Packers host Falcons in Thursday night showdown as Penix makes his 2026 debut

The Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons meet in a Thursday night prime-time game in NFL Week 3, with both teams looking to shake off a rough start to the season, according to NFL.com.

Where things stand

The Packers are playing their first home game of 2026 after narrowly avoiding an 0-2 start with an overtime comeback win over the Jets. The Falcons are 0-2 following a 34-3 blowout loss to the Panthers in their home opener.

Green Bay has a chance to make history: a win would give the Packers the NFL record for consecutive home-opener victories, breaking the current tie of 13 held with the 1976-1988 Miami Dolphins. Atlanta hasn't won at Lambeau Field since 2008, when the team's current president of football, Matt Ryan, was a rookie quarterback.

Packers' rough patch

Green Bay has had an uncharacteristically messy start, leading the league in both penalties and penalty yardage while ranking last in rushing yards. Quarterback Jordan Love has the lowest completion percentage of any QB with at least 30 attempts this season, at 52.1%. The team has been playing without edge rusher Micah Parsons and running back Josh Jacobs, and has also lost starting right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele for the season to a torn patellar tendon, along with receiver Jayden Reed to a back injury.

Penix's return

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his 2026 season debut on Thursday, his first appearance since tearing his left ACL last November. With Cooper Rush starting the first two games, the Falcons averaged a league-low eight points per game and failed to reach the red zone. As reported by the Atlanta Falcons' official site, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said he's excited for Penix's return and confident in the quarterback's skill set.

Atlanta boasts a talented group of skill players in running back Bijan Robinson, receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, yet the team's wide receivers and tight ends have combined for just 17 catches, 173 yards and no touchdowns through two games — the fewest of any team in the league. Pitts himself has just one catch for 15 yards so far this season. After Thursday, the Falcons face two more consecutive prime-time games, against the Saints and the Ravens.