While it doesn't count that way in the standings, this past Thursday night felt like the true beginning of the Atlanta Falcons' 2026 season.
After two brutal games with Cooper Rush starting at quarterback the Falcons finally got their QB1 on the field, and Michael Penix Jr. was quick to remind everyone that he's by far this team's best option under center.
Despite a shaky start, Penix wound up posting a strong line of 18/25 for 256 yards, one touchdown, one pick and a passer rating of 101.4. The Falcons also got ridiculous games from running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London, who both topped 190+ yards from scrimmage.
As is appropriate, the Falcons have earned an A+ grade from CBS Sports for their big upset win this past week.
"We finally got a chance to see what the Falcons offense would look like at full strength, and it looked unstoppable... With that total, the Falcons became just the third team in NFL history to have a set of teammates top 175 receiving yards and 175 rushing yards. It's too early to say if the Falcons are for real, but with another performance like this in Week 4, they might suddenly become the favorite in the NFC South."
While the offense is getting all the attention, Atlanta's defense was also very much on point.
The Falcons were able to completely shut down Green Bay's ground game, holding the Packers to just 17 total rushing yards and harassing Jordan Love enough for him to post a 75.4 passer rating and a 43.2 QBR. Edge rusher Cameron Thomas (four QB hits, one sack) and cornerback C.J. Henderson (three passes defensed) were particularly impressive.
Next up, the Falcons will face the New Orleans Saints on Monday night - and if the Carolina Panthers can't beat the Detroit Lions on Sunday evening then first place in the NFC South will be on the line.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons earn perfect grade for Week 3 upset of Packers
