Ah, NFL schedule release day. It’s the only thing more exciting than “telling you when NFL schedule release day is” day. Sarcasm aside, it’s officially here. Fans can begin planning their travel and their parties, and in my case, poring over the list of games, trying to come up with some way-too-soon takes.
After much consideration (and by that I mean quite literally 5 minutes because the schedule was just released), here’s my take on what looks like the easiest stretch of the Green Bay Packers' 2025 schedule.
It’s cliche but true: the first month of the season is the new preseason. Starters are getting their bearings and gelling with teammates — you know, things that used to take place in the actual preseason. So I think it’s fair to say the beginning of the season is when your better-run organizations look to stockpile a few wins while younger or more traditionally disorganized teams learn how to doggie paddle in the shallow end.
Per usual, the Packers open the season on the road against the… what’s that? Hmmm, ok folks, I’m actually being told that the Packers open the season at HOME for what feels like the first time in my life.
Of course, first the football gods giveth, then they taketh away. Week 1’s home opener is against the Detroit Lions. While it will be interesting to see how the Lions come out of the gate after losing several key coordinators and coaches, I would definitely not call this game “easy.” However, if they can make it out of week one alive, and perhaps even with a win, the next stretch gets MUCH easier.
Week 2 - Home vs. theWashington Commanders
Jayden Daniels turned heads last year and gave Washington football fans something they haven’t had in a while: entertainment! What a novel concept. While I believe the Daniels hype, I think the Commanders overall are a bit puffed up. TL;DR: I don’t believe they’re a playoff team in 2025. If the Packers want to prove they’ve taken a step forward this year, this game should be a relatively easy one (quick Sunday to Thursday turnaround notwithstanding).
Week 3 - Away vs. theCleveland Browns
The Browns still have a lot of karma to pay back, and like student debt, I think they’re going to be paying it off for a long, long time. They finished last year 19th in total defense and dead last in total team DVOA. And who’s going to be behind center come week 3? Shedeur Sanders? Kenny Pickett? Joe Flacco? We’re the same age, and I hurt my shoulder last week getting out of bed. Woof. Call it.
Week 4 - Away vs. theDallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are going to stink. I’m not even going to Google anything about the Cowboys to substantiate my take here. If the Packers lose this game, something has gone wrong on a cosmic level, and at that point, I’m more worried about some sort of Day After Tomorrow situation anyway. We’ll have reached the critical desalination point and football will cease to exist, along with the Dallas Cowboys, who, to reiterate, are going to stink.
Week 5 - BYE
The Packers get absolutely hosed with a week 5 bye, but having it early means the back half of the schedule is inherently more difficult, which bodes well for my crack analysis so far (pats self on back).
Week 6 - Home vs. theCincinnati Bengals
I’ll have you know it only took me two attempts to spell “Cincinnati” correctly. That’s 56 fewer attempts than the Bengals have had to be a legitimate franchise. I’m not a film grinder, but I have it on good authority that the 2025 Bengals are going to be a “pretty bad team that can score a lot of points.” The Packers will be fresh off their annoyingly early bye, which should give them an additional edge.
For my money, which adjusted for inflation isn’t worth much, that about wraps up the “easier” portion of the schedule. The next handful of games may not be too intense, but the jury is out. Have the Cardinals improved enough? Maybe! Will Pittsburgh get to host the Aaron Rodgers revenge game? Possibly! And a mid-season home game against the Panthers feels like exactly the kind of game the Packers lose for no good reason. All this before hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Oof.
Let’s try to pile up a few wins early, fellas.