The Atlanta Falcons are 0-2; their offense hasn’t reached the red zone this season, and now they are asking Michael Penix Jr. to walk into Lambeau Field on Thursday night for Falcons vs. Packers and save them from an early-season disaster.
No pressure, kid.
Penix will make his first start of 2026 when Atlanta faces the Green Bay Packers at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. It will be his first NFL start since suffering a torn ACL last November—his third ACL tear—and undergoing season-ending surgery.
The easy pick is Green Bay at home. I think everyone is overlooking how wounded and one-dimensional the Packers have looked. Give me the desperate Falcons in the upset.
How To Watch Falcons Vs. Packers
- Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
- Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- TV/streaming: Prime Video nationally; FOX 5 in the Atlanta market
Michael Penix Jr. Gives Atlanta Hope
Penix does not need to become an instant superstar. He needs to make Atlanta look like a functioning NFL offense again.
Through two games, the Falcons are the NFL’s only offense without a red-zone possession. Cooper Rush produced 229 passing yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions before being benched against Carolina. The passing game has been hesitant, predictable, and unable to create explosive plays.
Penix gives it a pulse. His arm strength should open deeper areas for Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Defenses may finally have to respect something beyond Bijan Robinson near the line of scrimmage.
Atlanta cannot ask Penix to throw 40 times in his return. Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees need to give him defined reads, use play action, and let Bijan carry the burden. That does not mean blindly running into Green Bay’s front, which has allowed only 2.85 yards per carry. It means moving Bijan around, getting him involved as a receiver and forcing linebackers to cover every blade of grass.
Green Bay’s Injuries & Missing Running Game
Green Bay enters the game severely depleted. Wide receiver Jayden Reed, guard Aaron Banks, tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and defensive tackle Warren Brinson have been ruled out. Defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Anthony Campbell are questionable.
Those offensive-line injuries matter because Green Bay produced 66 rushing yards in Week 1 and 63 in Week 2. That is 129 yards on 39 attempts—only 3.3 yards per carry.
The Packers lack a stable lead back. MarShawn Lloyd leads the team with 57 rushing yards, while Kaleb Johnson led last week’s committee with eight carries for 32 yards. If Atlanta controls the ground game, Jordan Love must carry an offense missing Reed and multiple linemen.
That is the upset formula. Make Green Bay one-dimensional, create pressure and steal one possession.
Atlanta’s Injuries Cannot Be Ignored
This is not a clean bill of health for the Falcons. Starting cornerback A.J. Terrell is on injured reserve with a groin injury, and defensive end Samson Ebukam has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Billy Bowman Jr. is questionable.
Tua Tagovailoa, Jawaan Taylor and Brandon Dorlus are available, with Tua serving as Penix’s backup.
Losing Terrell is why this pick feels dangerous. Atlanta needs interior pressure against Green Bay’s shuffled line and cannot let Love turn broken plays into explosive gains.
Three Keys To A Falcons Upset
1. Get Penix Comfortable Immediately
Use quick throws, play action, and designed touches for Bijan. Do not let Green Bay’s pressure turn the comeback into a survival drill.
2. Force Jordan Love To Win Without The Run
Green Bay is averaging only 64.5 rushing yards per game. Atlanta can’t let this become the night the Packers finally fix that problem.
3. Win The Turnover Battle
Atlanta’s offense has repeatedly buried itself with giveaways. The Falcons are not surviving at Lambeau if they hand Green Bay short fields again.
End Of My Falcons Vs. Packers Prediction Rant
The Packers are home and have the stronger defense. Picking Atlanta is uncomfortable. But Thursday games are rarely clean; Green Bay’s offense is injured, and its running game has been nonexistent. Atlanta is desperate, Penix gives the passing attack legitimate upside, and Bijan remains the best offensive player in this matchup.
This feels like the night the Falcons finally show some life. Penix creates two explosive plays, Bijan controls the game as a runner and receiver, and Atlanta’s defense makes one late stop against a one-dimensional Packers offense.
Prediction: Falcons 23, Packers 20.
It will not be pretty. It does not need to be. Atlanta walks into Lambeau desperate, dangerous, and just healthy enough at quarterback to steal its first win.
