Packers 2012 home and away games announced

While we won't know the actual NFL schedule for the upcoming season until the end of this month, the NFL was kind enough to release the home and away games for each team. We obviously already know that we play our NFC North division opponents. But what about the other games? Here's how things are going to fall, in no particular order, for the Green Bay Packers in the 2012 regular season:

Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans.

Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts.

The season will open with the Super Bowl Champion Giants playing at home against an as-yet unnamed opponent. It could very well be the Packers, but it's not a lock. This game will occur on a Wednesday, Sept. 5, instead of the usual Thursday opener. The reason? It was moved so as not to conflict with the last day of the Democratic National Convention and a likely primetime speech by President Obama.

Now, I seem to recall already seeing a NBC promotion for the Packers hosting the Saints at Lambeau Field for the first actual Thursday night game of the season. Given that the Saints are on the home schedule, this seems like a fit. Which begs the question: could this season start with the Pack kicking off things away versus the Giants and then at home the following week against the Saints, with then about a 10-day break until game #3? Could be. And might not be all bad. Often better to catch some of the better teams early in the season rather than late. Of course, other teams could say the same about playing the Packers, too.

Anyway, the season is no cakewalk. The NFC North, with the exception of the hapless ViQueens, will be better than last season, with both Da Bearz and Lions making some roster moves. And the rest of the schedule is enough to also look at each game as a battle.

It's obviously too far from the start of the season to have a feel for how things could go. But you just know that it's going to be one heckuva ride regardless.

Go Pack Go!!!