The Green Bay Packers' start to this season has not gone to plan. They blew a 22-10 lead to the Minnesota Vikings to lose 39-22 in Week 1. This past Sunday, the Packers survived a scare to win 20-17 in overtime, thanks in part to a collapse by the New York Jets, who are still learning how to close out games.
Even though it was a sloppy effort, the Packers took solace in knowing they were heading back home to take on the lowly Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. This was as much of a "gimme" game as they could've wished for.
Yet, the Packers straight up embarrassed themselves and the fans who paid for tickets to attend the home opener at Lambeau Field. The Falcons, who couldn't even reach the red zone in the first two games of the season, dropped 35 points with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at the helm.
The defense couldn't stop Atlanta. Green Bay's offense couldn't keep up with them. And the special teams couldn't even kick a field goal without it getting blocked. The end result? A humiliating 35-14 loss to fall to 1-2.
It's only three games into the season, but the Packers look like a truly dysfunctional team. That has to fall on head coach Matt LaFleur. While it's too early to call for his job, he must feel the pressure to pull the Packers out of this mess.
Packers are shorthanded, but it's on Matt LaFleur to get the team ready
It's no secret that the Packers are pretty shorthanded when it comes to their big names on the roster. Defensive end Micah Parsons is still recovering from his ACL surgery, with a mid-October return looking like the most likely option. Running back Josh Jacobs is on the commissioner's exempt list.
It also doesn't help that the offensive line, one that is tasked with protecting quarterback Jordan Love, is dealing with injuries. Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewle is done for the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon. Meanwhile, left guard Aaron Banks was ruled out for Week 3 against the Packers due to a toe injury suffered against the Jets.
Oh, and the Packers are without wide receiver Jayden Reed, who is dealing with a neck injury.
Even with all of these absences, it is on LaFleur to have his players ready to play at the top of their game. That is especially the case when they are facing a Falcons team that legitimately looked like the worst in the league through the first two weeks. Losing to them is bad enough. To be dominated in every facet of the game is downright embarrassing for LaFleur.
Matt LaFleur still doesn't seem to have learned from Packers' collapse last season
What makes this 1-2 start look even worse for the Packers is that this is a follow-up to a 2025 season that ended in nightmarish fashion. After going 9-3-1 on the season, the Packers lost the final four games. Still, they made it to the playoffs.
In the Wild Card Round, the Packers looked to be coasting to the next round, as they led the Chicago Bears 21-3 entering the second half. But then, the Bears outscored them 28-6 to pick up a 31-27 victory. It was a true gut punch for the Packers and LaFleur, as the younger Bears team, led by a first-year head coach in Ben Johnson, outclassed them.
Now, we're three games into this season, and LaFleur has overseen another huge collapse in the second half, stumbling into a win thanks to the Jets being the Jets, and now, no-showing against the Falcons in primetime.
LaFleur needs to face scrutiny, but so does general manager Brian Gutekunst, as this was the roster that he built. It's still incredibly early in the season, so don't expect any drastic decisions. The Packers are a patient organization, and they just rewarded LaFleur and Gutekunst with contract extensions. But if the Packers continue trending in this downward trajectory, it might be time for the team to make some uncomfortable decisions.
Is LaFleur on the hot seat? Probably not. But he should still be feeling the heat.
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