Two games into the 2026 season, the Green Bay Packers find themselves with a 1-1 record, having just mounted a come-from-behind overtime victory over the New York Jets in week two. That game saw the Packers fail to cover the 3.5-point spread, however, as they elected to kick a field goal after holding the Jets scoreless in New York’s overtime possession rather than trying to punch the football into the end zone. That sends the Packers into Week 3 0-2 against the spread, though they started the season with back-to-back
road games.
The Packers’ home opener finally arrives in Week 3, and it will take place on Thursday Night Football as they host the 0-2 Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have started Cooper Rush at quarterback in each of their first two games, thanks to injuries to Michael Penix, Jr. and Tua Tagavailoa, and they have scored just 16 total points over their first eight quarters of football this season.
Atlanta lost their opener 20-13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, then got absolutely trounced by the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Week 2, losing 34-3.
With all of those factors combined — along with injuries to Jayden Reed and Zach Bako-Bewele for Green Bay — the Packers open up this week being favored by nearly a touchdown. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Green Bay is favored by 6.5 points after the conclusion of most of Week 2’s games.
Although the first Thursday Night Football game of the year, Week 2’s matchup between the Bills and Lions, was a shootout, these games are often low-scoring affairs. The books are expecting a fairly low point total in this one as well, with 44.5 set as the line for total points.
The Packers were last favored by a number that high back in Week 13 of last year, which was also the last game they had won prior to their win over the Jets on Sunday. That game saw the Packers as 6.5-point favorites over the Chicago Bears at home, and they held on to win that game 28-21, just barely covering the spread.
Atlanta and Green Bay last faced off in Week 2 of the 2023 season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That game, which was Jordan Love’s second start as the Packers’ full-time starting quarterback, feels all too familiar — the Packers blew a 24-12 lead that they held early in the fourth quarter, eventually falling 25-24. Atlanta was favored by three points heading into that game, giving the Packers the cover, but Green Bay was held to just 224 yards of total offense and went three-and-out four times in the game.
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