It's too early to tell whether a change at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons (0-2) will matter when they face the Green Bay Packers (1-1) in the Week 3 edition of Thursday Night Football.
The Falcons have been soul-searching under center to start the 2026 campaign. With incumbent starter Michael Penix Jr. working his way back from injury, backup Tua Tagovailoa fell to injury while third-string QB Cooper Rush failed to play effectively and was replaced late in Atlanta's Week 2 defeat by undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
That's a tough way to start the season. The Packers, meanwhile, picked up their first win without injured star defender Micah Parsons since acquiring him last season. Green Bay's offense has also been through significant changes,
but quarterback Jordan Love was able to rally the Packers to a Week 2 overtime victory against the New York Jets.
But while the Packers return home with some momentum and hope of treading water until Parsons is able to return, the Falcons don't seem to have any sense of direction at the moment. It's a tough spot for an otherwise talented roster that includes Bijan Robinson and other impact players, but they may need to take their lumps as they examine whether Penix is the guy for the future.
Let's see how our writers see the game shaking out as we get underway with Week 3.
Packers vs Falcons odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Packers -7.5
- Moneyline: Packers -375; Falcons +295
- Total: 46.5
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Falcons at Packers score predictions
Adam Kaufman: Packers 24, Falcons 10
Poor Falcons. Maybe Michael Penix Jr. won't be the answer when he ultimately replaces the Cooper Rush/Jack Strand tandem, but there's no question it's a tough blow to start 0-2, look lifeless on offense in those contests, then have to try to get a new QB ready to start on a short week. Atlanta's signal-caller won't matter for this one, unless he finds a way to get Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. Involved. There's only so much Bijan Robinson can do himself. Green Bay is far from great, but the Packers have been competitive enough to show they can take care of a free square on their schedule.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Packers 27, Falcons 7
Does it even matter that Michael Penix Jr. will be back for Atlanta? Maybe at least a little, as starting Cooper Rush is almost an open concession for the offense. But the Falcons will still be hard-pressed to get much going against a Packers defense that last week showed signs of putting things together. And it's equally unreasonable to expect a shorthanded defense to create enough disruption to contain Jordan Love or throw him off his game.
Nate Davis: Packers 27, Falcons 23
The Packers know all too well what it's like to try and endure without your most important players at the start of the season, and they'll still be without OLB Micah Parsons and RB Josh Jacobs. But at least they'll finally be home at Lambeau Field, not the ideal environment for Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. to attempt to salvage what may already be a lost season in Atlanta … Though watching him and his talented offensive mates try should at least be entertaining.
Richard Morin: Packers 20, Falcons 6
It's tough to see things getting much better for a maligned Falcons outfit. We know Michael Penix Jr. is taking over quarterback duties, but we don't know how effective he'll be on the heels of injury. So, it's anyone's guess whether Penix, a downtrodden Cooper Rush or the inimitable Jack Strand is the path forward for Atlanta. Either way, it's hard not to back the Packers at Lambeau Field. Despite their early-season struggles, Jordan Love has the group moving as a unit, and the defense is holding itself together without Micah Parsons.
Where to watch Falcons at Packers
- Matchup: Packers vs. Falcons
- Date: Sept. 24
- Time: 8:15 p.m.
- Venue: Lambeau Field
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
- TV: Amazon Prime Video
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Falcons at Packers: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 3 game
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