Image courtesy of the Green Bay Packers
Following an ugly win last week in New York, the Packers returned to Lambeau Field in search of their 14th consecutive home opener win against the Atlanta Falcons.
However, it was the Falcons who would take home the win, 35-14.
Green Bay got the scoring started in the first quarter after Jordan Love found receiver Christian Watson for a four-yard score.
But Atlanta would answer right back with a score of their own behind star running back Bijan Robinson.
Robinson imposed his will on the Packers defense all night, finishing with over 200 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The running game was a problem on both sides for Green Bay, who finished with only 17 yards of their own in the loss.
Running Back Marshawn Lloyd gave his account on what went wrong
“We just didn’t connect all together, I think,” he explained. “It wasn’t just the offense. It wasn’t just the defense. It wasn’t just the special teams. You know, there’s three phases, and we just have to work together as a team to get better. Everyone else could do better, and I think we just have to stick together.”
Green Bay’s passing defense wasn’t much better, giving up 258 yards through the air to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in his first start since tearing his ACL last season.
Defensive Tackle Karl Brooks shared what he thought Atlanta did well and how this defensive unit can do better next game.
“They got the ball out of his hands quick. They got the ball to their playmakers in space, and they ran the ball and stayed true to their game plan,” Brooks said. “And like I was saying earlier, we just got to get off blocks, get penetration, and rally to the ball and make tackles.”
The mood in the locker room postgame was somber, with safety Evan Williams considering it a team loss top to bottom.
“We’re all pieces in this puzzle, you know, and when we don’t get the result we want, it’s not because of one play or one person, you know? It’s something wrong with the whole system,” Williams said bluntly. “And so, yeah, it just starts with everybody looking themselves in the mirror and, you know, finding where they can get better and moving forward.”
Meanwhile, edge rusher Lukas Van Ess told us he and his teammates need to have a short memory after a loss like this.
“We’re in a tough spot right now, and I think we’ve got the character and the people in the building to find a way out of this hole and move forward,” he told us. “But you just have to move on to next week and prepare and just continue to build off tonight and learn. But that’s all you can do.”
Despite the loss, Christian Watson played well, catching seven passes for 96 yards and a team-leading fourth touchdown.
However, he and many of his teammates shared the same outlook: they simply have to be better.
Watson stated, “We’ve got to flip a switch somewhere. I mean, we were just not good enough today. So, I mean, I think everybody’s got to find what makes them tick, flip that switch, and we’ve got to find a way to be better.”
This loss moves Green Bay to 1-2 on the year, dropping them to last place in the NFC North.
Up next will be another road game for the Green and Gold as they will travel to take on Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 4th.
