And just like that, we've reached the final week of September football for the NFL. Time flies when you're having fun.
It's already Week 3 of the season, and a number of teams are already building on strong starts to the season while others are struggling badly. Interestingly enough, this week's primetime matchups (Thursday night, Sunday night, Monday night) all include teams that started the season relatively slow.
Some bounced back in Week 2, and others are still trying to get anything positive going. Starting with Thursday Night Football, we're going to make our Week 3 NFL picks and score predictions for every game being played this week under the lights. Who's stepping up in primetime?
NFL picks and score predictions for every primetime game in Week 3
Atlanta Falcons (0-2) @ Green Bay Packers (1-1)
Thursday, September 24, 8:15 PM ET
Both the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers have stumbled out of the gates this season. The Packers were able to get back up and get a win in Week 2, while the Falcons looked absolutely atrocious against the Panthers.
This game will mark the 2026 debut of Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., whose return to action is going to feel like a gift from the football gods after suffering through two weeks of Cooper Rush and Jack Strand.
At the very least, Penix offers the Falcons a wild card at the quarterback position, and might even give them a fighting chance against the Packers. Penix has been really good in some primetime games in the past, and even though he hasn't played since Week 11 last season (ACL), wouldn't it be something if he came out on Thursday night and...looked really good?
The Packers haven't exactly been world beaters in their first two games. The offensive line for Green Bay has been terrible through two games. The defense is clearly missing Micah Parsons. Jordan Love is constantly running for his life. There's no running game to speak of.
Even though the Packers got a win against the Jets in Week 2, this game against Atlanta feels a bit more evenly-matched than it looks on the surface.
And the oddsmakers seem to agree. The Packers are just 4.5-point favorites at home on a short week. The possibility of a Penix spark makes this game highly intriguing. I actually don't hate a Falcons upset on TNF.
Prediction: Falcons win 27-26
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