The Green Bay Packers return to Green Bay for their 2026 home opener on Thursday night. The Packers enter this game with a 1-1 mark while the Falcons are 0-2. The Packers are coming off a 20-17 overtime win over the Jets to finally end their losing streak. The Falcons suffered an embarrassing 34-3 loss to the Panthers last week. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 3 meeting with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Packers lead the all-time series between these two teams 17-15-0 in the regular season. The two teams first met in 1966. The Packers and Falcons have split their four playoff meetings.
Here are the keys to victory for Thursday’s game at Lambeau Field:
Packers Keys to Victory vs Falcons, Number One: Protect Jordan Love
The Packers offensive line was better in Week 2 against the Jets, but that doesn’t mean it was good. On Tuesday, the Packers announced that starting right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele will be out for the rest of the season. Anthony Belton will take over as the starting right tackle. Bako-Bewele was the team’s best offensive lineman and there will be a big drop in effectiveness with Belton taking over.
The Packers remain uncertain about the availability of starting left guard Aaron Banks. Banks suffered a toe injury Sunday against the Jets and is still dealing with tendonitis in his knee.
Whoever plays, the Packers will have to protect Jordan Love and ensure he has enough time to locate his receivers. Former Packer Za’Darius Smith leads the Falcons with 2.5 sacks. He would love nothing more than to send a message to his former team. Don’t be surprised if they move Smith to Belton’s side to create favorable matchups.
The Packers may need to use two or even three tight end sets to try to help protect their quarterback. If Love has time to throw, he should be able to get results.
Number Two: Stop Bijan Robinson and the Running Game
Running back Bijan Robinson remains the Falcons best weapon. He currently leads the team in rushing yards, catches, and receiving yards.
Robinson possesses a rare combination of speed and strength. The Atlanta offense goes through him right now especially with the difficulties they’ve had at quarterback.
The Packers run defense ranks eighth in the league giving up 87.0-yards per game. Jonathan Gannon’s unit has done a good job of stopping the run with Evan Williams, Jonathan Ford, Edgerrin Cooper, and Zaire Franklin leading the charge.
If the Packers can contain Robinson and the Atlanta run game, they can set up their pass rush for a big night.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Falcons, Number Three: Don’t Let Michael Penix Get Comfortable
Michael Penix will make his first start of the season Thursday. Neither Cooper Rush nor Jack Strand were effective in the first two games.
Penix returns after suffering a torn ACL last season. He may be reluctant to scramble excessively as he tests the knee.
The Packers have utilized multiple blitz packages to get pressure on the quarterback. Lukas Van Ness has started the season strong and leads the team with 2.5 sacks. He’s also done a solid job against the run.
Cooper has two sacks in two games after Gannon wisely started using him on blitzes both against the pass and the run.
Gannon has also used safeties, cornerbacks and slot corners to get after the quarterback.
Atlanta’s offensive line has allowed seven sacks in two games. The Packers should be able to get pressure on Penix. Because he hasn’t played yet this year, he could be a bit slower to respond to the pressure.
Number Four: Reduce the Careless Penalties
The Packers penalty parade continued against the Jets. In just two games this season, the Packers have committed 26 penalties for 231 yards and those are just the infractions that have been accepted.
Too often, these are careless penalties like lining offsides, late hits or taunting. The team has shown a lack of discipline again thus far in 2026.
The Packers cannot afford to beat themselves and that is what they continue to do when they commit these kinds of avoidable infractions.
Even against a struggling team like Atlanta, the Packers cannot afford to hurt themselves with too many bad penalties.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Falcons, Number Five: Throw On First Down
Matt LaFleur needs to adjust his play calling. The team is constantly falling behind the sticks because they are running excessively on first and second down. The problem is they cannot run effectively. The Packers rank last in the league through two games in rushing yards gained per game. That has forced Love and the offense into too many third-and-long situations where they must pass.
If the Packers throw more often on early downs, they can stay ahead of the sticks and mix in runs to keep the defense honest. Using short passes instead of runs plays more to the skills of the offensive line and of the offense in general. It will also prevent the defense from teeing off on Love in obvious passing situations.
Number Six: Don’t Turn the Ball Over
While the Packers have not looked like a good team in the first two games, the Falcons looked even worse. The Packers are rightfully favored in this game, but they cannot afford to let the Falcons hang around and gain confidence.
The worst thing the Packers can do is turn the football over and give the Falcons struggling offense short fields. The poor play of the offensive line has been the biggest reason the Packers offense has turned the ball over. They need to prevent that from happening and they should win the game.
Prediction:
The Packers have the advantage of playing their home opener and playing at home on a short week. They are also facing a Falcons team that has yet to run a play inside the red zone in their first two games.
The Packers have a lot to clean up right now and they have not looked like a good team in their first two games. The team must figure out their starting offensive line and move forward with it, and they must clean up the sloppy penalties.
This is a game they should win, but they cannot take the Falcons lightly or they will get burned. The emotion and advantage of playing at home on Thursday will carry the day.
Packers 20, Falcons 10
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