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Breaking Down the 2022 Schedule

The 2022 NFL schedule has been released and Packers fans everywhere have already begun booking hotel reservations to witness what we hope to finally be a Super Bowl run. The Packers travel to several interesting destinations this fall, including a game in the United Kingdom in early October.


Let’s break down the regular season schedule and – just for fun – attach some wildly premature predictions to each game. The 2022 regular season just might yield a fourth straight 13-win season for the Packers under head coach Matt LaFleur.

Week 1 - at Minnesota


For the second time in three years, the Packers begin the season on the road in Minneapolis - this time, with fans present. While they haven't had a ton of success in U.S. Bank Stadium (2-4 since its opening), they'll face an inexperienced head coach in Kevin O'Connell and rebuilding Minnesota defense. Last season was the first time the Packers dropped an opener since 2014 and I don't expect them to sustain that trend.


Prediction: Win


Week 2 - vs. Chicago (SNF)


One would think that an early-season prime time meeting with the Bears would be a runaway win. But, Packers-Bears games have the potential to get weird. Having been embarrassed by the Packers twice during his rookie season, I'm expecting Bears QB Justin Fields to keep this one close, but not enough for rookie head coach Matt Eberflus to notch the Bears’ first win at Lambeau since 2015.


Prediction: Win

Week 3 - at Tampa Bay


With the un-retirement of Tom Brady came the gift of another clash between two future hall of fame quarterbacks. After two painful losses to Brady and the Bucs in 2020, Rodgers will be playing for redemption and reversing what might be seen as a stain on his NFL legacy. I expect the Packers to spoil Tampa's home opener and secure a win that could have important playoff tie-breaking implications.


Prediction: Win


Week 4 - vs. New England


A week after facing Brady, the Packers will face the Patriots without No.12 under center for the first time since 1997. Even with second-year QB Mac Jones running the offense, I still expect Bill Belichick's brilliant scheme to give the Packers trouble. The Packers have lost at home just once during the regular season since LaFleur took over as head coach in 2019 - but that's a tough record to sustain.


Prediction: Loss


Week 5 - vs. New York Giants (in London)


For the first time ever, the Packers will lost an opponent overseas, serving as an opportunity to further penetrate their already-well-known brand in Europe. The Giants are still a mess on offense and the international travel could throw off the preparation for a team that will have played three straight home games prior to Week 5. Even at full health, it's hard to imagine a Giants leaving the UK with a win over the Packers.


Prediction: Win


Week 6 - vs. New York Jets


A home meeting with the Jets after a trip across the pond has trap game written all over it. While they're hardly more talented than the Giants, New York's other team has added plenty of weapons for Zach Wilson on offense and should build on the success curated by Robert Saleh on defense. I'm looking for the Jets to repeat their first half surprise from the 2014 meeting at Lambeau, but still head out of town with a loss.


Prediction: Win


Week 7 - at Washington


For whatever reason, FedEx Field has been surprisingly tough on Green Bay, with the Packers having dropped three of their last four contests in Landover. Rodgers and the Packers may also fall vulnerable to looking ahead to their big SNF date with the Bills in Week 8. There are few coaches that do more with less than Ron Rivera has in his 12-year tenure as a head coach in the NFL - and I think he comes out on top this time around.


Prediction: Loss

Week 8 - at Buffalo (SNF)


The Packers' first regular season meeting with the Josh Allen-led Bills since early in his rookie season should be a good one. As further motivation to take down the AFC's Super Bowl favorite at their place, the Packers have never won in Buffalo. This one could very well come down to which team is healthier midway through the regular season and - if the Packers have Rodgers, Clark and Alexander in uniform - my money is on Green Bay.

Prediction: Win


Week 9 - at Detroit


In comparison to prior seasons, the Packers' first date with Detroit in 2022 is abnormally late in the year. It also precedes one of the Packers' tougher stretches of games during the regular season. In their trip to Detroit during Week 18 of last season, the Packers hardly looked like the superior team through two quarters of starters vs. starters. Expect the Lions to test Green Bay in this year's meeting at Ford Field.

