The Green Bay Packers enter the 2025 NFL season as a team that’s both proven and unpredictable. Last year’s 11-6 finish was remarkable considering a dismal 1-5 record within the NFC North, a rare anomaly in modern league history. The Packers thrived against the rest of the league but fell short repeatedly in divisional battles — a flaw they must fix to make a deeper postseason run.
With a tough slate and revenge games aplenty, the road back to the playoffs demands more consistency and sharper execution in critical matchups.
2025 Packers Season Key Games to Note
Weeks 1 & 13 vs. Detroit Lions
The season starts and circles back to the team that’s owned the Packers recently — the Detroit Lions. Green Bay’s rivalry with Detroit has turned lopsided, with the Lions taking all but one contest since 2022, including a commanding 24-6 lead at Lambeau last season. That game served as a microcosm of Green Bay’s struggles against top-tier divisional opponents: falling behind early and fighting uphill.
The Week 1 clash is particularly notable — it’s the Packers’ first home opener since 2018 and a chance to set a new tone under head coach Matt LaFleur. EarlyGreen Bay Packers odds suggest a tight matchup, and with playoff implications potentially on the line, every detail will matter.
While Week 13 falls on Thanksgiving in Detroit, with the national spotlight watching, it may be the more consequential of the two. If playoff seeding or a division crown is in play, a win on the road in November could define Green Bay’s identity down the stretch.
In 2024, Green Bay lost to Detroit on a last-second field goal. One kick changed the outcome — and potentially the postseason path. In 2025, the difference could again come down to a single possession, but the Packers’ improvements on both lines and better game management must show up when it matters most.
Week 2 vs. Washington Commanders
Shortly after an emotional opener, the Packers face a surging Washington team that made a deep playoff run last year. The Commanders arrive for a Thursday night primetime test led by electric dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels. For Green Bay, who ranked sixth in scoring defense last year and won every game when holding opponents under 24 points, this game is a chance to showcase early defensive discipline.
Daniels brings a dynamic element that the Packers didn’t face last year. His mobility challenges the edges, and his quick decision-making could stress a secondary that allowed over 215 passing yards per game in 2024. However, the Packers’ upgraded defensive personnel, bolstered by free-agent cornerback Nate Hobbs and a growing front seven, makes them more capable of adapting to a fluid quarterback.
Facing them is the Commanders, who bring a stingy defense that allowed just 23 points per game last season. Green Bay’s offensive line, battered by injuries last year, must hold firm against a fierce Washington front. This game won’t define the entire season, but a win on a short week against a playoff-caliber opponent will elevate Green Bay into the NFC’s upper tier.
Week 10 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
In Week 10, the Packers host the defending Super Bowl champions, who beat them twice in 2024. One of those losses, a playoff game, saw quarterback Jordan Love throw three interceptions. Green Bay’s offense struggled to find rhythm against an aggressive Eagles defense, and their inability to stop the run proved costly.FanDuel’s analysis of NFL matchups points to the Packers’ improved offensive line as a key factor this time around.
This season, the Packers enter with a fortified offensive line and a clearer play identity. Their protection unit was a focus in the offseason, and with reinforcements from both free agency and the draft, the pocket should be cleaner. If Love has time, he has the weapons in the form of Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and rookies like Matthew Golden, who can challenge any secondary.
The Eagles, though, still present a nightmare ground game. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley can dissect any front, and they’ve done it to Green Bay before. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme must emphasize containment and assignment soundness. Any lapse opens the floodgates. If Green Bay can reverse the narrative here, they’ll enter the season’s final third with confidence and credibility.
Week 17 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Few matchups in the league carry the stakes and storylines of Packers-Ravens in Week 17. This game could decide playoff survival or seeding for both teams. Baltimore’s offense, led by MVP candidate Lamar Jackson and 1,900-yard rusher Derrick Henry, has been a force. Remarkably, Jackson has never faced the Packers — until now, giving him the chance of adding them to his list of conquered opponents.
Under Jackson, Baltimore is 24-4 against the NFC. The challenge is clear: stop the league’s most explosive QB-RB duo while maintaining balance on offense. Green Bay’s top-10 run defense faces its toughest test yet. If they can contain Henry and force Jackson into contested throws, they’ll have a real shot.
Offensively, the Packers must protect the ball. Baltimore’s aggressive secondary thrives on mistakes, and ball security has often defined Green Bay’s postseason fate. A win here could mean home-field advantage or missing the playoffs entirely.
A Brutal Stretch That Can Define the Season
From Week 10 on, Green Bay faces a brutal stretch: Eagles, Giants, Vikings, Lions, Bears, Broncos, Bears again, Ravens, and Vikings. That’s six road games in nine weeks, with multiple divisional matchups that could decide the NFC North. The good news? Weeks 2 through 4 offer winnable games to build some early momentum.
Improving the 1-5 division record is a must. Most of those games come late in the season, when the Packers will either be pushing for a top seed or clinging to wild-card hopes. They have the talent and added depth; now it’s about execution, especially in one-score games.
Matt LaFleur’s December record was stellar until last year’s stumble. Regaining that winter dominance is crucial to distancing themselves from mid-tier NFC teams. If Jordan Love sharpens his decision-making and the defense steps up in big moments, Green Bay could flip the script on last season’s close losses.
What It All Comes Down To
In a season where the schedule turns hostile after the bye, the Packers’ identity will be forged in adversity. A 10-7 record — the prediction most experts settle on — feels right on paper, but a few plays in key matchups could tip the balance in either direction.