Packers 2018 Schedule Announced

The Green Bay Packers 2018 schedule was announced on Thursday evening.  The opponents, both home and away, were known.  Now we know when the Packers will face each.

The Packers have five prime time games this season, starting with a week one match up against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.  Their lone Monday Night Football contest is in week six against the San Francisco 49ers.

In rare AFC action, Green Bay will play at New England during the regular season for the first time since 2010.  Aaron Rodgers missed that game and, barring injury, will make his first appearance at Gillette Stadium as a starter.  The Packers will also hit the road to face the New York Jets in week 16.

Here is the Packers' 2018 regular season schedule in its entirety:

 

Week 1 (Sept. 9): vs. Bears (Sunday Night Football)

Week 2 (Sept. 16): vs. Vikings

Week 3 (Sept. 23): at Washington 

Week 4 (Sept. 30): vs. Bills 

Week 5 (Oct. 7): at Lions

Week 6 (Oct. 15): vs. 49ers (Monday Night Football)

Week 7 (Oct. 21): Bye 

Week 8 (Oct. 28): at Los Angeles Rams 

Week 9 (Nov. 4): at Patriots (Sunday Night Football)

Week 10 (Nov.11): vs. Dolphins 

Week 11 (Nov. 15): at Seattle (Thursday Night Football)

Week 12 (Nov. 25): at Vikings (Sunday Night Football)

Week 13 (Dec. 2): vs. Cardinals 

Week 14 (Dec. 9): vs. Falcons 

Week 15 (Dec. 16): at Bears 

Week 16 (Dec. 23): at New York Jets

Week 17 (Dec. 30): Lions

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (50)

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GBPDAN1's picture

April 20, 2018 at 05:45 am

If we stay realitivly healthy and add a couple more pieces before training camp ..... 11-5 . It's a tough road schedule.
Win 7 at home and 4 on the road?

Oct 28th through Nov 25th looks like a gauntlet. Glad we have Miami at home in the middle of that brutal stretch. I'm not to worried about Seattle this year, but only 3 days to prepare , on the road, in that stadium isn't a cake walk. We will still beat them, though!

If we get into the bye at 6-0, which is possible because 4 games are home games, we should finish 12-4 ?

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NickPerry's picture

April 20, 2018 at 04:56 am

"If we get into the bye at 6-0, which is possible, we should finish 12-4 ?"

That's exactly what I was thinking. I don't think starting out 6-0 is crazy thinking IF this football team can just stay healthy for once. They have two home games against "Dome Teams" in December so I like that too. They play the Rams coming off a Bye Week which maybe exactly what McCarthy will need to get ready for the boy genius Sean McVay . I also like we get 10 days off before playing the Vikings in Minnesota.

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dobber's picture

April 20, 2018 at 07:24 am

"They have two home games against "Dome Teams" in December so I like that too"

Three if you count the Cardinals.

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Oppy's picture

April 20, 2018 at 05:50 am

I don't know how anyone can make any kind of predictions on this season before we've even seen a day of training camp.

We're in the midst of the first complete tear down and retooledoffensive playbook in 12 years. It will be the first year of a brand new Defensive scheme under new leadership. We've had some changes in pivotal positions on the field and in the coaching staff itself.

If we came into this season without those changes, I'd be willing to project wins and losses with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. But with all the change? I don't know what to think until we've at least seen a little bit of how this team is going to look on the field in pads... and even then, we probably won't be shown too much.

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NickPerry's picture

April 20, 2018 at 05:59 am

Or who the Packers draft?

Truth is I don't have a clue but because we have Rodgers and he'll be healthy I believe that's worth 10 games off the top.

A new DC and Philbin back?? That's got to be worth at least 2 more wins.

12-4

LOL! Having fun Oppy.

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Oppy's picture

April 20, 2018 at 06:36 am

Philbin is perhaps a bigger deal than Pettine at this point.

New defensive schemes usually lag a little bit before they net big results, due to complete changes in playbook, verbage, and of course, necessary personnel.

Philbin on the other hand has familiarity with MM's offense and (I'm admittedly guessing) helped MM build an offense once before. One of the things that really stuck with me that Aaron Rodgers said of Joe Philbin a few years ago was that he really missed the attention to detail that Philbin made sure was there in the scout defense presentation during gameplanning and walkthroughs leading up to gameday. Rodgers said Philbin spent a lot of time making sure the scout defense was lined up and playing the ball exactly like the opponent, and when game day arrived, Rodgers said he was never taken by surprise because he'd practiced against identical looks and motions all week.

