Matt LaFleur admits concern about Jordan Love, and it’s something the Packers quarterback simply can’t control at this point
Green Bay’s offensive line allowed 21 total pressures in a 35-14 loss to the Falcons, and the run game produced just 17 yards on the night.
The Green Bay Packers lost 35-14 to the Atlanta Falcons on “Thursday Night Football” in the home opener at Lambeau Field, and the performance exposed a problem that could define their 2026 season. Quarterback Jordan Love dropped back 53 times, completing 28 passes for 312 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, with a 75.4 passer rating. The Packers’ offensive line was a disaster, and head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged after the game that the protection issues could have a lasting effect on Love’s play.
The offensive line’s individual performances were staggering. Jagger Burton allowed seven pressures, Jacob Monk allowed six. That’s 13 pressures from the two guards alone, and the Falcons didn’t even need to blitz heavily to generate consistent disruption. Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton each allowed three pressures, and Sean Rhyan allowed two.
It’s a real problem for the future of the franchise
Green Bay managed just 17 rushing yards on the night as well. MarShawn Lloyd carried for 11 yards at 2.8 yards per carry, while Kaleb Johnson added six yards at 1.5 yards per carry. Without any semblance of a ground attack, the Packers became entirely one-dimensional, and the Falcons’ defense took full advantage.
LaFleur admitted after the game that the constant pressure can erode a quarterback’s trust and confidence in the pocket. He also acknowledged the need for schematic adjustments to help alleviate the problem.
“That’s tough on a quarterback if you’re constantly getting hit and thrown off your back foot, and it’s hard to trust everything that’s going on around you,” LaFleur said. “But we also gotta look at things that we can do schematically to help alleviate some of that pressure. If you would have told me we’re going to drop back 50-some-odd times, I’d say it’s probably not a good night for us. I think you need to have some semblance of a running game to complement the pass game, at least to keep people on their heels so they just don’t tee off and get after the quarterback.”
Why Love stayed in the game deep into the fourth quarter
Despite the lopsided score late in the game, LaFleur kept Love on the field through the final whistle. The decision carried an obvious injury risk given the volume of hits Love absorbed, but LaFleur explained that the coaching staff wanted to find some rhythm and schematic answers with Love at quarterback.
“To get something going, like, try to,” LaFleur explained. “You’re just trying to play your way out of it. And certainly I knew the risk there. I never like seeing him get hit like that. And yeah, so that’s why we kept rolling.”
The Packers now enter a mini-bye before returning to action in Week 4 on Sunday, Oct. 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida. That game will mark the third road contest in Green Bay’s first four games this season, and the team will need every available day to reassess its offensive operation.
There is a chance left guard Aaron Banks returns from his absence from a toe injury, which would provide some relief along the interior. Even so, the offensive line and the entire offensive structure look lost at this stage.
