Packers Fall to Falcons as Pressure Builds on Matt LaFleur.
The Green Bay Packers suffered a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night at Lambeau Field, adding more pressure to head coach Matt LaFleur after a difficult start to the 2026 season. Green Bay entered the game 1-1, while Atlanta was still searching for its first win. Instead, the Falcons controlled the game for much of the night and handed the Packers a disappointing home loss. Atlanta finished with 498 total yards. Bijan Robinson led the way with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London caught nine passes for 194 yards. Michael Penix Jr., returning after missing time with a torn ACL, completed 20 of 34 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay's offense struggled to establish any consistency. Jordan Love faced pressure throughout the game, while the Packers' running game had difficulty finding room behind an offensive line that has dealt with injuries. The Falcons took control in the second quarter after Robinson's 55-yard run set up his first touchdown. Austin Hooper later added a touchdown reception to give Atlanta a 17-7 advantage at halftime. Green Bay managed just 108 yards in the opening half, while Atlanta produced 253. Packers fans booed the team as it left the field for halftime. The Packers had an opportunity to respond early in the third quarter but failed to convert on fourth-and-1 near the Falcons' goal line. Atlanta followed with a 92-yard scoring drive, extending its lead to 24-7.
Green Bay eventually added another touchdown, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. Atlanta continued to move the ball effectively and pulled away in the fourth quarter. LaFleur acknowledged after the game that the Packers need to identify what they are doing well offensively.
"Got to try to figure out what we do well, and right now I don't know what we're doing well offensively," LaFleur said after the game, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. The loss comes after a difficult stretch for Green Bay dating back to last season. The Packers finished last season with five consecutive losses, including two losses to the Chicago Bears in which they surrendered significant leads. Green Bay also entered this season dealing with several personnel issues. Micah Parsons is sidelined with an injury, the offensive line has been banged up, Jayden Reed is unavailable, and Josh Jacobs is on the commissioner's exempt list. Despite those challenges, the Packers were unable to slow down an Atlanta offense that had struggled during the opening two weeks.
The loss drops Green Bay to 1-2 and leaves the team searching for answers heading into the next part of the season. LaFleur received a contract extension in January, and Packers president and CEO Ed Policy previously dismissed concerns about the coach's job security.
LaFleur owns a 77-42-1 regular-season record with Green Bay, but Thursday night's performance will increase attention on the Packers' coaching staff as the team looks to turn its season around.