I'm hopeful for improvement, but major changes can sometimes walk you backwards before gaining positive momentum.

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John Kirk's picture

April 20, 2018 at 08:00 am

I feel the Oppysite... If you look at Capers over his career, his defenses we're ranked highly in the beginning and then tailed off the longer he was around. What happened in Green Bay fit his history. Big improvement after taking over and then the slide.

Who has the ability to take their respective side of the ball higher? Pettine in a landslide for me.

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Oppy's picture

April 20, 2018 at 08:48 am

Sure, Pettine has more opportunity than Philbin because there's more room for improvement. That's obvious.

The delta and the final results are two different things. Going from really bad to acceptable is more of a change than going from really good to elite.. but at the end of the day, elite is still a far cry better than acceptable.

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John Kirk's picture

April 20, 2018 at 12:26 pm

I just wanted to post reply to the idea that the defense is going to have some adjustment period that implies expectations shouldn't be high right away. Maybe. However, that's not what Dom's history showed. It showed the reverse, so no reason to expect the D not to be better right away. I expect it to even with the brutal CB situation and lack of pass rush. Pettine is a man's man. I immediately expect some pretty different results with him.

Right now, Philbin is working with an O short on passing game options. The O has only been an issue vs great defenses or in the playoffs and I don't think he'll change that with what he has on hand.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

April 21, 2018 at 04:15 am

They have plenty of passing options. Under Clements and Bennett the Packers passing game became monolithic and remained so even after the Broncos showed the NFL how to stop it. When they had Philbin they where multiple and made significant adjustments. I expect the same again and I think the Packers public comments that they will burn the playbook support it. I only wish they would have kept quiet about it. For all of the "secrecy" at 1265 MM sure has a big mouth sometimes.

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John Kirk's picture

April 22, 2018 at 11:31 pm

Yes, they have plenty of options as do the other 31 teams...but how good are those options?

MM is still calling plays so the expected change should be tempered.

I'm not worried about the rest of the NFL knowing we're changing. You don't bring in a new OC and do things exactly same, so it's not a major revelation to hear him say that.

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Tundraboy's picture

April 20, 2018 at 12:24 am

Like it. Wish Minnesota was flipped but that's OK too.

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dobber's picture

April 20, 2018 at 08:29 am

Flipped in terms of home/away or flipped in terms of week 1 vs. week 2?

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Johnblood27's picture

April 20, 2018 at 08:35 am

or flipped in terms of the entire city turned upside down and buried?

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Since'61's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:35 am

How about both!! Thanks, Since '61

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Tundraboy's picture

April 20, 2018 at 10:11 am

Home/Away

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

April 20, 2018 at 10:59 am

The minibye before going to Minnesota is really nice. As long as they can avoid Thursday Night garbage ball induced injuries it should be a big benifit to be rested and have additional planning.

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Royalty Free GM's picture

April 20, 2018 at 01:32 am

Looks good. Only thing I wish for Christmas is a home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

And then there is this one. Sunday Nov. 4
Rodgers vs. Brady
Let’s hope both teams get their best players for this gem.

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Oppy's picture

April 20, 2018 at 06:21 am

*Rodgers vs. NE Defense
*Brady vs. Packers Defense

There, I fixed it for you

;)

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Royalty Free GM's picture

April 20, 2018 at 02:46 am

All five December games are cold weather outdoor games?

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flackcatcher's picture

April 20, 2018 at 03:35 am

Thursday night football, I hate it. Three days of rest is asking for major injuries on the field. Last four games looks built to be flexed. All in all, as good a schedule that the Packers could expect.

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Big Moe's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:22 am

Could not agree more, short week, lack of prep, and just a shitty time to watch a game.

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croatpackfan's picture

April 20, 2018 at 04:18 am

After reviewing the schedule and my dreams I say 13-3 the best and 12-4 the worst record...

I'm not claiming that it will be. I hope that Packers will have 13-3...

I'm ready to give bold prediction after TC and leveling roster on 53 players....

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TKWorldWide's picture

April 20, 2018 at 05:57 am

Just wondering which teams will exceed expectations and which ones will fall short this year, so as to know which games that look tough right now won’t be, and which ones that look less challenging will actually be tough.

