The Green Bay Packers hobble out of Atlanta after a 34-23 loss Sunday night in the first game in the Falcons’ new Mercedes Benz Stadium. The Pack started without injured tackles David Bahktiari and Bryan Bulaga plus top backup Jason Spriggs — and the Falcons took advantage by making constant defensive front changes while building up a 31-7 lead early in the third quarter, when Aaron Rodgers was hit uncontested by Atlanta’s Vic Beasley and a resulting fumble was returned by Desmond Trufant for the Falcons’ final touchdown. Both teams had key injuries along the way as Rodgers completed 33 of 50 passes for 343 yards, two touchdowns, and a late first half interception — and he threw his 300th career T-D pass on a shovel to Ty Montgomery in the fourth quarter. Montgomery ran for 35 yards and had six catches for 75 more, as the Packers ended with a slight edge in total yards, 367-364. Green Bay is now 1-1 and will host Cincinnati next Sunday.
Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy will have a full injury report to deal with this week, after losing both his starting receivers to injuries in Sunday night’s loss at Atlanta. Jordy Nelson went out early with a sore quad and Randall Cobb left in the fourth quarter with an injured shoulder. The Packers also lost defensive line starter Mike Daniels early to a pulled hamstring, and safety Kentrell Brice left in the second quarter with a groin injury. Atlanta was also hit hard, too, as last year’s N-F-L sack leader Vic Beasley hurt a hamstring — defensive end Courtney Upshaw went out with a bad ankle — and right tackle Ryan Schrader went out with a concussion on the Falcons’ first scoring drive.
