Michael Penix Returns To Atlanta’s Missing Red Zone

Atlanta has spent two games without taking a single offensive snap in the red zone. Its answer at Lambeau Field is Michael Penix Jr., returning from ACL surgery after 312 days without playing an NFL snap. There are gentler ways to restart a quarterback.

Penix practiced fully throughout the short week and says his knee finally feels where he wants it, removing the medical uncertainty that followed his rehabilitation. What remains is considerably harder to diagnose. Atlanta has Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson, yet none of them has touched the football inside an opponent’s 20-yard line this season.

Green Bay is laying five points because Penix’s return changes Atlanta’s possibilities without erasing what the offense has been. Thursday night establishes whether the missing ingredient really was the quarterback, or whether the Falcons have just handed him a problem that survived everyone else.

Robinson Has Carried Enough Already

Bijan Robinson has produced 254 of Atlanta’s 524 total yards, an extraordinary share of an offense that has otherwise struggled to create sustained pressure. Green Bay noticed.

The Packers have made Robinson central to their preparation, which immediately puts more weight on Penix, London and Pitts. If Green Bay can compress Atlanta around Robinson without paying for it downfield, Penix’s return risks changing the name behind center rather than the geometry of the offense.

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Green Bay’s Front Lost Some Furniture

The Packers will face Michael Penix without defensive tackle Warren Brinson, and Javon Hargrave is questionable after knee and concussion issues. The other side is also hurt.

Starting guard Aaron Banks and tackle Zach Bako-Bewele are out. Donovan Jennings is available after a hand injury, and Anthony Belton will play after appearing on the report with an elbow issue.

Green Bay therefore enters a short-week game needing to rearrange its offensive line against an Atlanta defense that will also be without edge rusher Samson Ebukam. Thursday has thoughtfully distributed the inconvenience.

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Love Gets The Missing Corner

Atlanta placed A.J. Terrell on injured reserve Tuesday after the cornerback suffered a groin injury against Carolina.

That matters because Green Bay’s own receiving room is thinner. Jayden Reed is out with a neck injury after missing the entire short-week practice schedule.

Jordan Love therefore gets an Atlanta secondary without its No. 1 corner, but loses one of his own established targets.

Michael Penix gets something less forgiving: his first live NFL football since November against a Green Bay defense that has already made stopping Robinson the center of its preparation.

Bookmaker Sportsbook opening line: Green Bay at -270 and Atlanta at +231. The Packers are -5 at -108, with Atlanta +5 at -108. The total is 43, with the over at -104 and the under at -112.

Five points price Michael Penix as an improvement without pretending that 312 days disappeared. Atlanta finally reaching the red zone would qualify as progress. Covering at Lambeau asks considerably more.

Prediction: Green Bay Packers 27, Atlanta Falcons 17.

Betting Lean: Green Bay Packers -5 (-108).

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