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NickPerry's picture

April 20, 2018 at 06:04 am

It happens every year doesn't it?

Do the Rams keep up what they started last season or will all the problem children they brought in ruin the chemistry in the locker room?

Does Brady FINALLY fall off the cliff because it IS coming?

Can we FINALLY slow down Atlanta IN GB IN December?

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TKWorldWide's picture

April 20, 2018 at 06:33 am

Right!
And which star player from what team is going to be out for the season after a torn “whatever” in week one?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

April 20, 2018 at 11:01 am

It looks to me like the Rams are building Chip Kelly style. Makes me wonder if it is as likely to fail the same way.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 20, 2018 at 06:46 am

Exactly.

Right now, the beginning and end of the season looks relatively "easy," and November looks brutal. But that's all likely to change. Going into 2016, we had the easiest opponent difficulty schedule in the league, and by the end of the year, we ended up having the 8th most difficult. This year we have the "hardest" opponent difficulty schedule going in. It's just as likely to flip as 2016 was.

I'm personally hoping that we shut the Vikings fans up. What a bunch of obnoxious toolbags.

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dobber's picture

April 20, 2018 at 07:41 am

SOS is based on what teams did a year ago, and if the division that shows up on the Packers schedule played a very soft division in the previous year, they can look particularly strong the following year.

...and we all know how losing an elite player can turn a season around for a team. The NFCN being particularly meh last season (in part due to the loss of ARod) did wonders for the NFCS.

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Rossonero's picture

April 20, 2018 at 06:57 am

I have high hopes, but we must protect Rodgers, and Rodgers needs to be smarter with how long he holds onto the ball.

If he has his 3rd collarbone injury, then any predictions will just go out the window.

Pros:
- I see no reason why we can't beat our first 6 opponents.
- the first two games are division games, and could allow us to get off to a great start in the division
- our bye week is before the road trip to LA
- plenty of statement games
- although we fly to Seattle on a short week on Thursday night, we then get a mini bye before the away game to Minnesota
- 4 of the final 5 games are very winnable vs. the Cardinals, Falcons, Jets, Bears, Lions

Cons:
- #1 in terms of strength of schedule
- I'd prefer the bye week to be later
- That won't be easy flying to the west coast one week for the Rams and then the east coast the next for New England
- we play Seattle on a short week on Thursday (I always want them to stick it to Pete Carroll, especially since this'll be the first game in Seattle since the 2014 NFC championship meltdown)

What I want more than anything is HEALTH. This team was ravaged by injuries almost immediately last year -- that cannot happen again.

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dobber's picture

April 20, 2018 at 07:32 am

"- we play Seattle on a short week on Thursday"

Short week and road game don't help...but absent the draft, Seattle has taken a step back this offseason. They look like a roster that's starting to circle the drain. They'll still have some disruptive front players and speedy LBs, but the Packers have had their number in recent years INCLUDING the nightmare NFCCG.

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Rossonero's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:24 am

Dobber, I absolutely agree. There's no doubt Seattle is in a bit of a rebuild. I'd love to exorcise some of the demons of that NFCG. That is a playoff loss I will never get over.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

April 20, 2018 at 11:02 am

But the following long week before the Vikings is pretty nice IMO.

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Since'61's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:21 am

Nice analysis Rossonero. Traveling to the coasts on consecutive weeks is not terrible for the Packers as the flights are about 3 hours each way, maybe less to NE. The time zone changes are a factor but hopefully not significant. It's not much different than the Packers flying to Miami one week and Phoenix the next. Of course as one who has flown to Sydney, Australia, then Dubai, then London and back to NY in a 15 day period my thoughts about functioning after air travel are probably irrelevant. Thanks, Since '61

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Rossonero's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:28 am

Thanks. My hope is the Packers would fly to LA during the bye week to adjust to the time change ahead of time. It also may be the last time we see Aaron Rodgers vs. Nmdakong Suh.

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Since'61's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:37 am

I'll be fine if Suh is out with an injury for that game. Then I never need to see him versus Rodgers and the Packers again. Thanks, Since '61

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RCPackerFan's picture

April 20, 2018 at 06:48 am

Overall I like the schedule.

The first thing I look at is the bye week. It is week 7 which is pretty good.

The next thing I look at is the amount of away games in a row there are.

