The Green Bay Packers’ 2017 schedule was released Thursday in grand fashion. We knew the Packers would open with the Seattle Seahawks at home earlier in the day.
They’ll go to Atlanta to open the Falcons’ new stadium in week 2, a rematch of the NFC Championship game. It’s also the second year in a row the Packers have opened someone else’s new stadium in week 2 — they did so for the Vikings in 2016.
It doesn’t really get any easier from there, with the Bengals in week 3. But go 2-1 in that stretch and you’re looking pretty good.
The rumored Dallas Thanksgiving game isn’t happening, though. The Packers will get the Cowboys in week 5 on a Sunday.
Unlike last season, when the Packers were saddled with the earliest bye in the year, they’ll get that at the midway point — week 8. That should help one of the most perennially injured teams in the league.
In all, the Packers will play five prime time games, something to be expected from one of the premiere teams in the league.
Here’s the rundown. Lots of Aikman and Buck it looks like, if that’s of consequence to you.
- Week 1: Sun., Sept. 10 vs. Seattle, 3:25 p.m., Fox
- Week 2: Sun., Sept. 17 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m., NBC
- Week 3: Sun., Sept. 24 vs. Cincinnati, 3:25 p.m., CBS
- Week 4: Thurs., Sept. 28 vs. Chicago, 7:25 p.m., CBS/NFLN
- Week 5: Sun., Oct. 8, at Dallas, 3:25 p.m., Fox
- Week 6: Sun., Oct. 15 at Minnesota, noon, Fox
- Week 7: Sun., Oct. 22 vs. New Orleans, noon, Fox
- Week 8: Bye
- Week 9: Mon., Nov. 6 vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Week 10: Sun., Nov. 12 at Chicago, noon, Fox
- Week 11: Sun., Nov. 19 vs. Baltimore, noon, CBS
- Week 12: Sun., Nov. 26 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., NBC
- Week 13: Sun., Dec. 3 vs. Tampa Bay, noon, Fox
- Week 14: Sun., Dec. 10 at Cleveland, noon, Fox
- Week 15: Sun., Dec. 17 at Carolina, noon, Fox
- Week 16: Sat., Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m, NBC
- Week 17: Sun., Dec. 31 at Detroit, noon, Fox
Great schedule
What I saw in order:
1.) Week 8 bye (no goddam week 4 bye)
2.) Early week 4 Thursday night game. Players still fresh early & it’s like a bonus bye
3.) 3 of first 4 games are home games. Warm Lambeau weather which means starting strong & not dealing with a risky, brutal cold stretch
4.). Manageable last 5 games … Bucs, Browns, Panthers, Queens, Lions … 5 winable games
5.) 5 primetime night games
Pretty tough opening slate. Yeah, bears still may not be a good team, but they are still a divisional game on a short week,don’t underestimate it. Especially if their thoughts are on the Dallas game the following week. I also see some games that are really going to test the defense, especially New Orleans, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Tampa. The offense may have to average 35+ a game to come out with a 10-6 record.
11-5 if everyone stays healthy. I have us losing to the Cowboys, Steelers, Falcons, Vikings, and Ravens. I see us going 2-2 in November because of how we do that month. Week 8 bye is very good.