Green Bay Packers 2011 Schedule: The Good and Bad of the Packers' Matchups

Complete 2011 Green Bay Packers Schedule

For those of you who've had enough of the draft and lockout talk, the Green Bay Packers 2011 schedule was released on Tuesday.

Finally, we have an idea what the Packers title defense will look like.

Of course, this all depends upon the NFL and NFLPA agreeing on a new CBA. Without it, the release of these games are a moot point. 

However, let's stay positive and assume the schedule will be played out in its entirety.

Without further ado, here is the complete Green Bay Packers 2011 schedule:

Date	Opponent		Time	TV
PRESEASON
Sat., Aug. 13	@ Cleveland Browns		6:30 p.m.	State
Fri., Aug. 19	Arizona Cardinals		7:00 p.m.	State
Thu., Aug 26	@ Indianapolis Colts		7:00 p.m.	CBS
Thu., Sep. 1	Kansas City Chiefs		7:00 p.m.	State
REG. SEASON:
Thu., Sept. 8	New Orleans Saints		7:30 p.m.	NBC
Sun., Sept. 18	@ Carolina Panthers		12:00 p.m.	FOX
Sun., Sept. 25	@ Chicago Bears		3:15 p.m.	FOX
Sun., Oct. 2	Denver Broncos		3:15 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Oct. 9	@ Atlanta Falcons		7:20 p.m.	NBC
Sun., Oct. 16	St. Louis Rams		12:00 p.m.	FOX
Sun., Oct. 23	@ Minnesota Vikings		3:15 p.m.	FOX
Sun., Oct. 30	Open Date
Sun., Nov. 6	@ San Diego Chargers		3:15 p.m.	FOX
Mon, Nov. 14	Minnesota Vikings		7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sun., Nov. 20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers		*12:00 p.m.	FOX
Thu., Nov. 24	@ Detroit Lions		11:30 a.m.	FOX
Sun., Dec. 4	@ New York Giants		*3:15 p.m.	FOX
Sun., Dec. 11	Oakland Raiders		*12:00 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Dec. 18	@ Kansas City Chiefs		*12:00 p.m.	FOX
Sun., Dec. 25	Chicago Bears		7:20 p.m.	NBC
Sun., Jan. 1	Detroit Lions		*12:00 p.m.	FOX

The Good:

Just scanning the schedule, there's plenty of big-time games for the Packers.

Playoff rematches with Chicago (Week 3, 16) and Atlanta (Week 5) should offer some interesting story lines.

The Packers return to the trail of their Super Bowl run, and I'm sure both the Bears and Falcons will be circling those games.

The Packers also get five nationally televised games, including a return to Detroit for the Thanksgiving game that begins a stretch of three holiday matchups for Green Bay.

The Bears and Packers will face off on Christmas Day at Lambeau Field and New Years Day has the Lions traveling to Green Bay for the regular season finale.

The Packers will be the first team in NFL history to play on all three holiday dates in one season.

However, having the final two games at Lambeau Field could be big in terms of who wins the division. 

The Bad: 

This is a hard schedule for the Packers. That happens as the defending Super Bowl Champion, but there's no doubt the Packers will have their hands full in 2011. 

The Saints will be a tough task right out of the gates, and there are good teams littering the rest of this schedule. The Falcons, Buccaneers, Giants, Chargers, and all six division games should be really good contests. 

The three-game stretch in 11 days from Week 10-12 could be a daunting task.

The Packers play the Vikings Monday night (Nov. 14), followed by a good Buccaneers team on Sunday (Nov. 20), than finish four days later (Nov. 24) in Detroit by playing the Lions on Thanksgiving. 

The Packers also played two of their first three games away from Lambeau Field.

Finally, there is plenty of late games.

The Packers have five afternoon games, three more than they played in 2010. Coach Mike McCarthy has always stated a preference for 12:00 p.m starts.