After beating the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Week 1, the Green Bay Packers (1-0) return to the road with a trip to face the Atlanta Falcons (1-0) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 2. Jordan Love and the Packers calmly dispatched the rival Bears by the final score of 38-20 in the season opener, while the Falcons took care of business at home against top pick Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers by a 24-10 final.
Kickoff on Sunday in Atlanta is scheduled for noon CT. Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma will be on the call for FOX.
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The Packers have won the last two games in the series and lead the all-time matchup 17-14. The last meeting came in Green Bay in 2020 when the Packers beat the Falcons 30-16 at Lambeau Field. The Falcons have won three straight games over the Packers in Atlanta, including a win in the 2016 NFC Championship Game.
Coach Matt LaFleur is 1-0 against the Falcons but has never faced Falcons coach Arthur Smith, who was on staff with him in Tennessee.
Both teams are led by young quarterbacks (Jordan Love, Desmond Ridder) and were pushed to victory in Week 1 by big plays from running backs (Aaron Jones, two touchdowns; Bijan Robinson and Tyler Algeier, three touchdowns) and takeaways (Packers, 2; Falcons, 3). Receivers Christian Watson and Drake London were top picks in the 2022 draft, and tight ends Luke Musgrave and Kyle Pitts are among the most athletic tight ends in football.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) lines up for a play in the first quarter during a Week 1 NFL preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Packers receiver Christian Watson missed last week with a hamstring injury but could return in Week 2. Running back Aaron Jones left the Packers’ Week 1 win with his own hamstring injury, but the issue isn’t believed to be serious. Linebacker Quay Walker, who had a pick-six in the opener, is in concussion protocol.
The Falcons are hopeful to return running back Cordarrelle Patterson and cornerback Jeff Okudah in Week 2.
Oct 5, 2020; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) rushes with the football during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Packers opened the week as a 1.5-point favorite on the road against the Falcons, per BetMGM. The over/under is 40.5 points. The Packers won as slight road underdogs in Week 1, while the Falcons covered as 3.5-point home favorites in the opener. The Packers are one of nine road betting favorites in Week 2. The 40.5-point over/under is the seventh lowest this week.