Green Bay Packers' 2025 Schedule Breakdown: Assessing Highs, Lows, and Challenging Fixtures
The Green Bay Packers are bracing themselves for a brutal 2025 campaign, with a schedule that's as challenging as a spicy chili pepper.
The Packers know they've got their work cut out for them, with four NFC powerhouses from the 2024 season on their plate. These ferocious foes include the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders. On top of that, they'll tackle the mighty AFC North division, widely regarded as the king of its conference. A whopping nine games will be played away from the cozy confines of Lambeau Field.
On Wednesday night, the Packers received the unpleasant details of their 2025 schedule. Let's take a look at what awaits them in the upcoming season, good, bad, and ugly.
The Good
Home Cooking
The Packers have a great opportunity for a strong start, although it won't be a walk in the park. Green Bay opens at home against the Lions and Washington, both formidable opponents who had impressive 2024 seasons. The Lions clinched the NFC North and were the conference's top seed last year, while Washington reached the NFC Championship Game before losing to the Eagles. Kickoff for the Lions game is set for September 7 at 3:25 p.m., marking the Packers' firstWeek 1 home game since 2018.
Star-Studded Lineup
Green Bay's home schedule promises to be one for the books, with several star quarterbacks joining the party. Expect Baltimore's Lamar Jackson, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts, Washington's Jayden Daniels, and Detroit's Jared Goff to light up Lambeau Field. Even second-year QB sensations like Chicago's Caleb Williams and Minnesota's J.J. McCarthy could make an impact, along with No. 1 pick Bryce Young from the 2023 draft.
Bottom Feeders
Five games against teams that finished among the bottom 10 in 2024 provide some relief from the schedule's harshness. Cleveland, with the second-worst record in 2024, New York Giants (No. 3), Carolina (No. 8), and Chicago (No. 10) all reside on the Packers' 2025 itinerary. The Packers and Bears will square off twice, a series that's bound to be heated as the NFL's oldest rivals.
Thanksgiving Thriller
On Turkey Day, you can ditch the family drama and tune into the Packers vs. Lions game, set for Thanksgiving Day at some point during the season. Green Bay holds an impressive 12-8-1 record against Detroit in Thanksgiving games, despite the Lions being the home team for all 21 matchups. The Packers emerged victorious in their most recent meeting in 2023, and this year's encounter could deliver another nail-biting performance.
Aaron Rodgers' Return?
The 668-mile drive from Green Bay to Pittsburgh is about a 10-hour road trip. If Aaron Rodgers signs with the Steelers, expect Packer Nation to make the trek en masse. Rodgers led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory during his 18 years in Green Bay and claimed four MVP awards. However, his drama and playoff struggles toward the end of his tenure resulted in his trade to the New York Jets. Rodgers remains a free agent after the Jets released him, and a Pittsburgh signing seems imminent. If it happens, expect Packers-Steelers to rank among the season's most-watched games, with kickoff scheduled for 7:20 p.m. on October 26.
Prime-Time Performances
Only two of the Packers' first nine games will be played during the day, with seven night games and three shouldering a 3:25 p.m. start time. If you're the type who prefers crossing items off your to-do list before game time, this schedule is made for you.
The Bad
Road Warriors
Nine out of the Packers' 17 games will be on the road, testing their mettle away from their beloved Lambeau Field. The toughest stretch unfolds late in the season, with four out of six games away from home, including all three NFC North matchups. After their Thanksgiving Day battle with Detroit in Week 13, the Packers travel to Chicago in Week 16 and Minnesota in Week 18 to close out the regular season. Sandwiched between those are a journey to Denver in Week 15.
Early Bye Week
The Packers' bye week comes unusually early, in Week 5. This means the team will endure 13 consecutive weeks of action to close out the year.
Familiar Foes
Green Bay and Chicago, the NFL's oldest rivals who have clashed 210 times, will meet twice in three weeks. The Packers host the Bears in Week 14, then travel to Chicago in Week 16. This will mark the first time they’ve faced each other twice in three weeks since the final three games of the 1998 season.
The Ugly
Tough Sledding
Regardless of who the Packers face, and when those encounters occur, this schedule is destined to be a formidable challenge. Based on 2024 winning percentage, the Packers have the sixth-toughest schedule, with opponents boasting a collective winning percentage of .557. Seven of the Packers' 14 opponents made the playoffs in 2024, with Detroit (15-2), Philadelphia (14-3), Washington (12-5), and Baltimore (12-5) advancing to their respective conference's divisional round. Improving on their 11-6 record from 2024 with this daunting slate of heavyweights is a considerable undertaking.
[1]: "Green Bay Packers get usual schedule release, surprised by Thanksgiving Day game: Andrew Mertig - Acme Packing Company" (https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2025/4/26/23247609/green-bay-packers-get-usual-schedule-release-surprised-by-thanksgiving-day-game)[3]: "Packers 2025 schedule: Game-by-game predictions, key matchups, impact rookies - Nick Barrile - ESPN" (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/36749848/packers-2025-schedule-game-game-predictions-key-matchups-impact-rookies-nick-barrile)
Here are three sentences that combine the given words and follow from the provided text:
- The NFL schedule of the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 season, filled with powerhouses from both the NFC and AFC, features battles against star quarterbacks such as Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Aaron Rodgers.
- In the world of American-football, the Green Bay Packers are gearing up for a physically demanding campaign, particularly in the sports-analysis community, who have identified their 2025 schedule as one of the toughest in the NFL.
- In this challenging 2025 football season, the Green Bay Packers are set to face numerous opponents, including the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders, in a clash of sports that promises to test the mettle of Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
