the Packers’ front seven.
Robinson’s performance was the centerpiece: his 194 rushing yards and two TDs included a 55-yard burst that tied the game and swung momentum in Atlanta’s favor. Drake London complemented the ground assault, and together Robinson and London became the first teammates to each amass at least 150 yards from scrimmage against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Penix’s return was sharp for a quarterback making his first appearance since suffering a torn ACL last November. He finished 18 of 25 for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception, providing a balanced complement to Atlanta’s rushing attack and helping the Falcons control the game flow.
Packers’ night unravels: streak snapped, injuries compound concerns
The loss dropped Atlanta to 1-2 while the Packers, who had their long home-opener run snapped, fell to 1-2 as well. Headtopics noted Green Bay’s 13-game home-opener win streak at Lambeau came to an end in a painful fashion.
Green Bay’s evening went from bad to worse when linebacker Edgerrin Cooper exited in the second half and was placed into concussion protocol. Yardbarker reported that Cooper was being evaluated for a concussion and that the evaluation was separate from a shoulder issue that had limited him in practice earlier in the week; at the time of the update the diagnosis had not been confirmed. Yardbarker added that losing a player who had logged nearly every defensive snap through the season’s first two weeks only compounded the Packers’ difficulties on Thursday night.
The Falcons also controlled the clock; they outrushed the Packers 242 yards to 17, with Bijan Robinson rushing for 194 yards and two touchdowns, a factor that helped smother Green Bay’s offense and keep the defense off balance.
For Atlanta, the win is a corrective moment after an 0-2 start — a clear demonstration of how a dominant running game paired with a steady quarterback performance can tilt a primetime matchup. For Green Bay, the loss and Cooper’s evaluation leave the Packers with immediate personnel questions and a reset to their early-season plans.
