With an early bye week and eight primetime games —and counting — this season should be a thriller for the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay is still one of the youngest teams in the league. They’ve added more young talent through the draft and depth pieces in free agency. However, the Packers must grow together fast to take advantage of their early-season schedule.
To make the playoffs this year, the Packers must capitalize on the first half of the season. They open the first two weeks against NFC playoff teams, the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders, so Green Bay will have their work cut out for them.
Green Bay starts the season at Lambeau against the Detroit Lions, a tough, physical team that will undoubtedly be ready to play come Week 1. Still, there are reasons for optimism with this opening-week matchup.
Week 1 vs. the Detroit Lions
Detroit lost both of its coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, to the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, respectively. Meanwhile, Detroit head coach Dan Campbell is not exactly known for his tactical genius on the gridiron.
Matt LaFleur will have his systems ready to roll, and Green Bay could emerge as the sharper and more experienced team in this matchup.
Prediction: Green Bay W, 1-0
Week 2 vs. the Washington Commanders
The Packers and Washington will play on Thursday night. The Commanders have an explosive offense and a solid defense. They are coming off a season in which Jayden Daniels established himself as their starting quarterback.
It’s a tough game on a short week, and I don’t think the Packers will be up for the early-season challenge.
Prediction: Washington L, 1-1
Week 3 @ the Cleveland Browns
The Browns are like a car crash: They are brutal but demand your attention. With their comedic quarterback room and a solid defense, Cleveland is a sleeper team if their offense can get off the ground. However, that’s unlikely in Week 3.
Green Bay should take care of business here early.
Prediction: Green Bay W, 2-1
Week 4 @ the Dallas Cowboys
Sunday night in the house that Jerry built? That’s what the Packers like to see.
The Cowboys are challenging to gauge. They made limited moves this offseason besides trading for disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers wideout George Pickens. Brian Schottenheimer is a questionable head coaching hire, and his team will need some time to adjust to his leadership.
CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott are an impressive duo, but Dallas’ defense has many holes. Green Bay has also won more playoff games at AT&T Stadium than the Cowboys. Somehow, some way, Green Bay always finds a way to come out of Dallas with a win. There’s isn’t a doubt in my mind that this trip down south will be no different.
Prediction: Green Bay W, 3-1
Green Bay should be 3-1 entering its Week 5 bye. If the Packers want to set themselves up for success later this season, they must start 3-1.
The schedule after the bye week is pretty straightforward. Green Bay is favored in its next four games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Carolina Panthers. There’s no reason the Packers couldn’t go 4-0 in those games. They most likely won’t, because the NFL has so much parity. Still, they have an opportunity to start 7-1 this year.
Green Bay must start the season right. They can’t let those midseason games against middling teams become must-win games. They must take care of business before the bye week to ensure they put themselves in a favorable spot come playoff time.
All stats and data via ESPN unless otherwise noted.