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Packers: Predicting the 2019 regular season schedule

By Freddie Boston

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball for a six-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball for a six-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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Predicting the Green Bay Packers’ 2019 regular season schedule in full.

With the preseason opponents already announced, we’re not far away from finding out the Green Bay Packers‘ regular season schedule.

As we already know their opponents for the new season, I thought it’d be fun to predict the regular season schedule in full. In a week or two, we’ll be able to see how wrong I was.

So here goes.

Important to start fast

Week 1: at Chicago Bears
Week 2: Detroit Lions
Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 4: Washington Redskins

We already know the Packers will begin the season at Soldier Field against the defending division champions.

But after that, I predict Matt LaFleur’s team will get a relatively comfortable start to the season, making it important to put up victories. While the Detroit Lions have spent money in free agency and have good draft position, the Packers should enter as favorites at home.

The San Francisco 49ers could be a surprise team in 2019, but it’s a winnable game for the Packers. They should be confident at home against Washington.

Run up to the bye week

Week 5: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 6: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 7: Denver Broncos
Week 8: at Detroit Lions
Week 9: at New York Giants
Week 10: BYE

Here comes a challenging five-week stretch up to the bye week with three games on the road. First up is the visit of the 2017 Super Bowl champions at Lambeau Field. The Philadelphia Eagles would give the Packers a tough game home or away.

Then comes a tough game on the road against one of the most talented teams in football, the LA Chargers. The Packers do briefly return home for a game against the Denver Broncos, before a road rematch against the Detroit Lions and a trip to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants.

The road games against LA and Detroit would be particularly concerning, but the Packers could be happy to come away with three victories in this stretch, setting them up nicely for the bye week.

Green Bay hasn’t had a bye as late as Week 10 since 2012, so a later week off is surely due.

A tough run

Week 11: Carolina Panthers
Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 13: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14: Oakland Raiders

Fresh off the bye, the Packers would enter a particularly challenging final seven games. After hosting the Carolina Panthers, they face back-to-back road games against the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. Yikes.

There’s always a stretch on the schedule that challenges a team. Last year it was four road games in five weeks (at Rams, at Patriots, at Seahawks, at Vikings). This season, I predict it’ll be with two games against 2018 playoff teams away from Lambeau.

And that’s before we factor in a difficult all-division finish.

Three division contests to finish season

Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 16: Chicago Bears
Week 17: Minnesota Vikings

The NFL likes to have two division rivals face off twice between Weeks 15 and 17. Last year, this scenario took place between the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. In my prediction, the Packers are picked this year to face the Vikings twice around Christmas.

Talk about must-win. The Packers would complete the final half of their NFC North schedule in the final three weeks of the season, starting on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, before finishing off at home against the Bears and Vikings again.

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