Looking Ahead: Packers 2017 Schedule

What games and storylines will be most intriguing in 2017?

The 2016 NFL season is squarely in the rearview and it’s time to look ahead. To the Combine? Free Agency? The Draft? Those things will all get their due, but I’m looking way ahead. Let’s talk about the Packers’ 2017 schedule.

The 2017 campaign will feature games against five teams who made the playoffs in 2016 – Detroit (twice), Seattle, at Atlanta, at Pittsburgh, at Dallas – with playoff rematches against both the Cowboys and Falcons. Outside of the remaining division games, the Packers will also host the Saints, Bucs, Ravens and Bengals, while Carolina and Cleveland round out the road slate.

A detailed schedule won’t be released until April, but here’s a look at some potentially juicy storylines within the Packers’ schedule.

Opening in Atlanta? It was well publicized that the Falcons loss in the Super Bowl meant the Packers would not be opening the 2017 season on a Thursday night in Georgia. However, the league could still view the matchup as a great one for opening weekend, possibly even in the Sunday Night Football slot. The teams would be fresh off of facing each other in the NFC Championship, and the Falcons will be christening their $1.6 billion stadium.

Thanksgiving in Dallas? The Cowboys contest will be covered far and wide regardless of where it falls on the schedule, but a Turkey Day date could amplify the hype even more. The public will no doubt be inundated with replays of the Rodgers to Cook play and Mason Crosby’s game-winning field goal (not that we’ll complain about it) and I’m sure we’ll hear all week about how motivated the Cowboys are for payback. It should also be noted that by Thanksgiving these two teams could be jockeying for playoff position.

Rodgers checks the last box? The Cincinnati Bengals stand alone on the list of teams Aaron Rodgers has not yet beaten in his career as the starter for the Packers. This will most likely be a secondary storyline behind just winning the game, but it would be a pretty cool accomplishment for Rodgers.

A win at the Bank? It always feels good to beat the Vikings, but there’s a little something extra about beating them on their own turf. The Packers opened U.S. Bank Stadium in 2016, falling 17-14 in what turned out to be Sam Bradford’s best performance of the year. Nothing would be sweeter than silencing the “loudest fans in football.”

These are just a few of what will surely be a plethora of fun talking points throughout the season. The Packers will also see Jameis Winston for the first time next season, and games against the Seahawks always get the blood pumping. A lot can, and will, change between now and September, but for now it looks like 2017 could be extremely entertaining. 

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Comments (9)

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ngosz1's picture

February 18, 2017 at 01:40 pm

Another scenario I could see happening opening weekend is have a Super Bowl rematch on Thursday with Atlanta at New England. Then, on Sunday night, have a rematch of the Championship Game opponents - Green Bay at Pittsburgh.

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Point-Packer's picture

February 18, 2017 at 01:51 pm

2016 prediction was 11-5 and a loss in the divisional round. Close.

2017 prediction: 11-5 and a loss in the NFC championship. Again.

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Lphill's picture

February 18, 2017 at 04:25 pm

Point packer then you need not follow the Packers this year since you have it all figured out. I on the other hand have a good feeling about this year . TT surprises us and makes all the right moves to shore up the defense.

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Point-Packer's picture

February 18, 2017 at 06:59 pm

I hope you are right. And if TT uses the off-season to shore up some glaring gaps, I'll be more confident. Problem is, if history is any indication, and it often is, TT will do what he always does with FA - next to nothing. And "next to nothing" will do next to nothing toward getting GB over the hump.

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croatpackfan's picture

February 19, 2017 at 03:51 am

There is more evidence that FA signings will not help team to win SB than otherwise... Still most of you are on that page...
Facts, people, facts, not persuasion!

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Point-Packer's picture

February 19, 2017 at 10:49 am

I'm on the "we need to find someone to defend WRs at an at lest above average level" page. Whether via FA or the draft.

Do you not agree that CB is a position of beef for GB? And if so, do you think it's critical that TT do someone thing about it in the offseason?

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PETER MAIZ's picture

February 19, 2017 at 11:45 am

If the Packers don't fix the cornerback position, it's deja vu all over again. There is no concrete proof that the Randall/Rollings tandem will improve, possibly so if they can avoid injuries. TT needs to go to FA to stop the bleeding there. Another sensitive area is the pass rush which shouldn't be "iffy" for 2017.
If the defense falls to one of the worst in the league, Rodgers won't be going to the Super Bowl.

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4thand1's picture

February 19, 2017 at 01:31 pm

Bring the heat, TT will address pass rushers and draft a CB high again.

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Curt's picture

February 19, 2017 at 10:52 am

This time of year, the only appropriate forecast is 16- 0 with a Super Bowl win.

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