The Packers faithful should be excited about next year's schedule

The 2011 regular season just ended, so it’s time for all but the 12 teams in the NFL Playoffs to start thinking about next season.

So, without further adieu, the league announced next season’s schedule.

Frankly, if the Green Bay Packers nearly went 16-0 this year, their schedule next year shows even greater favor … at least on paper.

While the Packers will play the always-tough divisional foes in the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, they will also play teams from the AFC South (yawn) in addition to NFC division winners San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.

But they also have on their schedule home games against Arizona, Jacksonville, and Tennessee. Road games will include St. Louis, Seattle, Houston and Indianapolis.

The full home and away schedule is below; exact dates and times will be determined later. However, the league did announce that the regular season would kick off Thursday, Sept. 6, and conclude Dec. 30.

Super Bowl XLVII will be played Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at the New Orleans Superdome.

See the Packers 2012 full schedule after the jump.

(more…)