GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers expected an early-season challenge with Josh Jacobs unavailable on offense and Micah Parsons still sidelined on defense.
What they did not anticipate was such a disastrous home opener.
A patchwork offensive line struggled to protect Jordan Love and open lanes for Jacobs’ replacements as Green Bay suffered a stunning 35-14 loss to the previously winless Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.
Packers fans at Lambeau Field booed the team throughout much of the second half. At 1-2, Green Bay now faces a possible crossroads before September is over.
The performance was far from what team president and CEO Ed Policy envisioned when he gave coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst contract extensions. Those deals came despite Green Bay finishing the 2025 season with five consecutive losses, including a wild-card defeat at Chicago in which the Packers squandered a 21-3 lead.
Green Bay had reached the playoffs in three straight seasons, but Thursday’s showing bore little resemblance to that of a postseason contender.
The absences of Parsons and Jacobs have clearly affected the Packers.
Parsons will miss at least one more game while recovering from the torn ACL that cut short his All-Pro 2025 season.
Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest two weeks ago to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property charges related to a May altercation with his then-girlfriend.
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Green Bay’s injury problems along the offensive line have compounded those setbacks.
The Packers were without two starting linemen Thursday. Left guard Aaron Banks injured his toe, while right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele suffered a torn patellar tendon during Sunday’s 20-17 overtime win over the New York Jets. Bako-Bewele, regarded as Green Bay’s top lineman when healthy, will miss the rest of the season.
Discipline has also become a significant concern.
The Packers entered Thursday having committed an NFL-high 26 penalties over their first two games. They held a 7-0 lead when Brenton Cox Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer after a third-down incompletion. The penalty kept Atlanta’s drive alive, and the Falcons responded with a tying touchdown before taking control of the game.
Green Bay’s run defense had been one of its few bright spots through the opening two weeks. The Packers were allowing just 2.9 yards per carry, the second-best mark in the NFL.
That strength vanished Thursday night.
Atlanta dominated on the ground, outgaining Green Bay 242-17 while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Bijan Robinson powered the Falcons with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
With Jacobs unavailable, Green Bay is counting on MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson to carry the rushing load. Neither found much success Thursday: Lloyd had 11 yards on four carries, while Johnson gained 6 yards on four attempts.
The Packers’ running game stalled for most of the night. LaFleur must find a way to create momentum for his young backs if Green Bay is going to rescue its season.
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