Ranking the 5 most important games on the Packers 2023 schedule
By Joe Tuman
Week 7: Packers at Broncos
The Packers' schedule gets a bit wonky after its first month. Between September 29 and October 21, Green Bay will play only one game when they face Davante Adams and the Raiders on Monday Night Football during Week 5.
After that, the Packers are off during Week 6, before traveling to Denver on October 22.
After so much time away from the gridiron, this will be a pivotal spot for the green and yellow to prove they'll be heard from during the back half of the calendar.
The Broncos are approaching a campaign where they'll feel plenty of pressure to bounce back from a dismal 2022. Green Bay will have ample time to game plan for this matchup and could utilize it to catch Denver off guard.
Denver has its hands full in the loaded AFC West, and might not view a meeting with a young Packers team as an important one. Conversely, the Packers have plenty to gain with a win in this spot, so look for LaFleur to have his guys ready for a fight after the bye.
Week 12: Packers at Lions
Week 12 will see the Packers take on the Lions on Thanksgiving for the first time since an ugly performance back in 2013.
Already slated as a contest that will attract national attention, this game is also crucial for both sides.
Green Bay's latest journey to Ford Field is sandwiched between home games against the Chargers and Chiefs. While the power of Lambeau Field is immeasurable, these two AFC West opponents are arguably the two best squads the Packers will compete with this year.
Therefore, picking up a divisional win on Turkey Day would help cure any Justin Herbert or Patrick Mahomes-inspired ailments.
Detroit enters 2023 with lofty expectations, as many have tabbed them as the favorites in the North. Having knocked off the Packers twice last season, yet another victory would truly seem to usher in a new era.
The Packers won't want to feed into that narrative whatsoever, so a win here would go a long way for the team's confidence heading into the final stretch of regular season play.