Falcons vs Packers: Week 3 NFL 2026 Preview
Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers meet on Thursday, September 24, to open Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. The game will be played at Lambeau Field, where Green Bay will make its home debut after opening the season with two road games.
Atlanta enters the matchup at 0-2 after losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, while Green Bay is 1-1 after losing to the Minnesota Vikings and defeating the New York Jets in overtime. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
General context
The quarterback situation is one of the central storylines. Michael Penix Jr. has been named Atlanta's starter for his 2026 season debut after recovering from a knee injury. Tua Tagovailoa is available as his backup. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
Green Bay returns home after starting the season on the road. The Packers defeated the New York Jets 20-17 in overtime in Week 2, with rookie kicker Trey Smack making the game-winning 26-yard field goal. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are fourth in the NFC South at 0-2. Atlanta has scored only 16 points through two games and has produced 524 total offensive yards, including 277 rushing yards and 288 passing yards. The Falcons also have a -6 turnover ratio. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
Bijan Robinson has been Atlanta's leading offensive contributor through two games. He has 155 rushing yards on 37 attempts, along with 99 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
Penix Jr. adds another major storyline to the matchup. He has not appeared in a regular-season game in 2026 and will return to action after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in November 2025. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is 1-1 and currently sits fourth in the NFC North. The Packers have recorded 618 offensive yards through two games, including 532 passing yards and 129 rushing yards. Jordan Love has completed 37 of 71 passes for 532 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
Christian Watson has been one of Love's most productive targets. Watson has 10 receptions for 188 yards and three touchdowns through two games, including an 81-yard reception. :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
Green Bay will also be without Josh Jacobs, while edge rusher Micah Parsons remains out as he continues his recovery from ACL surgery. :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
Players and factors to watch
Michael Penix Jr. will be under the spotlight as he takes over the Falcons' offense for the first time this season. His return gives Atlanta a different quarterback profile after Cooper Rush and Jack Strand handled the position during the first two games.
Bijan Robinson will also be important for Atlanta. His combination of rushing and receiving production gives the Falcons another way to move the football while Penix gets back into regular-season action. :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}
For Green Bay, Jordan Love enters the game with 532 passing yards and four touchdowns. Christian Watson has 188 receiving yards and three touchdowns, making the Love-Watson connection an important part of the Packers' passing attack. :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
Defensively, Jessie Bates III and Za'Darius Smith are among the Atlanta players to watch. Smith has recorded two sacks through two games, while Green Bay's defense will look to players such as Edgerrin Cooper and Lukas Van Ness to contribute against Atlanta's offense. :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}
Injuries and unavailable players
Atlanta will be without defensive end Samson Ebukam, who was ruled out because of a hamstring injury. Cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. is listed as questionable with an Achilles injury. :contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}
Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, Brian Robinson and Jawaan Taylor have no game designation and are available. Cornerback A.J. Terrell was placed on injured reserve before the game and will not play against Green Bay. :contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}
The Packers ruled out wide receiver Jayden Reed, guard Aaron Banks, tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and defensive tackle Warren Brinson. Defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Anthony Campbell are listed as questionable. Anthony Belton, Donovan Jennings, Brandon Cisse, Edgerrin Cooper, Bo Melton and Benjamin St-Juste are available after receiving no game designation. :contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}
Head-to-head history
Green Bay leads the regular-season series against Atlanta 17-15. The Packers have also won the last four regular-season meetings at Lambeau Field and are 12-4 as the home team against the Falcons in the regular-season series. :contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}
The last meeting between the teams came in 2023, when Atlanta rallied to defeat Green Bay 25-24. Thursday's game will also mark the first time the Falcons and Packers have met on a Thursday. :contentReference[oaicite:33]{index=33}
Closing
Atlanta enters the matchup looking for its first win of 2026, with Michael Penix Jr. returning to the starting lineup. Green Bay comes home after earning its first victory of the season against the Jets.
The matchup brings together two different storylines: Atlanta is looking for offensive stability with its starting quarterback back, while Green Bay must manage several important absences and continue to build its passing game around Jordan Love and Christian Watson.
Game details
Matchup: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers
Week: Week 3, 2026 NFL season
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Visiting team: Atlanta Falcons
Home team: Green Bay Packers
Stadium: Lambeau Field
City: Green Bay, Wisconsin
PT: 5:15 PM
CT: 7:15 PM
ET: 8:15 PM
U.S. TV: Prime Video
U.S. Streaming: Prime Video; NFL+ on mobile devices
Falcons record: 0-2
Packers record: 1-1