10 Quick Thoughts About the Packer Schedule

NFL schedule came out last night. Everyone is pretty giddy for September. People see different matchups
they like and get irrationally excited about the possibilities of a successful season. The inverse happens to with fans thinking the season is over without one snap of the football. Let's look at the schedule and add some thoughts to how it looks on paper

FOR THE SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE 

1.) Fail Mary return - I didn't want to open the season in Seattle given how no Super Bowl winning team has lost at home to begin the season. I also wanted the Packers to start the season easy for once as they have played San Francisco the last two years. But I think the team is genuinely excited to get back to Seattle and get their revenge. I will end up talking myself into Green Bay winning.

2.)  Bright lights - Green Bay has five primetime games on the schedule with two Thursday night games, two Sunday Night Football games and a Monday Night affair. What I like is a majority of them are being played at Lambeau Field.

3.)  Early divisional foes? - Green Bay finishes the year playing divisional opponents only twice in six games with a late November meeting in Minnesota and a home game to finish the year against Detroit. It will be interesting to see how the divisional race shapes out withe Green Bay's lack of divisional games late.

4.) Trip to New Orleans - If you are looking for a road trip, New Orleans during Halloween season. You might see Green Bay lose, but you have Halloween in New Orleans so it is not the worst thing in the world.

5.)  Road trips early - Green Bay begins the year with three road games in the first four games. Packers haven't started the greatest in past years so hopefully being away from Lambeau will not affect them too much.

6.)  Same opponent, same date? - This is kind of neurotic, but Packers played both Chicago and Philadelphia back-to-back last season at Lambeau in November which holds the same. They also played Minnesota in the same week, but at home versus on the road. And Packers also played Atlanta in early December. Just a weird note.

7.) Best chance to get flex - Green Bay has many late afternoon and primetime games. Looking at their schedule, the only two that might have some flexing abilities would be Carolina in mid-October or Tampa Bay in mid-December. Those seem to be the best bet.

8.) No Holidays - For the first time in awhile, Green Bay is not playing on the holidays. While I enjoy watching the Packers on special days, I would much rather have them play normal Sunday or Monday games.

9.) New England-Green Bay will be the best game of the year - This is a pretty simple prediction, but late November matchup with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers seemed delightful. I assume tickets for this game will be sky high.

10.) Favre's return - There is a rumored Favre return and I could really see it in three games... Home primetime games against Minnesota, Chicago and Atlanta. I might think Atlanta is the favorite with a December date plus Favre's relationship with ESPN.  

Should be a fun year.

Charlie.