Packers: Five easiest games on the 2022 schedule
The Green Bay Packers have won 13 games in each of the last three seasons.
Aaron Rodgers is their QB. Their defense is elite. Their special teams will be much improved this season. The Packers are going to be in a lot of big games this fall. There will be some close games.
However, there will also be some games that should not be particularly close simply because Green Bay is just a better football team.
Here are the five easiest games in 2022 for Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers:
Week 2 – vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday Night Football)
You might as well just have both games vs. the Chicago Bears on this list. The Packers have had Chicago’s number for years.
Aaron Rodgers, since entering the league in 2005, is 22-5 against Chicago with Green Bay going 9-1 in their last 10 meetings with the Bears.
With Chicago rebuilding, Matt LaFleur (6-0 record vs. Bears) and his squad look primed to put together some more beatdowns of the so-called “Monsters of the Midway” in 2022.
Week 5 – vs. New York Giants (London)
The Packers will finally get to travel to London and play a football game. It will come against an underperforming Giants team that is starting 2022 with a rookie head coach in Brian Daboll.
New York is trying to find some consistency on both sides of the ball. The Packers have won the last three matchups in this series, including in 2019 when Daniel Jones was a rookie.
Look for a lot of Packers fans in the UK to show up in full force as Green Bay looks to dismantle an inexperienced Giants squad that will be searching for an identity in 2022.
Week 6 – vs. New York Jets
Following a matchup vs. one New York team across the pond, the Packers will face another at home the following week.
The Jets were able to gain some talented young pieces this offseason. But five or six wins is their ceiling.
LaFleur and Jets head coach Robert Saleh were roommates when they coached at Central Michigan together, and Saleh went on to be LaFleur’s best man at his wedding.
However, it won’t be very friendly on this particular day, especially from LaFleur. New York’s second-year QB Zach Wilson will be running for his life while Aaron Rodgers will have time to eat his lunch before he can throw the football.
Week 11 – vs. Tennessee Titans (Sunday Night Football)
Most would probably argue that this could be a very compelling game. Both the Titans and Packers were the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences last postseason. It could definitely be a good game.
But it is primetime at Lambeau Field. When Tennessee came to Green Bay in 2020, they got blown out 40-14. Titans MVP candidate Derrick Henry was held to under 100 yards.
Aaron Rodgers had as many passing touchdowns as he did incompletions (four). Titans QB Ryan Tannehill threw multiple interceptions.
In this next meeting, Green Bay will have an even better secondary, an even better run defense, and Tennessee will be without their former Pro Bowl WR in A.J. Brown, who is now an Eagle. Look for the Packers to be hitting on all cylinders after the midway part of the season.
Week 18 – vs. Detroit Lions
Green Bay could be sitting their starters this last game if they have the No. 1 seed all locked up or if they can’t move up in playoff positioning. But if they are at full strength, this could get ugly.
Detroit has a lot of pride, and they certainly will be a better team this year. They added three more impact receivers and Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
But let’s not get this twisted. In 24 career games vs. Detroit, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 52 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Throw in 6,055 yards and a rating of 108.8.
The Lions have hunger but are still inexperienced. Green Bay is the class of the NFC North. They are the much better team. They should win both matchups vs. Detroit in 2022.