| Quick Answer The Atlanta Falcons beat the Green Bay Packers 35-14 at Lambeau Field on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Running back Bijan Robinson racked up 213 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, wide receiver Drake London added 194 receiving yards, and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. steadied the offence in his first game back from a torn ACL. The win snapped the Packers’ 13-year home-opener winning streak. |
The Falcons vs Packers Week 3 matchup delivered an incredible game at Lambeau Field as Atlanta secured a dominant 35-14 victory over Green Bay. From Bijan Robinson’s explosive 213 scrimmage yards to Michael Penix Jr.’s triumphant return, here is the full recap of how the game unfolded and what it means for both teams.
The Final Score: Falcons 35, Packers 14
Atlanta controlled this game from the middle of the first quarter onward. The scoring went 17-7 at half-time, 24-7 after three quarters, and 35-14 by the final whistle. Here’s how the points fell, quarter by quarter:
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Falcons | 7 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 35 |
| Packers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
The Packers scored first, but Atlanta answered almost immediately and never really let go of the lead after that.
How the Game Unfolded
A slow start turns into a rout
Green Bay took an early lead, and for a while it seemed as if the home crowd at Lambeau Field would get the boisterous, physical game they were craving. But the Falcons found their groove. Running back Bijan Robinson broke off a 55-yard run and soon added a 31-yard burst. Between Robinson’s legs and the arm of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta’s offence moved the ball at will.
The Falcons finished with 498 total yards and 242 rushing yards on the ground, scoring three rushing touchdowns. It was an old-fashioned, physical performance that saw the Falcons dictate the line of scrimmage, wearing down the defence before picking off the scraps with the passing game.
The blocked field goal that changed everything
With under five minutes remaining in the first half, Green Bay had a chance to keep the game close. Their drive set up a field goal that would have cut the deficit to one score heading into halftime. Instead, Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison blocked the 44-yard attempt.
This single play swung the momentum of the game. Atlanta was able to take over with plenty of time and all of their timeouts remaining. Penix quickly found receiver Drake London for a 20-yard gain followed by another 16-yard connection down the sideline before a clever play call opened up a wide open tight end Austin Hooper for a touchdown. From a 10-7 deficit in the second quarter, the game now looked like a comfortable 17-7 halftime lead for Atlanta, and Green Bay was never able to recover.
Standout Performances
Bijan Robinson: a career night
Robinson finished with 213 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, and became just the tenth player in NFL history to reach 6,000 career scrimmage yards before turning 25. He also picked up his seventh career prime-time game with over 100 scrimmage yards, the most by any running back in Falcons history.
Drake London: a career-high receiving day
London set a new career high with 194 receiving yards, highlighted by a 68-yard catch-and-run that tore through the Packers’ defence. It marked the third time Robinson and London have both topped 150 yards in the same game, an NFL record for a running back and receiver pairing on the same team.
Michael Penix Jr.: resilience on full display
Penix hadn’t played a competitive down since tearing his ACL in November 2025. He opened the game shakily, completing just one of his first five passes and throwing an interception. From there, though, he settled down and finished 17 of 20 for 239 yards and a touchdown, a strong response under pressure in his season debut.
C.J. Henderson steps up on defence
With starting cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., out due to injury, rookie C.J. Henderson came in and showed he was first-round draft pick material, breaking up multiple passes. Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich praised Henderson before the game, saying, “I have tremendous confidence in him, and he’s proven that.” and Henderson proved him right on Thursday night.
Why This Game Mattered
Context matters here. The Falcons had started the season 0-2, including a rough loss just four days earlier. Confidence was low, and questions were building about the offence. This win did more than add a mark in the win column. It gave Atlanta proof, on national television, that the pieces they built the roster around can actually work together.
For the Packers, the loss was historic for the wrong reasons. Green Bay had won 13 straight home openers at Lambeau Field, a streak stretching back to 2012. Losing that streak, and losing it this convincingly, will raise real questions about the team’s running game and overall depth heading into the rest of the season.
What’s Next for Both Teams
The Falcons are 1-2 and will have a brief respite before returning to action next Monday night against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4, their second divisional matchup of the young season. The Packers are also 1-2 and will likely need to turn their attention to their offensive line woes in the coming days, particularly their running game which was severely hindered by the absence of a key contributor in the backfield.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won, Falcons or Packers?
The Atlanta Falcons won 35-14. They beat the Packers on the road at Lambeau Field on Thursday, 24 September 2026, in a Week 3 Thursday Night Football game.
What was the final score of Falcons vs Packers?
The final score was Falcons 35, Packers 14. Atlanta led 17-7 at half-time and 24-7 after three quarters before pulling away in the fourth.
Who was the star player in the Falcons vs Packers game?
Running back Bijan Robinson was the standout, with 213 total yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Drake London also had a career-high 194 receiving yards.
Why did Michael Penix Jr. matter in this game?
It was Penix’s first game of the 2026 season after tearing his ACL in November 2025. He started slowly but finished 17 of 20 for 239 yards and a touchdown, helping calm a Falcons team that had lost its first two games.
What was the turning point of the game?
Late in the first half, Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison blocked a Packers field-goal attempt. Atlanta then drove the length of the field to score, turning a close 10-7 game into a 17-7 half-time lead.
What does this result mean for both teams going forward?
The win moved the Falcons to 1-2 and gave them badly needed momentum heading into a Monday Night Football clash with the New Orleans Saints. The loss dropped the Packers to 1-2 and ended their 13-year run of winning home openers at Lambeau Field.
