NFL Week 3 expert picks for Packers vs. Falcons on TNF

The Green Bay Packers might have needed a 10-point comeback at MetLife Stadium to stun the New York Jets and avoid an 0-2 start just four days ago, but the vast majority of experts picking NFL games still believe the Packers will take down the Atlanta Falcons on "Thursday Night Football" to open Wee

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What is the story about?

The Green Bay Packers might have needed a 10-point comeback at MetLife Stadium to stun the New York Jets and avoid an 0-2 start just four days ago, but the vast majority of experts picking NFL games still believe the Packers will take down the Atlanta Falcons on "Thursday Night Football" to open Week 3.

A victory would improve the Packers to 2-1 going into a long weekend of rest and recovery. But Matt LaFleur's team has to first take care of business in the home opener at Lambeau Field, and there are no simple victories when a team has as many issues as the Packers appear to have through two weeks. Then again, the Falcons are 0-2, coming off a 31-point loss and on the road during a short week.

A review of the Week 3 expert picks of Packers vs.

Falcons on TNF:

USA Today

Of the six experts at USA Today, five picked the Packers.

Jarrett Bell: Packers
Nick Brinkerhoff: Falcons
Chris Bumbaca: Packers
Nate Davis: Packers
Adam Kaufman: Packers
Nick Middlehurst-Schwartz: Packers

From Davis: "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."

ESPN

Of the 11 experts at ESPN, all 11 picked the Packers.

Matt Bowen: Packers
Mike Clay: Packers
Jeremy Fowler: Packers
Dan Graziano: Packers
Kayln Kahler: Packers
Pamela Maldonado: Packers
Eric Moody: Packers
Jason Reid: Packers
Ben Solak: Packers
Lindsey Thiry: Packers
Seth Wickersham: Packers

NFL.com

Of the five experts at NFL.com, all five picked the Packers.

Jeremy Bergman: Packers, 23-18
Brooke Cersosimo: Packers, 26-20
Gennaro Filice: Packers, 23-21
Bobby Kownack: Packers, 24-20
Dan Parr: Packers, 24-21

From Cersosimo: "The Packers, lucky to eke out a victory in New York to avoid falling to 0-2, finally return to beloved Lambeau Field, where they have won each of their last 13 home openers. I have concerns about Jordan Love's O-line, which just lost starting right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele for the season and has others banged up (OG Aaron Banks , OT Anthony Belton and backup OL Donovan Jennings). Love has already taken seven sacks (tied for third-most), faced the fifth-highest pressure rate in the NFL this season (42.3%) and is tied for the most unblocked pressures faced (12), per NFL Pro. How Matt LaFleur game plans for his shorthanded offense against a Falcons defense that ranks first against the run, ninth on third down and in the red zone and has generated pressure on 41.5 percent on dropbacks (seventh in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats) could tell part of Thursday night's story. Not having CB A.J. Terrell hurts Atlanta's chances of slowing Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, but having Michael Penix Jr. under center should be a boon for that team. Even if he's still knocking off the rust, this should look like a more competent unit, one that's better-suited to get Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts more involved. These are two flawed teams, and though I think we'll see an improved Falcons outfit, Green Bay has a much-needed home-field edge and a defense that's playing with confidence with budding star Lukas Van Ness at the forefront. Clean up the penalties and this could be a turning point for the Pack."

MMQB

Of the eight experts at MMQB, all eight picked the Packers.

Albert Breer: Packers
Eva Geitheim: Packers
Mitch Goldich: Packers
Mike Kadlick: Packers
Gilberto Manzano: Packers
Conor Orr: Packers
John Pluym: Packers
Matt Verderame: Packers

The Athletic

Of the seven experts at The Athletic, all seven picked the Packers.

Zach Berman: Packers
Joe Buscaglia: Packers
Jon Greenberg: Packers
Larry Holder: Packers
Josh Kendall: Packers
Nick Kosmider: Packers
Austin Mock: Packers

CBS Sports

Of the seven experts at CBS Sports, six picked the Packers.

Pete Prisco: Packers
Jared Dubin: Packers
Ryan Wilson: Packers
John Breech: Packers
Tyler Sullivan: Packers
Dave Richard: Falcons
Jamey Eisenberg: Packers

From Prisco: "This will be Michael Penix back in at quarterback for the Falcons, who badly need it. The Packers rallied to beat the Jets last week, thanks to the defense. That defense will play well here as well. Jordan Love gets it going if the banged-up line can hold up. I think they will."