Packers better be ready to run the gauntlet in 2026

The Green Bay Packers have known their 2026 opponents since the moment the 2025 regular season came to a close back in January, but they now know exactly where and when each of their 17 games will take place, with the NFL releasing the complete '26 slate on Thursday.

The Packers will kick off the 2026 campaign with two games on the road, first facing the Minnesota Vikings and then following up with a Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets. Their first home game will take place in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football.

Here's a quick look at the Packers' full 2026 regular-season schedule:

• Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
• Week 2: at New York Jets
• Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons (TNF)
• Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears
• Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys (SNF)
• Week 7: at Detroit Lions
• Week 8: vs. Carolina Panthers (TNF)
• Week 9: at New England Patriots
• Week 10: vs. Minnesota Vikings
• Week 11: BYE
• Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams (Thanksgiving Eve)
• Week 13: at New Orleans Saints
• Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills (SNF)
• Week 15: vs. Miami Dolphins
• Week 16: at Chicago Bears
• Week 17: vs. Houston Texans (MNF)
• Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions

One of the entertaining things to look at once the full schedule is released is the strength of schedule based on last year's records. Again, this is something we've known since the 2025 campaign concluded, but now that we know all of the things for 2026, it's much more fun to peruse at this time of year.

Not everyone buys into SOS, of course, as clubs obviously don't look exactly the same, given the moves made in free agency and the draft. And it naturally works both ways, as there will be plenty of teams in 2026 that aren't as good as they were in 2025, while there will also be several that bounce back from what was perhaps a down year.

While we obviously have no idea how the Packers will fare in 2026, we can tell you that, based on 2025 records, they're tied with the Arizona Cardinals for the third-toughest schedule for the upcoming season, as their opponents went a combined 155-138-1 this past year, which comes out to an overall winning percentage of .538.

It should be noted that their three longtime divisional rivals—the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings—are counted twice each. But as we wanted all 17 games to be taken into account, that's where things came out.

Here's a look at the full strength of schedule rankings for the 2026 NFL season, and Cheeseheads will undoubtedly notice who sits in that top spot.

Now, one of the main reasons the Packers' ranking is so high is simply because of the division they play in, as the NFC North was the only division in which all four teams finished with a winning record, ultimately earning 38 victories, second only to the 41 taken by the NFC West.

In total, Green Bay will play seven games against teams that made the postseason this past year, with two against the rival Chicago Bears and one each against the Buffalo Bills, the Carolina Panthers, the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, and the defending AFC champion New England Patriots.

How the Packers' 2026 schedule was determined

For those who may not be aware of how each club's 17 games are determined, the following criteria are used:

• Six games against every other team within the division — two per team; one at home and one on the road.
• Four games against teams from a specific division within its conference on a rotating, three-year cycle; two at home and two on the road.
• Four games against teams from a specific division in the opposing conference on a rotating, four-year cycle; two at home and two on the road.
• Two games against teams from the two remaining divisions within the same conference based on the previous season's standings; one at home and one on the road.
• One game against a team from a division from the opposing conference on a rotating, four-year cycle that the team isn't already scheduled to play based on the previous season's standings.

So, for how things break down for the Packers, they've got their usual two games each against their fellow teams from the NFC North in the aforementioned Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings.

Then, with the three-year intraconference rotation dictating that all NFC North teams will play all NFC South teams in 2026, Green Bay will face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The four-year interconference cycle dictates that all NFC North teams play all AFC East teams, meaning the Packers will face the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets.

As the Packers finished in second place in the NFC North, they'll play the second-place teams from the other two NFC divisions they're not already scheduled to play, meaning they'll face the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams.

And finally, the rotating cycle dictates that every NFC North team will play the AFC South team that finished in the same position in 2025, meaning Green Bay will take on the Houston Texans.

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