The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2025 campaign tied with the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings for the fifth-toughest strength of schedule in the NFL based on last year's regular-season records.
Only the New York Giants (.574), the Detroit Lions (.571), the Chicago Bears (.571), and the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (.561) have more challenging slates.
One of the big reasons all four NFC North teams are ranked among the top five, of course, is that the division was one of the toughest in all of football a season ago, with every team not named the Bears winning at least 11 games and reaching the postseason.
The NFL schedule makers undoubtedly took that into consideration when constructing the 2025 slate, as they put a pair of NFC North matchup on the Week 1 schedule, with the Vikings visiting the Bears on Monday Night Football and the Packers hosting the Lions at Lambeau Field in the late-afternoon slot on Sunday.
Green Bay was swept by Detroit a season ago, taking a 24-14 loss in Week 9 and a 34-31 defeat in Week 14. They'll undoubtedly have their work cut out for them come Week 1 of the upcoming campaign, but the Lions have actually given them a few gifts, as the defending division champs are dealing with a number of injury issues heading into training camp.
Lions have already ruled out key starter Levi Onwuzurike for Week 1 game vs. Packers
One of the most significant setbacks Detroit is dealing with involves defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, who was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Thursday, meaning he'll miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
The details of his injury weren't disclosed at the time, but the Lions naturally have to be concerned, seeing as how he missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing spinal fusion surgery and sat out seven games of the 2023 campaign.
The 2021 second-round selection had a solid bounce-back season in 2024, recording 28 total tackles in 16 appearances. Onwuzurike had arguably his best game of the year against Green Bay in Week 9, notching a season-best four tackles and a stuff. So, one would assume the Packers won't mind seeing him on the sidelines come Week 1.
His status is undoubtedly disappointing for Detroit, as his fellow left DTs, Alim McNeill and Mekhi Wingo, have been placed on the active/PUP list ahead of training camp. It's a better designation, as each is able to activated off the list at any time once they're able to pass a physical.
But it's difficult to know when that might be, as McNeill tore an ACL in December and Wingo suffered a season-ending knee injury in November.
Also hitting the active/PUP list for the Lions were left tackle Taylor Decker, cornerback Khalil Dorsey, guard Miles Frazier, and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.
The Packers' defense, of course, was already given the gift of four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow's sudden retirement last month. So, that'll be nice.
On the flip side, however, Green Bay's offensive line didn't have to deal with Aidan Hutchinson last year, as he suffered his season-ending tibia and fibula fractures in Week 6. So, that won't be much fun, as Hutchinson should be good to go come September, barring an injury in camp, that is.