There is going to be a tough stretch in the middle of the schedule, right after the bye. They play at LA, then the next week play At New England. The west coast to East coast is not an easy thing to manage. Then they play home, followed by a Thursday night in Seattle, followed by a mini bye and at Minnesota.
That is a tough 5 game stretch.

After that 3 of their last 5 games are at home.

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dobber's picture

April 20, 2018 at 07:37 am

"There is going to be a tough stretch in the middle of the schedule, right after the bye....That is a tough 5 game stretch."

Best time for the tough stretch.

Given the difficulty, this is still a schedule that gives the Packers a chance to start fast and finish fast. Bears week 1 is not doing the Packers a favor: new coach, lots of new personnel means virtually ALL unscouted looks. That has the potential to be a dangerous game.

People worry about the defense and how long it will take for it to get up to speed, but lets be objective about it: this defense has been a tremendous sandbag for this team to drag along for a while. Look at 2016...even when they were "running the table" they were outscoring a lot of opponents. Even if it takes 6 weeks to get up to speed, it's still probably not playing any worse than it was before.

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Since'61's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:11 am

Remember Dobber that with a new OC and a new DC we will have plenty of unscouted looks of our own. Agree with you completely about the defensive sandbag. Thanks, Since '61

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GBPDAN1's picture

April 20, 2018 at 10:13 am

I feel good about our run D against da Bears . Adding Wilkinson and an improved Adams only makes our run D better. We were pretty good against the run last year and will only be better this year.. The Bears are a run first offense and their QB is still developing (if he ever will).

We beat the Bareillys twice last year , one without Rodgers. If we can beat them with Hundley, we can beat them bad with Rodgers. The point spread on that game is Packers by 9. We are at home kicking off our 100 season. Lambeau will be rocking! I like our chances, Dobber

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Handsback's picture

April 20, 2018 at 07:56 am

Tough games after the bye, but teams change and games that look easy becomes harder and vice-versa.

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freddisch's picture

April 20, 2018 at 08:29 am

Looking at the schedule, one can conclude they have 8 home games and 8 road games.

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Since'61's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:08 am

Well, at least you have a flair for the obvious. Thanks, Since '61

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Ustabeayooper's picture

April 20, 2018 at 08:46 am

In the NFC, strength of schedule means nothing. In the last 2 years 11 different teams have made the playoffs.Ultimately, it is when you play a team and their injury situation that matters. GB was 4 and 1 until AR got hurt. Just focus on the Bears. The rest of the schedule will take care of itself. Predicting records is as dependable as picking the Eagles to win last year's SB.

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Since'61's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:07 am

I agree with others here that this schedule gives the Packers the opportunity to start and finish fast.
First major factor for me is health. If the team can stay healthy for once we could start 6-0 and finish 5-0.
The middle 5 games with four on road will be difficult.

I hate Thursday night football, especially when it involves the Packers and in this case going to Seattle on top if everything.

I'm OK with the bye in Week 7 although it would have been better to have the bye during the 5 game stretch in the middle of the season, either before of after the Miami game.

I like that 14 out of 16 games on this schedule are played on Sundays. MM likes his weekly routines and he will have it for 14 games this season. If only the Seattle game could be moved to Sunday. However, TV $$$ rules the world of sports.

As usual I will hold my win-loss predictions until I see what type of team we are fielding after TC. The draft up next, let's hope it's a good one. Thanks, Since '61

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Finwiz's picture

April 20, 2018 at 11:57 am

Bye in week 7 is perfect.

Over/under on number of starters/major contributors injured by then:

SEVEN!

That's borderline pessimism.............

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cheesehead1's picture

April 20, 2018 at 09:14 am

Wish our bye would have been later, but not too bad IMO. I think we’ll have a good season IF we finally fix our D. Time for everyone on D to step up and be accountable. Pettine sounds like he’ll do just that. Go Pack.

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worztik's picture

April 20, 2018 at 10:19 am

I didn’t read all the comments today but, I believe if we can hit the bye week undefeated we’d be in very, very good shape for the playoffs at home! However, that is a pretty big “IF”....

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dobber's picture

April 20, 2018 at 02:36 pm

" I believe if we can hit the bye week undefeated we’d be in very, very good shape for the playoffs"

That might be what the Vikings were thinking two years ago...ooops.

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4thand1's picture

April 20, 2018 at 11:51 am

5 prime time games, the only prime time I want is playoff prime time. A lot of talk about going 6-0, lets get by week one first. Week 2 will really let us know where we are.

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