Game Day Primer / Fri, Sep 25

AWAY TEAM

Falcons

0–2

at

HOME TEAM

Packers

1–1

12:15 AM UTC / Lambeau Field · Green Bay, WI

Broadcast: Prime Video

Updated Sep 24, 2:55 AM UTCDetailed game snapshot not available

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30 SEC

01 / Why this game matters

The short version

The 0-2 Falcons arrive after turning the ball over five times in a 34-3 loss to Carolina. Green Bay is 1-1 after beating the Jets 20-17 despite producing only 199 total yards, so both teams have an obvious Week 2 weakness to address.

02 / Know these people

Keep an eye on them

Bijan Robinson / Primary rushing threat

Atlanta Falcons · Running Back (RB)

He carried 16 times for 72 yards last week. Atlanta's clearest path to steadier offense starts with keeping him involved.

Drake London / Top proven receiving option from Week 2

Atlanta Falcons · Wide Receiver (WR)

London caught four of five targets for 51 yards, accounting for more receiving yardage than any other listed Atlanta player.

03 / Watch for this

One thing you can actually see

Watch whether Falcons throws end in routine completions, safe incompletions or defenders getting their hands on the ball. After Cooper Rush and Jack Strand combined for three interceptions in the supplied Week 2 stat line, early ball security will show whether Atlanta has corrected its most damaging problem.

04 / Sound smart

A natural observation

Both teams finished Week 2 with exactly 145 net passing yards, but Green Bay won while Atlanta lost by 31 points.

3 MIN

The central storyline

Why this game matters

The 0-2 Falcons arrive after turning the ball over five times in a 34-3 loss to Carolina. Green Bay is 1-1 after beating the Jets 20-17 despite producing only 199 total yards, so both teams have an obvious Week 2 weakness to address.

A read on both sides

Team identity

Falcons

Team vibe

Atlanta is 0-2 after a 34-3 loss in which productive rushing was erased by five turnovers. Samson Ebukam, who recorded two quarterback hits and half a sack in the supplied performance, is out with a hamstring injury; safety Billy Bowman Jr. is questionable with an Achilles issue.

Packers

Team vibe

Green Bay is 1-1 after a three-point win over the Jets. The Packers got efficient scoring from Love and exceptional return yardage from , but their 199 total yards and multiple offensive-line absences leave clear questions about sustaining drives.

Current storylines

What to keep in your head

  • The Falcons generated 286 total yards against Carolina, including 157 on the ground, but committed five turnovers and scored only three points. The offense showed it could move the ball; finishing possessions was the much larger problem.
  • The Packers beat the Jets even though their running game produced 63 yards and no listed back exceeded 32. Love's two touchdown passes and a clean interception column provided enough offense.
  • Reed is out at receiver, while Banks and Tom are out on the offensive line. Defensive linemen Anthony Campbell and Javon Hargrave are questionable, and Warren Brinson is out, leaving availability questions on both sides of Green Bay's front.

Teach Me What to Notice

On screen

Are Atlanta's backs reaching open space?

  • Bijan Robinson · Atlanta Falcons

Look for: On early downs, watch whether or Brian Robinson Jr. gets past the first cluster of defenders without having to stop or reverse direction.

If you see it: If the backs repeatedly reach the linebackers with forward momentum, Atlanta can keep using the part of its offense that worked best last week.

Here's what it means: Consistent clean runs would let Atlanta avoid asking its passing game to rescue long-yardage situations.

On screen

How quickly does Lukas Van Ness arrive?

  • Lukas Van Ness · Green Bay Packers

Look for: After the snap, watch the outside of Atlanta's blocking formation and count whether the quarterback has time to set his feet before closes in.

If you see it: If is forcing hurried throws or making the quarterback move immediately, Green Bay is creating pressure without needing the result to be a sack.

Here's what it means: That kind of disruption raises the difficulty of Atlanta's attempt to play a cleaner, lower-risk passing game.

On screen

Where is Skyy Moore catching the ball?

  • Skyy Moore · Green Bay Packers

Look for: On Atlanta punts and kickoffs, note where fields the ball and whether the first coverage wave keeps him moving sideways rather than upfield.

If you see it: If gets through the first wave and turns upfield, Green Bay may begin possessions near midfield instead of deep in its own territory.

Here's what it means: Short fields would reduce how far an offense that gained 199 yards last week must travel to score.

5 MIN

The central storyline

Why this game matters

The 0-2 Falcons arrive after turning the ball over five times in a 34-3 loss to Carolina. Green Bay is 1-1 after beating the Jets 20-17 despite producing only 199 total yards, so both teams have an obvious Week 2 weakness to address.

A read on both sides

Team identity

Falcons

Team vibe

Atlanta is 0-2 after a 34-3 loss in which productive rushing was erased by five turnovers. Samson Ebukam, who recorded two quarterback hits and half a sack in the supplied performance, is out with a hamstring injury; safety Billy Bowman Jr. is questionable with an Achilles issue.

