The Packers got their long-awaited Week 1 home opener but not much else

Wes Hodkiewicz

Robert from Saginaw, MI

To Dean from Belmont, MI, I love that song. Based on Mike's response, I'm not sure he got the reference.

I thought maybe it was an ICP reference. Nope, just Judy Collins.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

No international game this season for the Packers, that's a good thing? What are your takeaways regarding the Packers' schedule?

Interesting is the word that comes to mind. Obviously, no schedule is gonna be perfect, but the overall layout strikes me as a bit odd. The Packers got their long-awaited Week 1 home opener but not much else. They play Washington four days after the Detroit opener, have the NFL's earliest bye and face a 13-game gauntlet to the finish line. Whoa, Nelly, indeed.

Jeff from Seminole, FL

I'm sure players would rather have the bye a few weeks later but the first Thursday game should be to our advantage. Not only are we home but also both teams have the same amount of rest, and we are the youngest team, right?

Time will tell on the youth front, but I'm not a fan of the early Thursday night game. That's a whole lot of sitting around before playing the hardest sport in the world twice in five days. As Spoff mentioned on "Unscripted," it's a tough break for the Packers not catching that first Thursday "mini-bye" after the actual bye in Week 5. On the bright side, the Packers can do plenty of scouting and game-planning to prepare for both matchups.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

The first two weeks won't make or break the Packers' season! But I do think they will set the tone for the next 16. The first couple games have tended to look more like preseason than regular-season games recently, and I'm curious how you think they might speed up the process to be in-season ready and come out of the gate strong?

I couldn't tell you, Dean, but I'm sure Matt LaFleur and the coaches will take all the data they've gathered over the years and channel it towards a fast start. Again, that five-day stretch is critical not only because it's the first two weeks of the season but it also represents a quarter of Green Bay's home slate of regular-season games.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

I thought it was an unwritten rule that if you were a visiting team on Thanksgiving that your TNF game on Amazon Prime was the previous game or the next game, so you only had one four-day break during the season. Looks like the NFL found a new way to mess with the Packers.

It is what it is, but I don't believe going Thursday-to-Thursday is an unwritten rule or anything. It just worked out that way last year with the Lions after Thanksgiving.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

I'm sure there will be complainers about the team's schedule, but there isn't anything particularly aberrant about the schedule, like three home games or three road games in a row. The schedule won't matter if the Packers play well, and it won't matter if they play poorly.

Again, the schedule is the schedule and how things look one year doesn't necessarily impact the next. Play the games, win as many of 'em as possible and see where that puts you. That's it.

Zach from Glen Ellyn, IL

The Week 5 bye is really early, but I guess having two Thursday night games with mini-byes will help. However, the first Thursday night game is Week 2 against Washington.

I didn't remember until Spoff told me the Packers started the 2012 season the same way, hosting San Francisco in the opener at Lambeau before welcoming Chicago on Thursday night. Green Bay started 2-2 (thanks Lance Easley) but then ripped off four straight wins to head into the bye 6-2. It is a massive opportunity for the Packers to build early momentum if they capitalize on it.

Chase from Diamond Springs, CA

I don't know why, but it always feels wrong to play a team twice in three weeks. Really, it's only two weeks separated. I know each game is its own, but I've just never been a fan. Although, I do appreciate that if they're going to do that, that it happens at the end of the season.

Call me obtuse, but that's one part of the schedule I don't really mind. Would it have been cool to kick off the rivalry with the Ben Johnson-led Bears a little sooner? For sure, but now we get two December games against the Packers' biggest rival who's also an outdoor, cold-weather team. Strategically, I'm eager to see what adjustments are made in such a short turnaround.

Yotam from Atlit, Israel

One interesting note about the schedule is that the first two games are against the fourth-down territory leaders. Both Commanders and Lions have consistently gone for it on fourth down. Those will be two games where the defense will have to work hard to get the opponent off the field.

Interesting quirk, but it wouldn't surprise me if we see more NFL teams going for it on fourth down moving forward. Those first two weeks may just be preparing the Packers for even more aggression in the games that follow.

Dave from Lake Zurich, IL

Dallas may be a big TV draw but I've seen that the Steelers and the Packers actually have the largest national following. I don't understand what the appeal of the Cowboys is.

Branding is a powerful, powerful mechanism. The Cowboys are always in the headlines.

Paul from Farnborough, UK

Dear Wes/Spoff, how's the schedule worked out for you both on a personal level? Which date did you look for first ... "Oh no, working Thanksgiving again."

Pretty much. I think I'd rather cover a Christmas game at home than eat more turkey in the Ford Field press box.

James from Ottawa, Canada

What do we make of a third straight Thanksgiving game? To me, personally, that's amazing. As a Canadian, I've formed the habit of using vacation time on American Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the parade and football uninterrupted. I feel for you guys and the players/personnel, though, for another consecutive Thanksgiving interrupted by the work grind.

I could do without it, but we have a year from international travelso I have that going for me, which issomething.

Gavin from Albuquerque, NM

How "set in stone" is the "no more than six primetime games" rule? I see the NFL's own social media sharing who tops the most primetime games in the schedule and to no one's surprise, the Chiefs stand alone at the top with seven. The three others on the image are all in one division (NFC East) and have six each.

