We now know the dates and times of the home and away schedule the Packers will be playing come this Fall. Get ready to set aside a few Sunday evenings, a Monday night, and at least two "second game" time slots -- at least six nationally televised games...but don't worry, your Thanksgiving is clear. You know, so you can spend more time with the family rather than watching football. Yeah...I know...sorry. But at least you get to spend New Year's weekend watching the Pack pummel Da Bearz to close out the regular season as they get set for the playoffs.
Anyway, on with the schedule! Home games are in bold. All times are Central.
Sun., Sept. 12 @ Philadelphia Eagles 3:15 p.m. FOX
Sun., Sept. 19 Buffalo Bills 12:00 p.m. CBS
Mon., Sept. 27 @ Chicago Bears 7:30 p.m. ESPN
Sun., Oct. 3 Detroit Lions (Gold Pkg.) 12:00 p.m. FOX
Sun., Oct. 10 @ Washington Redskins 12:00 p.m. FOX
Sun., Oct. 17 Miami Dolphins 12:00 p.m. CBS
Sun., Oct. 24 Minnesota Vikings 7:20 p.m. NBC
Sun., Oct. 31 @ New York Jets 12:00 p.m. FOX
Sun., Nov. 7 Dallas Cowboys (Gold Pkg.) 7:20 p.m. NBC
Sun., Nov. 14 Open Date
Sun., Nov. 21 @ Minnesota Vikings *12:00 p.m. FOX
Sun., Nov. 28 @ Atlanta Falcons *12:00 p.m. FOX
Sun., Dec. 5 San Francisco 49ers *12:00 p.m. FOX
Sun., Dec. 12 @ Detroit Lions *12:00 p.m. FOX
Sun., Dec. 19 @ New England Patriots *7:20 p.m. NBC
Sun., Dec. 26 New York Giants *3:15 p.m. FOX
Sun., Jan. 2 Chicago Bears *12:00 p.m. FOX
* Start time may shift due to NFL flexible scheduling.
For further insight and trivia into the schedule, check out the Packers' take on things here.
Must See Games
For true Packer fans, of course, every game is a must see game. But for professional sports writers, such as Sport Illustrated's Dan Banks, he must pick and choose. And that's what he's done. In today's Inside the NFL column, Banks lists 17 games on the just-released NFL schedule that are must-sees for him.
He has the Packers listed at #6. Here's what he says:
"6. Minnesota at Green Bay, Week 7. You can never make it seem like the first time all over again, but the specter of Favre going back into Lambeau Field again will still get our attention. The Packers owe their former quarterback a loss or two after last season's Minnesota sweep, and the QB duel between Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and Favre is reason enough to care about this Sunday night showdown. It should just about be getting chilly in Wisconsin by the time this one rolls around. The rematch is less than a month later in Minnesota in Week 11."
Banks has the ViQueens listed four times in total. Obviously, as per his comments above, he's betting -- as most are -- that Ol' #4 will be suiting up again this Fall. Otherwise, c'mon, would Tavaris Jackson get this kind of coverage? Not a chance.
You can read about all of Banks' must-see games here.