Packers 2026 game by game predictions show why schedule creates realistic path back into contention despite major tests
The NFL revealed the league’s full schedule for the regular season, and the Packers will have several primetime games. Road game in Minnesota opens the year.
The NFL released its full schedule on Thursday, and the Green Bay Packers now know they will open the 2026 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The early games should be tougher, with tight end Tucker Kraft and edge defender Micah Parsons still recovering from ACL injuries, and too many road matchups. However, there’s still a clear path for a double-digit win season and another playoff appearance, especially with a lot of Lambeau Field games down the stretch.
Let’s discuss, game by game, what the 2026 season could look like for the Packers.
Week 1, Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m. (CT): Packers at Minnesota Vikings — W (1-0)
The Vikings now have Kyler Murray, and the rest of the offense is undeniably strong. The defense, though, doesn’t have the same power without edge defender Jonathan Greenard and safety Harrison Smith. Everything around Minnesota will depend on how well Murray plays, especially a disastrous 2025 season from J.J. McCarthy, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Week 2, Sept. 20, 12 p.m. (CT): Packers at New York Jets — W (2-0)
The Packers have loved to fall in some trap games lately, but the Jets should offer one of the easiest games of the season on paper. The job here is to make the theory apply practically. Nevertheless, the difference of talent level on the roster and on the coaching staff is massive.
Week 3, Sept. 24, 7:15 p.m (CT): Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons (TNF/Amazon) — W (3-0)
The Falcons are starting a new era with Kevin Stefanski as their head coach, and he deserves respect after a solid job with the Cleveland Browns. However, there’s a material talent distance between these two teams, and the Packers should win — even though they had some trouble facing worse teams last season.
Week 4, Oct. 4, 12 p.m. (CT): Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — L (3-1)
The Bucs lost Mike Evans, but the roster is still pretty good. Head coach Todd Bowles is not necessarily elite, but he will generally build solid defenses and teams that will play hard. That feels like one of those games that the Packers lose but leave the field thinking they should have won.
Week 5, Oct. 11, 3:25 p.m. (CT): Packers vs. Chicago Bears — W (4-1)
The Packers had a tough season with two losses to the Bears in 2025, but that felt very circumstantial and unsustainable. More than that, the Packers still won the game at Lambeau Field when edge defender Micah Parsons was still healthy — and remember that tight end Tucker Kraft already wasn’t. The Packers-Bears rivalry may be a thing again after decades of complete Packers dominance, but Green Bay should still be good enough to win at least one of those games. If Parsons begins the season on PUP, this would be his first eligible game to be back.
Week 6, Oct. 18, 7:20 p.m. (CT): Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys (SNF/NBC) — W (5-1)
Last season’s game was in the middle of the Packers’ down stretch, also in primetime. They were clearly better, but couldn’t pull it off. That matchup always had extra motivation for Dallas as Parsons’ first game back after the trade. The Cowboys are progressively getting better with more capital to build the roster, but at Lambeau Field the Packers should still be the favorites.
Week 7, Oct. 25, 3:25 p.m. (CT): Packers at Detroit Lions — L (5-2)
The Lions dominated the Packers for a couple of years, but the Packers got back on top in 2025 with two wins over their rivals. However, Detroit is still a strong team and had a solid draft process. A split in the series could still be the most logical scenario, and Lions could have an advantage early in the season.
Week 8, Oct. 29, 7:15 p.m (CT): Packers vs. Carolina Panthers (TNF/Amazon) — W (6-2)
The Packers played bad, but better than the opponent and still lost to the Panthers last year in one of those ugly games early in the season. Despite that game, though, it’s hard to fully believe in Bryce Young as a quarterback. The Panthers significantly improved the roster over the past few years under general manager Dan Morgan, but the Packers should still be better in this primetime matchup.
Week 9, Nov. 8, 3:25 p.m. (CT): Packers at New England Patriots — L (6-3)
This is one of the funniest games of the season for football fans. The opportunity to watch Jordan Love and Drake Maye clash for the first time, with their insane physical tools and arm talent, is an exciting proposition. At Gillette Stadium, though, let’s give the edge for the defending AFC champions.
Week 10, Nov. 15, 12 p.m. (CT): Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings — W (7-3)
At this point, the Vikings should theoretically be more established with Kyler Murray at quarterback, presuming he beats out J.J. McCarthy for the starting job and keeps it throughout the season. It won’t be an easy matchup, and the Packers-Vikings usually tend to split their series. But Green Bay should also be better at this point of the season with Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons hopefully healthier.
Week 11: BYE
It’s a bye right before the Wednesday game, meaning the Packers will essentially have two mini-byes instead of a big one.
Week 12, Nov. 25, 7 p.m. (CT): Packers at Los Angeles Rams (Thanksgiving Eve/Netflix) — L (7-4)
On paper, this is certainly the hardest game of the entire season. The Rams are one of the best teams in the entire NFL, and have that great combination of head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and a well-coached defense. Matt LaFleur has had a lot of success against McVay, but this matchup should favor the Rams.
Week 13, Dec. 6, 12 p.m. (CT): Packers at New Orleans Saints — W (8-4)
The Saints are in a much better position than they were a year ago. They cleaned most of their salary cap mess and found a potential long-term starter in Tyler Shough. But the young quarterback has had only nine NFL starts, and the roster is still a work in progress. So let’s pump the brakes a little bit, at least for now. But it’s undeniable that being a normal operation has benefited New Orleans.
Week 14, Dec. 13, 7:20 p.m. (CT): Packers vs. Buffalo Bills (SNF/NBC) — L (8-5)
This is one of the most exciting games of the year, with Josh Allen and Jordan Love clashing at Lambeau Field. The Packers probably have more talent around the roster, but we have to give Allen the benefit of the doubt here. There are still question marks around how Joe Brady will do as a head coach, but the former MVP quarterback elevates everything around him.
Week 15, Dec. 20, 12 p.m. (CT): Packers vs. Miami Dolphins — W (9-5)
It will be a special night to see quarterback Malik Willis, head coach Jeff Hafley, and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan in Green Bay once again. But the reality is that the Dolphins are just starting a rebuilding process, and that’s one of those games the Packers must win to be considered a real contender in the NFC.
Week 16, Dec. 25, 12 p.m. (CT): Packers at Chicago Bears (Christmas/Netflix) — L (9-6)
It will be interesting to watch how quarterback Caleb Williams will develop throughout the season. He had good flashes last season, especially late in games, but the consistency was never there. The Bears hope that they will arrive in Year 2 under Ben Johnson. If it does, the Bears will be a much more reliable team week after week, and that would be a concern for Green Bay. It’s bad to lose a Christmas game, but the Packers will have to prove themselves to be considered favorites in Chicago.
Week 17, Jan. 4, 7:15 p.m. (CT): Packers vs. Houston Texans (MNF/ESPN) — W (10-6)
The Packers beat the Texans two years ago in the first Jordan Love-CJ Stroud matchup. This one is more about the Texans’ defense, as the unit came together with full force in 2025 to become one of the very best in football. The Packers are probably a more balanced team, but it’s gonna be a challenge for Love.
Week 18, Jan. 9/10: Packers vs. Detroit Lions — W (11-6)
The Packers won their second game of the season against the Lions in two of the past three years, and both of those games happened at Ford Field on Thanksgiving. This one is different, so late in the season and at Lambeau Field, but the Packers still have a realistic shot at pulling off a huge win.