Packer Central

NFL Schedule Quirks Work For, Against Packers

Sometimes, it’s not who you play but when you play them. Here’s a look at all the schedule advantages and disadvantages for the Packers.

Bill Huber

NFL Schedule Quirks Work For, Against Packers
NFL Schedule Quirks Work For, Against Packers /
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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur might not like going on the road to start the 2023 NFL season for the fifth time in his five years, but the schedule-makers were much nicer to the Packers than last year.

As LaFleur told Packers.com’s Larry McCarren: “I think every year you look at the schedule and you try to find areas where you have less to prepare for an opponent, or conversely, if you have more time.”

More often than not, there was some sort of advantage or disadvantage on the Packers’ 2023 schedule.

Week 3: Saints at Packers

New Orleans will be coming to Green Bay following a Monday night road game while the Packers will be coming off a noon Sunday game at Atlanta. Advantage, Packers.

Week 5: Packers at Raiders

The Packers will be coming off their mini-bye following a Thursday night home game against the Lions. That big edge might be mitigated a bit, though, with the Raiders getting the bonus day to get ready for this Monday night clash. Advantage, Packers.

Week 6: Bye Week

A Monday night road game can be a challenge from a preparation and fresh-legs standpoint. No worries here for the Packers with a fortuitous bye.

“I do think that’s a luxury to have, especially when you’re talking about a road game in Vegas,” LaFleur said. “It helps you for your next game to give those guys a rest.” Advantage, Packers.

Week 7: Packers at Broncos

Historically speaking, the bye week provides almost zero immediate impact. Over the past five seasons, teams are 65-61-1 following their one-week siesta. Whatever advantage Green Bay will get will be diminished by the Broncos getting a mini-bye following a Thursday night game at the Chiefs. Advantage, Packers.

Week 8: Vikings at Packers

The Packers welcome to town the Vikings for what could be a key NFC North clash. Minnesota will be coming off a Monday night home game against the powerful 49ers. Advantage, Packers.

Week 10: Packers at Steelers

Coming off a Thursday night home game, Pittsburgh will have the three-day rest advantage as well as the benefit of a third consecutive home game. Advantage, Steelers.

Week 13: Chiefs at Packers

Green Bay will be coming off its Thanksgiving game at Detroit so will have three bonus days to get ready for the mighty Chiefs, who will be coming off a rivalry game at the Raiders and perhaps will be looking forward to a home showdown against Buffalo. Advantage, Packers.

Week 14: Packers at Giants

New York will be at home and coming off its bye week when it hosts Green Bay for a Monday night game. Advantage, Giants.

Week 15: Buccaneers at Packers

Unlike Week 6, when the Packers had their bye following a Monday night road game, they’ll have to strap on the pads six days later for a home game against the Buccaneers. On the other hand, this will mark the fourth road game in five weeks for the Bucs. Advantage, Buccaneers.

Week 16: Packers at Carolina

The Panthers will have the home field and a one-day edge as they’ll be coming off a Saturday home game against Falcons. Advantage, Panthers.

Added together, it’s a much better schedule for the Packers than last year, when they were at the largest disadvantage in the league.

“All in all,” LaFleur said, “the schedule is what it is and we’ve got to be prepared and ready to play each and every week.”

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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.

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