Michael Penix Jr. Returns for 0-2 Falcons as Packers Enter Week 3 Favored by 4.5

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 24

Thursday’s Falcons-Packers game will mark Michael Penix Jr.’s first start of the season after an ACL tear, giving 0-2 Atlanta a reset after two nonfunctional weeks on offense.
Atlanta’s urgency is clear in the numbers: its quarterbacks produced a league-worst 38.2 passer rating through two games, even below the 39.6 rating from throwing every pass incomplete.
Green Bay also enters short-handed, with right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele out for the season, guard Aaron Banks and receiver Jayden Reed sidelined, and Micah Parsons not due back until October.
Those injuries have hit the Packers’ offense hard—Jordan Love threw for 145 yards against the Jets last week—and the betting line has tightened from Packers -7.5 in summer to -4.5.
A loss would deepen early pressure on both teams, but especially on Green Bay at home in a competitive NFC North, while Atlanta can still hope to stay afloat in the NFC South.