Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 3 vs. Falcons

The Green Bay Packers will attempt to win a second consecutive game and get to 2-1 to start 2026 while also extending the team’s record home opener win streak to 14 games when the Atlanta Falcons come to Lambeau Field for “Thursday Night Football” in Week 3. Matt LaFleur’s team has looked shaky through two weeks, but a chance to come home and play a struggling Falcons team could be just what the doctor ordered.

Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 3 showdown with the Falcons will go down:

On a scale of 1-10, my confidence level in a Packers victory is not high, maybe a 5 or 6. If the Falcons had any kind of pulse, this would feel like a true toss up game given the state of the offensive line, and how so much of what has ailed the Packers is centered on the offensive line’s play through two weeks. That said, if there’s a more troubled offensive team entering Week 3, it’s the Falcons, who are returning their quarterback but still have massive problems. Overall, the Packers defense has been a real strength, so even if Green Bay‘s offense struggles to sustain drives once again, I think a takeaway or two will probably swing the game in the right direction. Winning ugly might just be the way forward until the rebuilt offensive line settles in. Defense. Special teams. Don’t mess it up on offense. That should be the plan for Thursday night.

Green Bay’s offense has looked rough through the first two weeks, and it’s unclear when/if it will get better. Losing Jayden Reed for an unspecified amount of time and Zach Bako-Bewele for the season won’t help. The Packers’ offensive grade from Pro Football Focus is 55.8, tied for last with the Falcons. I’m not expecting a high-scoring affair Thursday night. Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his season debut for the Falcons and could show signs of rust. Atlanta can try feeding Bijan Robinson, but Green Bay’s run defense is eighth in rushing yards allowed per game. The Falcons’ defense is first in rushing yards allowed per game, but the Packers haven’t been able to run the ball much anyway. Green Bay has the better quarterback, but the pass-blocking hasn’t given Jordan Love enough time to operate the offense efficiently—he currently has the lowest completion percentage (52.1%) in the league among quarterbacks with at least 30 pass attempts. Atlanta’s pass rush has already generated 48 pressures, but I still like the Packers in their home opener.

The home opener should provide a friendlier environment for Green Bay’s offense to hopefully find some kind of rhythm, but missing Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks will not help the already worrisome O-line, and the Falcons have been generating pressure at a high rate, even if it has been more of the slow burn variety. Even on a short week and without two starting O-linemen and Jayden Reed, I’m backing them to put up more points this time around, as well as Jonathan Gannon continuing to tweak his defense to hold Michael Penix and the Atlanta offense in check. The Packers need a ‘get right’ game, and Thursday night presents a big opportunity.

The Packers offense needs to get rolling and it starts by getting Tucker Kraft more involved. Atlanta’s defense just gave up two touchdowns to Darren Waller and in week one they gave up a touchdown to Pat Freiermuth. I fully expect the pride of Timber Lake to have a monster game in primetime to remind everyone just how special he is. On the flip side Green Bay’s defense, along with their special teams play is the reason they won last week. They could turn in their best performance of the young season in front of the Lambeau Field crowd. Give me the Packers by double digits.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 3 vs. Falcons