We’ve known the who and the where for a while. Now we have the when as the NFL unleashed the entire 2022 schedule Thursday night. For the Green Bay Packers, the upcoming season will have them travel abroad for the first time and they’ll spend Christmas on South Beach and ring in the New Year on the tundra. Here’s the slate with a couple of quick thoughts on each matchup knowing we’re months away from playing the games.
When the league went to a 17 game regular season, they cut the pre-season to three games and this summer, the Packers will have only one at home, hosting the New Orleans Saints on a hot August night sandwiched between pre-season trips to San Francisco and Kansas City, an exhibition opponent for the 10th time in the last 13 years.
As for the games that count:
Sunday, September 11 At Minnesota Vikings 3:25 PM Fox
This will be the fourth straight year the Packers open on the road. They christened US Bank Stadium a couple of years ago and they’ll try to spoil the Head Coaching debut of Kevin O’Connell who followed Matt LaFleur’s footsteps on the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams staff. With the Vike’s firepower on offense, they’ll be the most serious challenger in the North.
Sunday, September 18 Vs Chicago Bears 7:20 PM NBC
The first of five prime time shows for the Pack will be the 205th meeting in the great rivalry. The Lambeau home opener will be under the lights as Green Bay and Chicago have done for 11 times in the last 12 years. New Head Coach Matt Eberflus will bring Luke Getsy back to Green Bay as his offensive coordinator. Can’t wait to see what he’s drawn up for quarterback Justin Fields.
Sunday, September 15 At Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3:25 PM Fox
Gotta be 12 vs 12 for the last time right? Count ’em…7 NFL Most Valuable Player Awards between Aaron Rodgers (4) and Tom Brady (3). TB12 called it a career for a month before deciding to give season 23 a go. He’s got the big money coming after retirement from the network carrying this matchup, a tough one for the Pack.
Sunday, October 2 Vs New England Patriots (Gold Package) 3:25 PM CBS
This will be Hoodie’s last visit to Lambeau. There’s no way Bill Belichick will still be around for another 8 year cycle even though his rebuilding effort with the Pats won’t take that long.
Sunday, October 9 Vs New York Giants London Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 8:30 AM NFL Network
Much has already been written and said about the Pack’s first ever trip across the pond.
Sunday, October 16 Vs New York Jets 12:00 PM Fox
There will be no rest for international travelers. Some thought the Packers might want a bye to deal with the jet lag but they’ll take on the other team from Jersey instead. The Head Coaching besties, Matt LaFleur and Robert Saleh will meet for the first time in the regular season after the Jets spent a week in town for training camp last year.
Sunday, October 23 At Washington Commanders 12:00 PM Fox
The first of three straight on the road for the boys in what will hopefully be their last visit ever to Fed Ex Field. The same stadium where buckets caught dripping water in the press box on my last trip there, where a section of bleachers toppled, nearly taking out Philly quarterback Jalen Hurts and a game against the most dysfunctional franchise in the league by a mile.
Sunday, October 30 At Buffalo Bills 7:20 PM NBC
Super Bowl challengers collide on prime time. Both teams were conference championship runner-ups a year ago. The old man Aaron Rodgers against one of the league’s young guns in Josh Allen makes this a very attractive matchup for the peacock network.
Sunday, November 6 At Detroit Lions 12:00 PM Fox
Third week in a row in the eastern time zone and the first meeting with a Lions team young Head Coach Dan Campbell is trying to tough talk his way out of the basement. Detroit has lived in the cellar of the NFC North going on four straight years.
Sunday, November 13 Vs Dallas Cowboys 3:25 PM Fox
Mike McCarthy’s first game back at Lambeau Field should draw a nicer reception from Cheeseheads than Brett Favre’s return as a Viking. The Super Bowl XLV winning coach is now in year three with the Cowboys and despite the ugly way his tenure ended in Titletown, fans should appreciate the 13 years, 9 playoff appearances and six division titles during his tenure.
Thursday, November 17 Vs Tennessee Titans (Gold Package) 7:20 PM Amazon Prime Video
Now this will be a tough test against a very tough team on a very short week. The #1 seeds from each conference in last year’s playoffs are expected to be in the hunt for the same as Thanksgiving approaches.
Sunday, November 27 At Philadelphia Eagles 7:20 PM NBC
Coming off a mini-bye and heading to Lincoln Financial Field will put the defensive front seven front and center against a team than ran the ball more than any other a year ago.
Sunday, December 4 At Chicago Bears 12:00 PM Fox
The “Owner” of the Bears pays another visit to Solider Field. It’s amazing how this series has become so one sided since the old gunslinger Favre showed up in ’92 and had the torch passed to Rodgers and they just keep beating Da Bears.
Sunday, December 11 BYE WEEK
At long last, week 14, the Packers get the bye. LaFleur could have taken it after the London trip but he’ll be happy to get his squad rested up for the playoff drive.
Monday, December 19 Vs Los Angeles Rams 7:15 PM ESPN/ABC
The Super Bowl champs come to town for the only Monday night appearance for the Packers. Green Bay’s had their number of late, knocking them out of the 2020 playoffs and beating them on the tundra last November when L.A. was listing badly. They obviously got it figured out after that.
Sunday, December 25 At Miami Dolphins 12:00 PM Fox
Ho, Ho, Ho. For the second year in a row, the Packers will play on X-Mas Day, this time traveling to warm South Florida. Green Bay is 2-1 all time on Christmas Day games, losing to the Bears in 2005, beating Chicago six years later and Cleveland last season. First time they’ll be on the road for the holiday.
Sunday, January 1 Vs Minnesota Vikings 3:25 PM CBS
The rematch comes late, too late to unseat the three time division champs? We’ll have to wait till next year. 2023 begins at Lambeau.
Saturday, January 7 OR Sunday, January 8 Vs Detroit Lions TBD
The closing act has been the Detroit Lions in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and again last year. Will they ever close the gap between the two franchises? Maybe if this is the last regular season game of Rodgers’ career.
