A depleted Green Bay Packers roster battles to stay above .500 at Lambeau Field as a desperate Atlanta Falcons squad debuts quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the first time in 2026.
The Green Bay Packers are 1-1 but it sort of feels like they should be 0-2. You don't apologize for wins in the NFL, even ugly ones, but it took overtime to beat the New York Jets in Week 2.
The Packers are also extremely banged up heading into Week 3. Star right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele has been lost for the season and wideout Jayden Reed is out for an unknown amount of time with a neck/back injury.
Micah Parsons is still on the PUP and Josh Jacobs is still on the commissioner's except list.
And now it's time for a short week because the Packers are hosting the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. What timing.
How is everyone feeling out there?
Still, the Packers have a chance to improve to 2-1 on the season against a bad Falcons team that is 0-2 and just lost, 34-3, to the Carolina Panthers.
With that said, wacky things happen on Thursday Night Football and the Falcons are going to be desperate to avoid going 0-3.
Getting a win here won't be an easy task for the Pack.
Here's everything (else) you need to know about this contest.
Packers vs. Falcons Week 2 Preview
Sep 20, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness (90) celebrates a fourth down defensive stop New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.Location:
Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
Game Time:
7:15 PM Lambeau Time
TV Channel:
Prime Video
Packers Injury Report:
Questionable: Anthony Campbell (Ankle), Javon Hargrave (Knee/Concussion)
Out: Zach Bako-Bewele (Knee), Aaron Banks (Knee/Toe), Warren Brinson (Calf), Jayden Reed (Neck)
Falcons Injury Report:
Questionable: Billy Bowman (Achilles)
Out: Sampson Ebukam: (Hamstring)
Betting Odds:
Packers -5.5 per DraftKings
Key Matchup: Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. vs. Packers EDGE Lukas Van Ness
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is starting this game for the Falcons and the 26-year-old is playing in his first game since November 16 because of a torn ACL.
It's ironic, considering the Packers' own problems with torn ACLs, but you can bet the Falcons are excited to get Penix back. They selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Washington, and they clearly believe that he can be "the guy" if healthy.
Penix has an arm, but one has to wonder if he'll be a bit "gun shy" in this game, considering the injury he's coming off of. In hte meantime, Lukas Van Ness is coming off the best game of his career. He notched 10 tackles, eight quarterback pressures, 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss against the Jets.
If that was more than just a flash in the pan from Van Ness and it's really who he has become in year four, he has the potential to make Penix very uncomfortable in his return to action.
Key Quote: Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon evaluates where his defense is at
"We've got to play better in the red zone, play better on third down and keep the score down," Gannon said, per the team website. "That's where my mind's at right now, and keep doing the positive things that we're doing. I'm just kind of a cog in the wheel that got put into this thing. We've got really good players, man. And not just skillset wise. We got really good dudes and I do think that that wins, when you have good guys, so I'm enjoying it. We got a long way to go, but I'm happy where we're trending."
Prediction:
Packers 23, Falcons 10
