Packers open preseason in HOF Game Aug. 7

It’s not a huge surprise, but the NFL announced the league-wide preseason schedule that was topped off with the opening Hall of Fame Game that will feature the Green Bay Packers vs. Indianapolis Colts to start at 7 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Aug. 7.

Though the exact times and days of each of most of the Packers upcoming preseason schedule are yet to be decided, the home and away games have been announced along with the weeks during which the games will be played.

In addition, the times and dates of all of the nationally televised games have also been decided, including the Packers HOF Game. Two preseason games will be broadcast nationally that first week with the rest being broadcast Week 3.

The only Packers nationally televised preseason game will be that HOF Game.

Though head coach Mike McCarthy is not a huge fan of the preseason – and who can blame him after he lost WR Jordy Nelson for the season during Week 3 of the preseason in 2015 – one has to wonder how he and his coaching staff will pace his unit this preseason.

That’s because instead of the traditional four-game preseason the Packers will play five in 2015.

Green Bay will have contests with some of the familiar preseason opponents in the past with the likes of Cleveland, Oakland and Kansas City on the schedule.

But with the addition of the Hall of Fame Game against Indianapolis, the Packers will also play the San Francisco 49ers this year, which is highly unusual.

That all said, one of the positives coming out of the extended schedule for Green Bay is the fact that McCarthy and his staff will get that extra game of evaluation and the players will have an opportunity to show their stuff in one more game – a fact that will only help the players.

Here is the Packers full preseason schedule:

Sunday, Aug. 7

Green Bay Packers vs. Indianapolis Colts to start at 7 p.m. CDT

Week 1 — Aug. 11-15

Cleveland at Green Bay

Week 2 — Aug. 18-22

Oakland at Green Bay

Week 3 — Aug. 25-28

Green Bay at San Francisco

Week 4 — Sept. 1-2

Green Bay at Kansas City

As released today, here is the full NFL Preseason schedule

2016 preseason national television schedule (all times Eastern)

Hall of Fame Game (Canton, Ohio)

Green Bay vs. Indianapolis (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET), Sunday, Aug. 7

Preseason Week 1 (Aug. 11-15)

Dallas at Los Angeles (ESPN, 8 p.m.), Saturday, Aug. 13

Preseason Week 3 (Aug. 25-28)

Atlanta at Miami (NBC, 8 p.m.), Thursday, Aug. 25
Cleveland at Tampa Bay (CBS, 8 p.m.), Friday, Aug. 26
Tennessee at Oakland (CBS, 8 p.m.), Saturday, Aug. 27
San Diego at Minnesota (FOX, 1 p.m.), Sunday, Aug. 28
Arizona at Houston (FOX, 4 p.m.), Sunday, Aug. 28
Cincinnati at Jacksonville (NBC, 8 p.m.), Sunday, Aug. 28

2016 preseason week-by-week schedule

Hall of Fame Game — Aug. 7

Green Bay vs. Indianapolis (ESPN)

Week 1 — Aug. 11-15

Dallas at Los Angeles (ESPN, Aug. 13)
Carolina at Baltimore
Cleveland at Green Bay
Denver at Chicago
Detroit at Pittsburgh
Houston at San Francisco
Indianapolis at Buffalo
Jacksonville at NY Jets
Miami at NY Giants
Minnesota at Cincinnati
New Orleans at New England
Oakland at Arizona
San Diego at Tennessee
Seattle at Kansas City
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
Washington at Atlanta

Week 2 — Aug. 18-22

Arizona at San Diego
Atlanta at Cleveland
Baltimore at Indianapolis
Carolina at Tennessee
Chicago at New England
Cincinnati at Detroit
Kansas City at Los Angeles
Miami at Dallas
Minnesota at Seattle
New Orleans at Houston
NY Giants at Buffalo
NY Jets at Washington
Oakland at Green Bay
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
San Francisco at Denver
Tampa Bay at Jacksonville

Week 3 — Aug. 25-28

Atlanta at Miami (NBC, Aug. 25)
Cleveland at Tampa Bay (CBS, Aug. 26)
Tennessee at Oakland (CBS, Aug. 27)
San Diego at Minnesota (FOX, Aug. 28)
Arizona at Houston (FOX, Aug. 28)
Cincinnati at Jacksonville (NBC, Aug. 28)
Buffalo at Washington
Dallas at Seattle
Detroit at Baltimore
Green Bay at San Francisco
Kansas City at Chicago
Los Angeles at Denver
New England at Carolina
NY Giants at NY Jets
Philadelphia at Indianapolis
Pittsburgh at New Orleans

Week 4 — Sept. 1-2

Baltimore at New Orleans
Buffalo at Detroit
Chicago at Cleveland
Denver at Arizona
Green Bay at Kansas City
Houston at Dallas
Indianapolis at Cincinnati
Jacksonville at Atlanta
Los Angeles at Minnesota
New England at NY Giants
NY Jets at Philadelphia
Pittsburgh at Carolina
San Francisco at San Diego
Seattle at Oakland
Tennessee at Miami
Washington at Tampa Bay