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09/24 23:28 CDT Bijan Robinson runs roughshod over the Packers as the Falcons
breeze to a 35-14 victory
Bijan Robinson runs roughshod over the Packers as the Falcons breeze to a 35-14
victory
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) --- Once the Atlanta Falcons finally reached the red zone,
they kept coming back again and again.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons
capitalized on the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and trounced the
punchless Green Bay Packers 35-14 on Thursday night.
Atlanta (1-2) erased an early 7-0 deficit by scoring 27 straight points to take
control amid a chorus of boos at Lambeau Field. The Falcons outrushed the
Packers 242 yards to 17.
It was a stunning turn of events for an Atlanta offense that hadn't run a
single play inside an opponent's 20-yard line during the first two weeks of the
season.
"That was the weight off the shoulders --- just getting back to the red zone,"
Robinson said. "And we knew we had to punch it in every opportunity we get when
we get down there. That was the main focus --- to get the ball down there and
let's put the ball in the end zone. When we scored, it was definitely something
we enjoyed, and we kept on doing it."
Penix went 18 of 25 for 256 yards with one touchdown and an interception in his
first action since tearing the ACL in his left knee during a loss to Carolina
on Nov. 16.
"I'm proud of him," Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said. "It's not easy to rehab
from injuries. That's a tough thing to do, that he's put himself through ---
the extra workouts in the weight room, the extra treatments in the training
room, all those times that he's out in the field and he's running when no one's
watching."
Atlanta (1-2) had struggled to produce any offense whatsoever in two games with
Cooper Rush at quarterback. The Falcons became the first team since the 2008
Rams not to run any plays in the red zone through the first two weeks of a
season.
That wasn't a problem Thursday.
Robinson and Drake London became the first teammates to each compile at least
190 yards from scrimmage in a road game since Lawrence McCutcheon and Ron
Jessie did it for the Rams at Miami on Oct. 3, 1976. London caught nine passes
for a career-high 194 yards.
"That means a lot," Robinson said. "Me and Drake, that's my real-life brother.
I call him my blood brother. We do everything together."
Green Bay (1-2) lost a home opener for the first time since falling 30-22 to
the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. The Packers had won 13 straight home openers
from 2013-25 to share the NFL record with the Miami Dolphins, who also won 13
in a row from 1976-88.
"We've got a couple extra days here, and everybody's got to take a long, hard
look at themselves," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. "We've got to find
solutions and just come back ready to work."
Green Bay's Jordan Love went 28 of 53 for 312 yards with two touchdowns --- one
to Christian Watson and another to Matthew Golden --- and an interception.
MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson combined for 17 yards on eight carries.
Love was working behind an offensive line missing left guard Aaron Banks and
right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, who tore his patellar tendon Sunday and will
miss the rest of the season. Banks was dealing with a toe injury.
Jager Burton, a rookie fifth-round pick from Kentucky, made his first career
start at left guard, and 2025 second-round selection Anthony Belton started at
right tackle.
The lack of discipline that hindered Green Bay in its first two games cropped
up again Thursday.
Green Bay led 7-0 and had forced an apparent third-and-11 incompletion late in
the first quarter when Brenton Cox Jr. was called for roughing the passer.
Robinson delivered a 55-yard carry on the next play to set up his own 3-yard
touchdown run.
The Packers had committed an NFL-high 26 penalties through the first two weeks
of the season.
Atlanta dominated the rest of the first half and led 17-7 at the break.
Nick Folk put Atlanta ahead by hitting a 44-yard field goal with 4:48 left in
the second quarter. After Atlanta's Zach Harrison blocked Trey Smack's 47-yard
field-goal attempt, Penix threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Austin Hooper on
third-and-goal with 59 seconds left in the half.
Green Bay wasted a red-zone opportunity on its first drive of the second half
when Love couldn't connect with Watson in the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the
7. Atlanta poured it on from there.
"It felt great to get a win. It felt great to come out of there healthy. Just
blessed, just blessed," Penix said.
Injuries Falcons: CB A.J. Terrell (groin) didn't play after getting placed on injured reserve this week. Packers: LB Edgerrin Cooper was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. G Jacob Monk hurt his quadriceps late in the fourth quarter.
Up next Falcons: At New Orleans on Monday, Oct. 5. Packers: At Tampa Bay on Oct. 4. ___ See AP's full NFL coverage here
Injuries Falcons: CB A.J. Terrell (groin) didn't play after getting placed on injured reserve this week. Packers: LB Edgerrin Cooper was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. G Jacob Monk hurt his quadriceps late in the fourth quarter.
Up next Falcons: At New Orleans on Monday, Oct. 5. Packers: At Tampa Bay on Oct. 4. ___ See AP's full NFL coverage here