Prediction: Win

Week 10 - vs. Dallas

The first meeting between Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers since McCarthy's departure from Green Bay should a treat for the entire sports world. While the Cowboys have won in Green Bay just once since 2008, their talented, young defense that features Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs could be tough on a depleted Packers receiving corps. With extra motivation to avoid Lambeau in January, I'm picking Dallas to win by a narrow margin in this NFC clash.

Prediction: Loss


Week 11 - vs. Tennessee


The Titans' last trip to Green Bay was utter embarrassment: a late-season blowout in the snow. This year, they travel to Lambeau on a short week, having just hosted Russell Wilson and the Broncos. Whether or not Ryan Tannehill has established chemistry with his new WR1 Treylon Burks at this stage in the regular season, Tennessee’s offense is still one of the best the Packers will face in 2022. But, in the dropping November temperatures, I like Green Bay in this one.

Prediction: Win


Week 12 - at Philadelphia (MNF)


A late-season trip to Philly in prime time could be much more challenging than how the Eagles look on paper. Last time the Packers played in the City of Brotherly Love, they kick-started a winning streak that nearly resulted in running the table. It’s a completely new-look Eagles team this time around, loaded with talent at the offensive skill positions. But, the Packers had little trouble with QB Jalen Hurts when facing him in 2020 – and I think that success is sustained in this go-around.

Prediction: Win


Week 13 - at Chicago


The Bears are in rebuild mode, but don’t automatically assume they’ll be out of the playoff picture at this point in season. After Aaron Rodgers’ direct insult to Bears Nation in their road game last season, the Bears and their fans will come into this one salivating for a win. However, the Packers have played some of their most sound football in the month of December under LaFleur, and that should translate into another win in the Windy City.


Prediction: Win

Week 14 - Bye


Ahh, another late bye week. Certainly no complaints from a team that seems to be bitten by the injury bug seemingly every season.


Week 15 - vs. Los Angeles Rams


The Packers have had the luxury of hosting the Rams yet again – but beating last year’s Super Bowl champs for a third straight season won’t be an easy task. Matthew Stafford has only won at Lambeau twice in his 13-year career - and turned in a dreadful performance en route to a 36-29 loss in Green Bay last November. As one can imagine, LA hasn’t been great in cold weather late in the season and I think that trend continues this December.


Prediction: Win


Week 16 - at Miami (Christmas Day)


The schedule makers delivered just what Packers fans were yearning for: a holiday trip to South Beach. Rodgers hasn't been great in the state of Florida, owning a 3-6 overall record in the sunshine state. But he's 1-0 in Miami and should be playing in front of plenty of sconnies. Still, the tropical distraction could cause the Packers to play down to their playoff-minded opponent – just the way they did on Christmas last year – and, this time, result in an unexpected loss.


Prediction: Loss


Week 17 - vs. Minnesota


Last year's Week 17 game against Minnesota saw Sean Mannion start in place of Kirk Cousins and ultimately eliminate the Vikings from the playoffs. If the Vikings are at full health this year, though, it’s destined to be a much closer contest. Two of the three NFC North losses suffered by the Packers under LaFleur have come against the rival Vikings and I expect this one to come down to the wire. Playing at home is what should ultimately tilt this game in the Packers’ favor.


Prediction: Win


Week 18 - vs. Detroit


For the sixth time over the past seven seasons, the Packers will finish their regular season against the Detroit Lions (are the schedule makers starting to get lazy?). Finishing the season at home will be a nice change of pace, though, something the Packers haven’t done since 2018. If the Packers are fortunate enough to have locked up a fixed playoff spot, it could be Jordan Love time again. But, in all likelihood, they’ll have to play four quarters of focused football to beat a Lions team that has shown plenty of will late in the season, even when out of the playoff picture.


Prediction: Win


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