Quirky.
That’s how I’d describe the Pack’s 2026 schedule. Five weeknight games? That has to be some kind of record. Six primetime games and none of them are divisional games? Who would imagine we wouldn’t see the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears under the lights? We get a Christmas Day game instead. Oh, and five of those primetime games are at home.
Quirky.
Every year I like to break down the schedule in quarters and play the “guess the record” game because rosters are now pretty much set, and what else is there to do in May? The biggest unknown with a tough schedule and a lot of stand-alone games (seven) is how their rookie kicker will fare. Trey Smack’s performance could literally swing three games either way. I choose to be positive.
First Quarter:
@Minnesota, @NY Jets, Atlanta, @Tampa Bay
We know the team will likely be without Micah Parsons for the opening quarter. Chances are he lands on the PUP list and aims for a Week 5 return. Although three of the first four are away from home — including the rare two straight to open the season — the schedule really couldn’t be more favorable for a short-handed and learning-on-the-fly defense.
I’m counting on the other three key guys coming off major injuries to be healthy when the season starts. Tucker Kraft, Devonte Wyatt, and Zach Tom are trending toward being ready for the opener, so the prediction here is with that in mind.
For me, the hardest call to make on the entire schedule is the opener. Jonathan Gannon’s debut as Green Bay’s defensive maestro will likely be against a healthy Kyler Murray. There will be no film to study and no way to prepare for the two-way threat. On the flip side, the Minnesota Vikings will face life without Harrison Smith (probably) and Jonathan Greenard. They will rely on a young secondary against Jordan Love and the Pack’s explosive offense.
For now, I’ll roll with the Packers to win a tight one down the stretch. They go on to win the next two before suffering their first loss against Baker Mayfield and the Bucs.
Record: 3-1
Second Quarter:
Chicago, Dallas (SNF), @Detroit, Carolina (TNF)
This is a tough stretch against four playoff-caliber teams. However, three of the four are at home, and I’m counting on Parsons to return for the Bears game. But how ready to play will he be? With the epic game against the Dallas Cowboys looming, is it reasonable to believe he’ll be close to 100% in these first few games back? Then again, will it really matter?
The Packers can’t wait to meet up with these Bears again, and they’ll bounce back from the loss in Tampa with an emphatic early-season message. They’ll take care of Dallas in the Parsons Bowl on Sunday Night Football, before stubbing their toe in Ford Field against a Detroit Lions team that will be rolling, thanks to their fourth-place schedule. The Pack comes home and gets the Carolina Panthers on a short week and gets payback for that incomprehensible home loss to them last season.
Record: 3-1 (6-2)
Third Quarter:
@New England, Minnesota, Bye, @LA Rams, @ New Orleans
The game in New England is tricky. The Pack will have extra rest and face a New England Patriots team coming home after two straight road games. New England has a much tougher schedule than last year and comes into the season with sky-high expectations. They will have already played the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, the Bears, and the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road and could easily be a middling 4-4 at this point.
I think that sense of desperation will be the difference, and they hand the Pack their third loss of the season. They’ll bounce back at home against the Vikings and then take their abbreviated bye week with a Thanksgiving Eve game looming on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. (Side note: My siblings and I really wish we hadn’t planned our mom’s 90th birthday party for that night. Seemed reasonable at the time. Sigh.)
Packers-Rams should be a shootout and a possible late playoff preview, and though the stadium will be filled with cheddar, I’ll pick LA to win a tight one. They rebound on the road against a young, though improving, New Orleans Saints team.
Record: 2-2 (8-4)
Fourth Quarter:
Buffalo (SNF), Miami, @Chicago (Christmas), Houston (MNF), Detroit
The final five games get bundled into the fourth quarter, and every game is swimming in storylines. The final five features four home games, two in primetime, the Christmas Day game at Soldier Field, Josh Allen vs. Love, the return of Jeff Hafley and Malik Willis, a Monday nighter against the ferocious Houston Texans defense, and the finale against the Lions — maybe with the North on the line. Whew.
Josh Allen and the Bills come to town for Sunday Night Football to kick it off, and this is the one game I have circled to attend. Super Bowl preview, anyone? Micah vs. Josh will be appointment viewing. I think Love outduels Allen, and the Pack follows it up by taking care of the warm-weather Miami Dolphins, now also known as Packers South.
So I have Green Bay at 10-4 heading into Chicago for Christmas. Short week, road game, tough divisional matchup. I think the Bears get the split. The Pack will have a mini-bye to get ready for Demeco Ryans’ tough defense, and they’ll need every minute to gameplan. But can you see C.J. Stroud prevailing on a frigid January night in Green Bay? Me neither.
The Packers punctuate a perfect season at home by getting the split with the Lions and finish at 12-5. To be honest, 11-6 is probably more likely. But if those key guys are back on the field early and that rookie kicker shows he belongs, Green Bay should be able to finally reclaim the North — and 11 or 12 wins should do the trick.
