GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers anticipated challenges early in the season, especially with Josh Jacobs absent and Micah Parsons sidelined.
However, they likely never anticipated such a disastrous performance at home.
Struggling with a makeshift offensive line that failed to protect Jordan Love or create running opportunities for Jacobs’ replacements, the Packers were soundly defeated by the previously winless Atlanta Falcons, ending up with a 35-14 loss on Thursday night.
“That was a humbling night,” coach Matt LaFleur admitted.
Fans at Lambeau Field expressed their frustration, booing the Packers (1-2) for much of the second half.
“It’s pretty disappointing,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “I don’t know what some people think—like booing us is going to rally us or something. We’re adults here, mentally strong enough to get back out there. But honestly, having the 70,000 fans supporting us would make everything a tough night easier.”
The Packers didn’t provide much incentive for fans to cheer, leaving them at a crossroads as September draws to a close.
This certainly wasn’t the outcome team president/CEO Ed Policy envisioned when he extended LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst’s contracts, especially after the disappointing finish to the 2025 season, which included five consecutive losses and a wild-card playoff exit where they squandered a 21-3 lead against Chicago.
Green Bay has reached the playoffs three seasons in a row, yet Thursday’s game showed they are far from being a contender.
The absence of Parsons and Jacobs has undoubtedly been a setback.
Parsons is still out, recovering from a torn ACL that cut short his All-Pro season in 2025.
Jacobs is currently on the commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges related to a confrontation with his former girlfriend.
Meanwhile, injuries have plagued the offensive line as well.
The Packers were down two starters—left guard Aaron Banks with a toe injury and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, who tore his patellar tendon in a recent overtime win against the New York Jets. Bako-Bewele, considered Green Bay’s top lineman, is out for the season.
Although Love was sacked only once, he faced constant pressure from the Falcons.
“J-Love shouldn’t be hit or on the ground that much,” right tackle Anthony Belton remarked. “No excuses. We need to focus on keeping him clean moving forward. That’s got to become our motto.”
Lack of discipline has also hindered the team; they’ve racked up an NFL-high 26 penalties in the first two weeks. They were ahead 7-0 on Thursday when Brenton Cox Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer on a crucial third-down play. Instead of forcing a punt, Atlanta capitalized, tying the game and gaining momentum.
A strength for Green Bay had been their run defense, allowing just 2.9 yards per carry, the second-lowest in the league—until Thursday, that is.
The Falcons outpaced the Packers, rushing for 242 yards compared to Green Bay’s 17 and averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Bijan Robinson led Atlanta with an impressive 194 yards and two touchdowns.
Robinson was even close to breaking the single-game rushing record for visiting players at Lambeau Field, a record held by Baltimore’s Derrick Henry.
The Packers have now been outrushed by at least 225 yards in their last two home games, a statistic that joins them with the 1955 Pittsburgh Steelers as the only team with such a streak since 1933.
“You can’t just blame the D-line or the linebackers or the safeties,” safety Evan Williams said. “It’s a collective effort no matter the outcome. Physicality is key. We’ll have to review the film to pinpoint what went wrong and fix it.”
Because they fell behind and couldn’t establish a running game, the Packers’ offense became one-dimensional, attempting 53 passes while running the ball only nine times.
With Jacobs unavailable, the Packers’ ground game has shifted to MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson, who each had four carries on Thursday, with Lloyd gaining 11 yards and Johnson just 6.
They struggled to make headway for most of the night. LaFleur will need to find a way to make their offense more effective if he hopes to turn the season around for Green Bay.
“We have a few extra days to really reflect,” LaFleur mentioned. “It’s vital for everyone to take a good, hard look at themselves. We need to find solutions and come back prepared to work.”
