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The NFL's annual schedule release circus is in the rear view mirror. We knew the Packers were up against some quality opponents this year, but an early bye week, multiple Thursday games and playing 4 of their last 6 games on the road have only made things more tricky.
There's no doubt that with a schedule of this caliber, the Packers would be entering the postseason battle tested provided the win around 11 games.
That kind of gauntlet means Green Bay will be facing some of the league's premier talent week in and week out. From the same list we compiled last offseason, only two players return today. No prizes for guessing one of them is #18 on the Vikings. The other one is up first
Weeks 1 & 13 vs. Lions - OT Penei Sewell
Sewell took the top spot for the Lions on this list last year and backed it up allowing just 1 sack all season. The imposing right tackle will still only be 24 years old (albeit with just 3 days to spare) when he arrives to Lambeau Field in Week 1 to kick off his 5th NFL season. That's some Kenny Clark levels of age wizardry.
Green Bay got 4 QB pressures against Sewell in their most recent matchup which is tied for the most pressures he has allowed since his rookie year. As a right tackle, Sewell will see much more of Rashan Gary than Lukas Van Ness, and I'm willing to bet Barryn Sorrell gets a few debut reps against the 2-time All-Pro. Sorrell vs. Sewell coming soon!
Honorable mentions: Brian Branch, a healthy Aidan Hutchinson
Week 2 vs. Commanders - Jayden Daniels
It wasn't going to be anybody else. Daniels has the makings of a true superstar and perennial MVP contender going forward. It will be interesting to see how he copes against what looks to be a menacing New York Giants defensive line in the season opener before heading to Lambeau on a short week.
Daniels is an extremely sound decision maker for his age and thrives against static zone coverage looks. I'd like to see Jeff Hafley inject a heavy dosage of man coverage into this game as the Commanders receiving corps lacks elite speed. Xavier McKinney playing the deep middle while Edgerrin Cooper spies Daniels is surely a winning formula.
Week 3 @ Browns - DE Myles Garrett
Straightforward one here. Cleveland paid monster money to keep Garrett in the building. It's not a stretch to say he is one of the best defensive players in NFL history.
Garrett rushes against the left tackle 81% of the time, meaning Zach Tom isn't too much of a factor when it comes to slowing him down. Rasheed Walker, Anthony Belton and Jordan Morgan are all candidates for the starting left tackle role but I'd expect Walker to hold down his place for the first month of the season at the very least.
Walker has a pretty solid track record against the league's elite pass rushers. This would probably be his toughest challenge yet. Watch out Rasheed, because there's more to come…
Week 4 @ Cowboys - DE Micah Parsons
Our third straight no-brainer pick. Parsons is a one man wrecking ball off the edge. The 26 year old has posted 4 straight elite seasons per PFF to start his NFL career and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Again, the bulk of the responsibility lies with Rasheed Walker since Parsons typically takes 67% of his snaps over the left tackle. If Walker struggles in the early season, will coaches feel the pressure to start one of their younger tackles going forward, or does Rasheed get a pass against elite competition?
Week 6 vs Bengals - WR Ja'Marr Chase
The first wide receiver on the list, Chase is still just 25 years old entering year 5 coming off the back of a 1,700-yard, 17 TD season. Chase is lining up in the slot at an increased rate year-on-year. Over a third of his snaps last season were as a slot receiver!
Given the comfortability of both Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs as experienced slot cornerbacks whom one or both will be starting outside this season, I wonder if the Packers designate one of these guys to follow Chase wherever he goes.
Honorable mention: Joe Burrow
Week 7 @ Cardinals - TE Trey McBride
The Cardinals might be the one team on this list without a standout player. There were plenty of options for this spot on both sides of the ball, but a little bit of forward projecting landed me on McBride.
While he may have gone 16 weeks before finally catching a touchdown pass last season, McBride finished 2nd among TEs in receiving yards and 1st in first downs gained. The lack of TDs meant McBride flew under the radar last season and he could take a big step toward cementing himself as an elite tight end in year four.
Tight ends have given the Packers fits in the past, but they haven't been this well equipped to stop one in a long time. Between Xavier McKinney, Edgerrin Cooper, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Quay Walker and even Nate Hobbs, the Packers have a defense that can match tight ends terrifically in space. Granted, tight ends can be schemed open more than anybody, but if the Packers commit major resources to stopping McBride, they can take him out of the game.