With the NFL planting its flag on Christmas, it's not surprising to see Kansas City draw an unprecedented number of primetime games. It's a big-business league and right now the Chiefs are one of the most recognizable teams in all American sports.

Carl from Onalaska, WI

Tom's playoff elimination draft order is interesting, but teams in a weak division could stay eligible for the playoffs longer than teams in stronger divisions. Could cause some very weird draft orders.

I see no reason for a lottery system in the NFL. First, motivation is not difficult to find. This is an extremely volatile business, and guys are fighting to keep their jobs every season. Rarely do personnel directors or head coaches in proximity to the No. 1 pick have a leash long enough to think about "tanking."

Marty from Plymouth, WI

Just a comment regarding the NFL schedule release, and the league's phony talk regarding caring about its fans. At the end of the season, fans are left with maybe Saturday/maybe Sunday. Also, start times for many games are up in the air. I get that the league wants the "best games" in prime slots, but for fans having to travel, it's just tough luck. Like with many things in life, just follow the money trail. Bottom line.

I hear ya. I understand the need to wait until the 11th hour to lock in Week 18, but the uncertainty about the time of the Bears game and date of the Ravens contest is unfortunate. It would be one thing if resolution came sooner than later, but in all likelihood, I could see the league dragging out a final decision.

Mark from Rochester, MN

Jadon Janke is the third member of the 2022 FCS national champs Jackrabbits, joining Amar Johnson and Tucker Kraft. Janke has experience in the return game and is a prime member to join the practice squad, in this reader's humble opinion.

He's on the roster. He's got a chance.

Chris from Delafield, WI

One of the interesting bits in Michael MacCambridge's book on the rise of the NFL ("America's Game," a book I highly recommend) was his recounting of commissioner Bert Bell doing the scheduling himself, by hand. Apparently, it was one of his favorite tasks. He had to schedule for 12 teams instead of 32, but it still took him some time each year. The league offices have vastly increased in size over the years, and now an employee has responsibility for scheduling and the aid of a computer.

One of the best parts of traveling to New York last year to inform Tom Grossi he'd won NFL Fan of the Year was getting a tour of the league offices. That conference room where the schedule was originally assembled is incredible. It's a small, windowless space barely bigger than my break room at McDonald's. For many years, that's where all the football magic happened.

Kevin from Chemung, IL

After digesting the 2025 schedule I began musing about the inevitable extension of the regular season. Do you think that the NFLPA would be amenable to playing 18 games if it meant adding a second bye week? Seems like that would be a good compromise to players' health and safety

If the players concede an 18th regular-season game, they better get a heckuva lot more than just a second bye. The season is long enough the way it is. Why would a 24-year-old football player agree to make the season two weeks longer while playing on a partially guaranteed contract? Again, for the 109th time, unless they add another week to the calendar here on Earth, I'm fully against an 18th NFL regular-season game today, tomorrow, forever. My name is Weston Hodkiewicz, and I approve of this message.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Which leaguewide Week 1 match-up intrigues you the most?

Steelers-Jets has the potential to be either the most intriguing or least intriguing matchup of Week 1 depending on the quarterbacks.

Grant from Green Bay, WI

I agree with Jonathan from Richmond Hill in a league that consistently preaches the importance of player safety, a team with a Week 5 bye and a deep playoff run could potentially play up to 15 straight weeks of football. I mean, I can't even work 15 straight weeks at my office job without PTO. (You writer guys feel me, right?) Would it really be so hard/unprofitable to limit byes to Weeks 7-12?

Also a question as old as timewith no further resolution.

Jeff from Montclair, VA

Morning! My family has had four seats in the south end zone since forever, and with my parents' passing, my sister now controls the tickets for the family lottery. The schedule came out late Wednesday and she chose first this year. Can you do me a solid and tell her to get off her tookus and make her pick, so I can lock in the one game that I'll hopefully be able to make? Thanks for the extra service, and I'll show myself out.

Hey Claire from Montclair, let's get up and get on with it. Jeff's got a game to schedule.

Joshua from Menasha, WI

Is the "F" our new mascot?

I'd approve of that. A huge congratulations and tip of the cap to Renae Gabriel and the Packers' social department for their hard work, imagination, and all-around lunacy withour schedule release video. I also applaud the organization for allowing creative minds to let loose a little bit.

Al from Green Bay, WI

All this offseason noise. . . A few days ago I heard that Jayden Reed was concerned about his role with the team, so his agent met with Gutey to discuss. Today I read that Jayden Reed is working with Matthew Golden to get him quickly up to speed with the playbook. I suppose both could be true at the same time, but color me skeptical. What's your take?

I think we need to get to OTAs. Conjecture is substituting for substance right now. I have no concern with the Packers' wideout room. There's a good culture with that group. Reed will be fine. The wideouts will be fine.

Dave from Middletown, CT

As nice as it is to get the season opener at home (hopefully helping to get off to a fast start) I'd trade that to not have three of the last four games of the season on the road. What day you?

Friday. Wishing you all a pleasant weekend.

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