Packers

Team vibe

Green Bay is 1-1 after a three-point win over the Jets. The Packers got efficient scoring from Love and exceptional return yardage from , but their 199 total yards and multiple offensive-line absences leave clear questions about sustaining drives.

Current storylines

What to keep in your head

  • The Falcons generated 286 total yards against Carolina, including 157 on the ground, but committed five turnovers and scored only three points. The offense showed it could move the ball; finishing possessions was the much larger problem.
  • The Packers beat the Jets even though their running game produced 63 yards and no listed back exceeded 32. Love's two touchdown passes and a clean interception column provided enough offense.
  • Reed is out at receiver, while Banks and Tom are out on the offensive line. Defensive linemen Anthony Campbell and Javon Hargrave are questionable, and Warren Brinson is out, leaving availability questions on both sides of Green Bay's front.

Teach Me What to Notice

On screen

Are Atlanta's backs reaching open space?

  • Bijan Robinson · Atlanta Falcons

Look for: On early downs, watch whether or Brian Robinson Jr. gets past the first cluster of defenders without having to stop or reverse direction.

If you see it: If the backs repeatedly reach the linebackers with forward momentum, Atlanta can keep using the part of its offense that worked best last week.

Here's what it means: Consistent clean runs would let Atlanta avoid asking its passing game to rescue long-yardage situations.

On screen

How quickly does Lukas Van Ness arrive?

  • Lukas Van Ness · Green Bay Packers

Look for: After the snap, watch the outside of Atlanta's blocking formation and count whether the quarterback has time to set his feet before closes in.

If you see it: If is forcing hurried throws or making the quarterback move immediately, Green Bay is creating pressure without needing the result to be a sack.

Here's what it means: That kind of disruption raises the difficulty of Atlanta's attempt to play a cleaner, lower-risk passing game.

On screen

Where is Skyy Moore catching the ball?

  • Skyy Moore · Green Bay Packers

Look for: On Atlanta punts and kickoffs, note where fields the ball and whether the first coverage wave keeps him moving sideways rather than upfield.

If you see it: If gets through the first wave and turns upfield, Green Bay may begin possessions near midfield instead of deep in its own territory.

Here's what it means: Short fields would reduce how far an offense that gained 199 yards last week must travel to score.

Players & Coaches

Players & Coaches

Bijan Robinson / Primary rushing threat

Atlanta Falcons · Running Back (RB)

He carried 16 times for 72 yards last week. Atlanta's clearest path to steadier offense starts with keeping him involved.

Players & Coaches

Drake London / Top proven receiving option from Week 2

Atlanta Falcons · Wide Receiver (WR)

London caught four of five targets for 51 yards, accounting for more receiving yardage than any other listed Atlanta player.

Players & Coaches

Jordan Love / Touchdown producer and offensive organizer

Green Bay Packers · Quarterback (QB)

Love threw for only 145 yards against the Jets, but his two touchdown passes came without an interception.

Players & Coaches

Christian Watson / High-volume scoring target

Green Bay Packers · Wide Receiver (WR)

Watson drew 11 targets and caught a touchdown last week. With Jayden Reed out, his connection with Love becomes even more prominent.

Players & Coaches

Lukas Van Ness / Lead pressure threat

Green Bay Packers · Edge Rusher (EDGE)

Van Ness recorded 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits in Week 2, making him the Green Bay defender most likely to become noticeable around Atlanta's quarterbacks.

Players & Coaches

Skyy Moore / Return-game field-position weapon

Green Bay Packers · Wide Receiver (WR)

Moore amassed 92 yards on four punt returns and 116 yards on four kickoff returns last week, production that can shorten the field even when Green Bay's offense is not moving consistently.

The Stakes

This game gives Atlanta an opportunity to avoid an 0-3 start and Green Bay a chance to move above .500. Those records are the concrete consequence; the evidence does not establish playoff, rivalry or must-win implications in Week 3.

Why it matters

Atlanta can change its early-season record by changing possession outcomes

The Falcons' five Week 2 turnovers separated their 286 yards of offense from a three-point result. A sharp reduction in giveaways would make their existing rushing production far more useful.

Why it matters

Green Bay can build on the result, not the yardage

The Packers already showed they could win a close game with limited total offense. Against Atlanta, sustaining more drives would make them less dependent on touchdown efficiency and return-game field position.

Why it matters

Personnel losses could shape Green Bay's margin for error

With two offensive linemen and Reed ruled out, Green Bay must redistribute blocking and receiving responsibilities. If those adjustments stall the offense, Atlanta's ability to run and shorten the game becomes more relevant.

Conversation Starters

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 1

Atlanta ran for 157 yards and still lost by 31; how much of this matchup is simply about making its useful rushing production matter by protecting the ball?

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 2

With Reed unavailable, does Love keep feeding after 11 targets, or does Matthew Golden's 58-yard Week 2 performance lead to a larger role?

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 3

Can tilt field position again, or will Atlanta's coverage units prevent the kind of return lanes that produced 208 yards last week?

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 4

Green Bay recorded pressure from several defenders in Week 2, but led the way with four quarterback hits. How much does Atlanta alter its passing plan to account for him?