Green Bay Packers 2012 Schedule: Games That Will Define Pack's Season

The NFL schedules have been released for every team, and the Green Bay Packers have five games slated that will dictate the fate of their season.

After going 15-1 in 2011, only to fall short to the New York Giants in the playoffs, the Packers must be eager to return to the field.

Week 1 - San Francisco 49ers

The intensity starts early as one of the favorites in the NFC invades Lambeau Field. The Packers' defense will be tested by a stout rushing attack and a passing game with at least two new targets for Alex Smith.

Randy Moss and Mario Manningham are major upgrades for the Niners' passing game, and they will test the much-maligned Packers' pass defense.

The winner of this game is probably going to top most expert's power rankings after Week 1.

Week 2 - Chicago Bears

The rival Bears come to Lambeau Field, and that in itself is genuinely enough to make it a huge game. Things are even more crucial now as the Bears have made marked improvements on offense.

Adding Brandon Marshall gives the Bears' the most talented player they've ever had at the WR position. Signing Michael Bush protects the Bears from a potential holdout from Matt Forte.

This figures to be the best Bears team since the 2005 team that went to the Super Bowl.

This may be an early battle for division supremacy.

Week 6 - at Houston Texans

The Texans are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. If they are healthy, their offense is as good as it gets in the NFL. They may be the most complete offense the Packers face all year, and it's most certainly a big test on the road.

If the Texans add yet another weapon to the receiving corp for Matt Schaub, look out.

This is the only legitimate Super Bowl preview the Packers have on their schedule—if they get that far.

Week 11 - at Detroit Lions

The Lions took a major step last season. They made the playoffs, but they know the road to the NFC North will run through Green Bay.

This game will be the first after the Packers' bye week. It will start momentum for the stretch run positively or negatively.

This will be the teams first matchup and the first game in a stretch where four of the next five are against divisional opponents for the Pack.

If the race is close—as I expect it will be—this will be a key stretch in the NFC North.

Week 12 - at NY Giants

The Packers probably will have this date circled. They lost two games through last year and the playoffs. The one to the Chiefs they can live with—but the loss to the Giants ended the dream.

Some of the faces will have changed, as the Giants have bid farewell to Brandon Jacobs, and former Packers' center Scott Wells signed with the Rams.

The men under center will be the same—barring injury—and that's part of what makes this rematch compelling.

Defeating Eli Manning and co. in the Meadowlands would be a huge win for the team. It may not mean much in the standings, but it will be a big win—if the Packers can pull it off.

Week 15 - at Chicago Bears

The final meeting with the Bears is big because it's late, it's a road game, it's a divisional matchup—oh...and it's the Bears.

This is the last big head-to-head game against a team in the NFC North.

This game could either clinch or eliminate the Packers in the race for the division crown.

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