Green Bay Packers: 5 games they must win in 2015

Winning on the road and at Lambeau Field in 2015 will be the key to success for the Green Bay Packers. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Remember the opening night of the 2014 season when the Green Bay Packers traveled to Seattle for the season opener against the Seahawks?

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Remember the last time those two faced off?

The much-anticipated rematch of those same two teams on the opposite end of the 2014 season left Packers fans shocked, numb and sad.

There’s no way to have seen that Championship Game coming … but now that it is passed, it’s time to let go. It’s time to start thinking about next season.

Yes, we’ve got the Combine, Free Agency, the Draft and so much more before we enjoy football again. But for the Packers, the schedule next year includes games against seven 2014 Playoff qualifiers, in addition to their match-ups against their division rivals.

It’s never easy in the National Football League; each season presents its own nuances – its own surprises. Every team edition develops its own character.

Last year’s Packers team was the real deal, but the 2015 unit will be different. There will be rookie sensations; injuries; career best games; controversial calls.

That’s why they play the game.

So, with all that said, I’ve identified the five games the Packers must win if they are to win the NFC North Division and qualify for at least one, preferably two home playoff games.

Here is the Packers 2015 schedule:

• HOME: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks
              
• AWAY: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers
         

While the number one goal of the 2015 season will be once again to win every NFC North Division game and to win the division, we have to jump on Aaron Rodgers‘ words a couple of weeks ago when he said the ultimate goal next year, and the key to getting to the Super Bowl, is to win home field advantage … a task that they were so close to achieving in 2014.

In order to do that, not only do the Packers have to win divisional games, but they have to win some key non-division games … and while every game is important to win, the games I’ve selected will most likely have the greatest impact on the overall 2015 season for the Packers.

So, here we go with the top five games the Packers MUST win in 2015 …

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