Honorable mentions: Garrett Williams, Budda Baker, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Week 8 @ Steelers - DE TJ Watt
Another no brainer — Watt is in his Goldilocks years now as an NFL veteran with tons of experience but the wheels are still nowhere close to falling off.
Watt lined up almost exclusively against right tackles last season, which means we'll hopefully get a titanic matchup of Watt vs. Tom here. It didn't go great for the Packers last time out though — Watt's 8 pressures against the Packers in 2023 are his most in any single game over the last three seasons.
Week 9 vs Panthers - CB Jaycee Horn
Despite battling numerous injuries through his rookie contract, Horn's sheer talent when he is on the field was enough for the Panthers to hand out a $100 million contract making Horn the highest paid defensive back in football.
Horn's physicality is his best trait, making him a force in run defense, a nightmare and a blitzing CB and a real challenge for receivers in press coverage. The Packers will have to get creative to find ways to unlock guys like Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden because if you leave them on an island with Horn, he can lock them up.
Honorable mention: Trevon Moehrig
Week 10 vs Eagles - RT Jordan Mailata
This damn team is good everywhere but for what the Packers are lacking most, I think Mailata is the matchup nightmare they should be most worried about.
There isn't a better run blocker in the NFL today. It doesn't matter the scheme or the play call, Mailata opens up canyons for Saquon Barkley. Rashan Gary's lowest PFF run defending grade of the 2025 season came in the Wildcard round in Philadelphia. There isn't really an answer to Mailata, you just have to hope you can win the game somewhere else.
Honorable mentions: Saquon Barkley, Cooper DeJean
Week 11 @ Giants - DT Dexter Lawrence
Despite somehow never being named a first-team All-Pro, this 340lb defensive tackle has been the best football player in New York City for 3 years running. 2024 was the smallest of small steps back for Dexter Lawrence, but he's still just 27 and may perhaps be reinvigorated with some fun new pieces around him, namely 3rd overall draft pick Abdul Carter.
The Packers interior will be battle tested well before this with matchups against Cam Heyward, Alim McNeill and Ter'Shawn Wharton. The Giants are still a fairly dismal roster outside of this talented defensive line in 2025.
Honorable mention: Malik Nabers
Weeks 12 & 18 vs. Vikings: WR Justin Jefferson
Not much need for elaboration here. Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the NFL and contrary to mainstream belief he has enjoyed plenty of success against the Packers throughout his career.
Weeks 14 & 16 vs. Bears - CB Jaylon Johnson
Johnson's 5th season in the Windy City was a step down from the elite year he registered in 2023, but I'd still give him the nod as the best player on the Bears. He had one of his better performances last time out agaisnt the Packers in Week 18.
The Bears have bolstered their roster this offseason just about everywhere but the defensive back room. Is that a sign of the trust they have in this position, or will it allow opponents to keep the ball away from Jaylon Johnson and continue to target the not-entirely-figured-out CB2 position currently manned by Tyrique Stevenson.
Honorable mention: Joe Thuney
Week 15 @ Broncos - CB Patrick Surtain II
No. Brainer. Surtain is now frequently cited as the best CB in football, shaking off his slightly sketchy start to the 2024 campaign before putting together a season worthy of winning NFL defensive player of the year.
It's tough to find a more polished player in the league. While possessing all of the physical capabilities required of being the best CB in football, there isn't a corner on the planet with a technique as refined as the 25-year-old.
Surtain allowed more than 50 yards just once last season. You don't really beat him, you just have to go and win somewhere else.
Week 17 vs Ravens - QB Lamar Jackson
Saving the best for last? Jackson is the betting favorite to take home his 3rd NFL MVP award this year — an accomplishment that would assure his future status in the NFL Hall of Fame.
The Packers have somehow avoided Jackson throughout his entire Pro Bowl / All-Pro / MVP run, facing off in just one career game which dates back to Lamar's rookie season — a shutout road victory over the Brett Hundley-led Packers.
If both teams are firing on all cylinders with everything to play for come Week 17, this will be the ultimate tester for the Packers to prove they are good enough to go on a run and win against anybody.