The Green Bay Packers left Lambeau Field to sustained boos Thursday night after a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, a defeat that deepened the club’s early-season problems on both sides of the ball.
Green Bay surrendered 27 straight points during the game and could not contain Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson or Drake London. The Falcons entered the matchup 0-2 after a 34-3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, but quarterback Michael Penix Jr. helped spark an offense that had struggled in its first two games.
For the Packers, the result was another alarming marker in a 2026 start that has put pressure on coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love. Green Bay has dropped two of its first three games by at least 17 points, something it had not done over a full season since 2017. Its minus-35 point differential is its worst after three games since 1988.
The 21-point defeat also stood as Green Bay’s most lopsided home loss in a primetime game since the Tennessee Titans beat the Packers 48-27 in Week 5 of the 2004 season.
LaFleur calls for answers
LaFleur described the performance as humbling and said the extended break before the next game must be used to identify solutions.
“It was a humbling night,” LaFleur said. “Nobody is pleased about it. We have a couple of extra days, and everybody needs to take a hard look at themselves. We have to find answers and return ready to work.”
He was even more direct in assessing the game itself, saying Green Bay had been thoroughly beaten for most of the night.
“I’m not going to pin it on one thing,” LaFleur said. “We have to respond better, but for at least three quarters, we got our butts kicked.”
Atlanta’s offense repeatedly took advantage when Green Bay’s defensive backs moved closer to the line in an effort to limit Robinson. The Packers also missed tackles throughout the night, while the Falcons produced three rushing plays of 16 yards or more.
Offense stalls behind battered line
Green Bay’s offense provided little resistance. The reshaped offensive line struggled in pass protection and failed to create consistent running lanes, while the ground game managed only 17 yards on nine attempts.
The lack of production at running back has become more pronounced with Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Green Bay had drawn offseason questions for not adding more depth to the position, and the absence of the veteran has magnified those concerns.
Love faced pressure 23 times against Atlanta, a 41.8% pressure rate. He finished 8-for-21 for 71 yards and an interception. Through three games, he has been pressured on 42.1% of his dropbacks, completing 18 passes under duress for 47 yards with two interceptions.
LaFleur said the coaching staff must determine what the unit can execute effectively.
“We have to keep working with these players and figure out what we do well,” LaFleur said. “Right now, I don’t know what we’re doing well on offense.”
Kraft reacts to Lambeau boos
The crowd’s reaction was especially noticeable during the home opener. Tight end Tucker Kraft, who had several drops in the loss, said hearing boos at Lambeau Field was difficult and argued that greater support would help the team recover.
“When people think of Lambeau Field, they don’t think of boos,” Kraft said. “They think of our home stadium. For a home opener, that is disappointing. It is not going to help us win. We are grown men and mentally strong enough to get back out there and play, but it would be easier with 70,000 people supporting us instead of against us.”
The Packers now have extra preparation time before traveling to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For LaFleur, the days ahead represent a critical opportunity to address an offense stuck in neutral and a defense that has not generated enough stops during a troubling 1-2 opening stretch.
