Michael Penix Jr.’s Return Sparks Falcons in 35-14 Rout of Packers

Michael Penix Jr. returned to the field in impressive fashion as the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Green Bay Packers 35-14 on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.

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The victory marked Penix’s first NFL appearance since he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last November. His return gave Atlanta a major boost after the team struggled offensively during the opening two games of the 2026 season.

Penix completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also finished with a 101.4 passer rating as the Falcons produced one of their strongest offensive performances of the season.

Falcons Find Their Offensive Rhythm

Atlanta entered the game 0-2 and had struggled to create scoring opportunities. The Falcons had not run a single offensive play inside an opponent’s 20-yard line during their first two games.

That changed quickly with Penix back under center.

The Falcons finished the game with 498 total yards and controlled possession for more than 37 minutes. They also converted six of 10 third-down opportunities.

After Green Bay scored first to take a 7-0 lead, Atlanta responded with 27 consecutive points. The Falcons eventually turned the game into a comfortable victory.

The Packers’ official recap reported that Atlanta dominated both total yardage and time of possession.

Bijan Robinson Leads the Ground Attack

While Penix provided stability through the air, running back Bijan Robinson delivered a huge performance on the ground.

Robinson carried the ball 29 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns. His performance helped Atlanta control the game and keep the Packers’ defense under pressure.

The Falcons finished with 242 rushing yards, compared with only 17 rushing yards for Green Bay.

Robinson’s production also helped take some pressure away from Penix as he worked his way back into regular-season action following his long recovery.

Drake London Makes an Impact

Wide receiver Drake London was another major contributor to Atlanta’s offensive turnaround.

London caught nine passes for 194 yards, matching Robinson’s 194-yard total. His production gave Penix a reliable target throughout the game and helped the Falcons consistently move the ball downfield.

The connection between Penix and London was one of the clearest signs of how different Atlanta’s offense looked with its starting quarterback back in action.

The Packers had difficulty slowing down both players as Atlanta repeatedly created opportunities in the passing and running games.

Packers Struggle After Early Lead

Green Bay appeared to have control early after taking a 7-0 lead. However, the Packers struggled to maintain their momentum.

Quarterback Jordan Love was forced into a heavy passing workload as Green Bay’s running game produced only 17 yards. The Packers also experienced protection problems, dropped passes and missed opportunities.

Green Bay eventually fell behind by 27-7 before adding a late touchdown.

The loss dropped the Packers to 1-2 and ended their 13-game winning streak in home openers. Their previous home-opening defeat came in 2012.

Penix Provides Encouraging Return

For Atlanta, the most important development was Penix’s ability to return and complete a full game after nearly 10 months away from regular-season action.

The Falcons had announced earlier in the week that Penix would start after he had progressed through his recovery and returned to full participation in practice.

His performance against Green Bay immediately gave Atlanta’s offense a different look.

The Falcons improved to 1-2 with the 35-14 victory, while the Packers also moved to 1-2. Atlanta will now look to build on the performance as Penix continues his comeback and the team attempts to establish more consistency on offense.