Green Bay Packers 2015 Schedule: Win-Loss Predictions for Every Game
The Green Bay Packers have known which teams they would be playing in the 2015 NFL season for some time now, but on Tuesday night they found out when.
I find the schedule to be very interesting for a number of reasons, and the Packers and their fans should be quite pleased with the way the games are laid out.
The Packers will be featured in five prime-time games in 2015, which include two Sunday night appearances, two Thursday night appearances and one Monday night appearance.
The first of the Thursday night games will be on Thanksgiving evening at Lambeau Field, as the Packers will honor Brett Favre by putting his name and number on the facade inside the legendary stadium.
It will be the first Thanksgiving game played in Green Bay since 1923, when the Packers defeated the Hammond Pros, 19-0, at Bellevue Park.
I will talk about each matchup on the schedule individually, but I see the Packers having a very successful season in 2015.
If the Packers can remain healthy, I believe the team will go 14-2 in 2015, which includes going 8-0 at Lambeau Field for the second consecutive year.
That record should also ensure a fifth consecutive NFC North title, as well as home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
Week 1: Packers at Bears
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The Packers get to open the season on the road for the third consecutive year, this time against the Chicago Bears and their new head coach, John Fox, at Soldier Field.
While the Bears will add some new wrinkles to the team via the addition of Fox, one key element remains the same: Jay Cutler is still the quarterback.
Cutler is 1-10 versus the Packers in his career and has just a 67.1 passer rating. That's what happens when you throw 21 picks compared to just 14 touchdown passes.
Aaron Rodgers is the exact opposite of Cutler in terms of playing against his biggest rival. No. 12 is 11-3 against the Bears in his career. Rodgers has thrown 31 touchdown passes versus just six interceptions for 3,448 yards when he matches up against the Monsters of the Midway.
That adds up to a 109.8 passer rating.
That also adds up to an opening-day victory in a stadium where the Packers have won in five consecutive visits.
Week 2: Seahawks at Packers
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The Packers have been looking forward to this game ever since they basically gave away the NFC Championship Game to the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle this past January.
A number of players who were responsible for that debacle of a loss have been shown the door by the Packers since then.
If the Packers want to get to Super Bowl 50 as the NFC representative, they have to get by the Seahawks, who have been in two consecutive Super Bowls.
A victory at Lambeau Field would play a large part in that actually occurring, as the Packers would have the edge on the Hawks in terms of home-field advantage.
Instead of playing in the house of horrors in Seattle in the postseason, the Packers would get to play in Green Bay against the Seahawks, where the Packers have won five straight games versus Seattle, including two postseason games.
With all of that on the line, plus with the game being on national television on Sunday night, I see the Packers sending home the boisterous crowd at Lambeau very happy.
Week 3: Chiefs at Packers
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It's interesting that the Packers get to play the Kansas City Chiefs in the same season in which Super Bowl 50 will be played. It was those two teams who met in the very first Super Bowl at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967, as the Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10.
Besides that backdrop, the current coach of the Chiefs is Andy Reid, who was with the Packers as an assistant coach from 1992-1998 before he was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles to be their head coach.
To add to that, it was the Chiefs who gave the Packers their only regular-season loss in 2011.
To add even more intrigue, the game will be played on Monday night on ESPN.
The Packers will have to make sure they are focused for this game, a week after the matchup against the Seahawks, but I see the Pack edging the Chiefs in a close game at Lambeau Field.
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Week 4: Packers at 49ers
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If some folks believe that the Packers have a monkey on their back when they play the Seahawks, it's more like a gorilla on their back when they play the 49ers.
It wasn't always this way. The Packers used to dominate the Niners in the regular season and postseason for well over a decade.
From 1995-2010, the Packers beat the 49ers 13 out of 14 tries, which included a postseason mark of 4-1.
But since 2012, the Packers are 0-4 against San Francisco, including two losses in the postseason.
But a key part of that 4-0 run by the 49ers is now gone, as head coach Jim Harbaugh left to take the same position at the University of Michigan.
The Niners are a different team in 2015 in a number of ways besides. Yes, they still have quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who excels against the Pack, but players like Frank Gore and Patrick Willis are now gone.
Bottom line, I see the Packers going into Levi's Stadium and walking out with their first win on the road against the 49ers since 2006.
Week 5: Rams at Packers
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The Packers get to play a Rams team that looks to be quarterbacked by Nick Foles, whom the Rams acquired in a trade with the Eagles, as St. Louis shipped away quarterback Sam Bradford as part of that deal.
Foles started at quarterback for the Eagles when they played the Packers at Lambeau in 2013, as he led Philadelphia to a 27-13 win. In that game, Foles threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns.
The Packers have had their way with the Rams for a while, as they have won four straight games, including a 24-3 victory at Lambeau Field in 2011.
I see this contest as a good test for the Packers, as the defense of the Rams is very formidable. Still, I like the Packers getting their third straight victory at Lambeau Field in 2015 and going 5-0 overall.
Week 6: Chargers at Packers
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The game against the San Diego Chargers in Week 5 looks to be a very good one. That is, if Philip Rivers is still the quarterback of the Chargers. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recently wrote about that tenuous situation.
If No. 17 is still a Charger, look out. The last time he and Aaron Rodgers faced each other in 2011, the two teams combined for 632 yards and seven touchdowns in a 45-38 Green Bay win at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
The last time the Chargers played at Lambeau Field was in 2007, and the Packers won 31-24. Rivers threw for three touchdown passes and 306 yards in that game.
This game will be the last for the Packers before their bye week, so I expect a solid effort from the Pack at home.
I also expect the Packers to be 6-0 after the game.
Week 8: Packers at Broncos
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Although the game against the Broncos is the week after the bye week and the Packers will be rested, I see this as one of the toughest road tests of the season. Denver is always a difficult place to play for any team.
The Packers have not had much luck against the Broncos in the Mile High City. The Packers are just 1-5 in Denver, although their last trip there was successful, as the Packers won 19-13 in overtime. But the Broncos were quarterbacked then by Jay Cutler.
This time the Packers will go up against Peyton Manning. Manning is 1-2 against the Packers in his career, but his one win came at home.
In those three games, Manning has thrown eight touchdown passes versus three picks for 916 yards. It did appear that Manning really slowed down in the latter part of the 2014 season, but when you go up against No. 18, always expect a brilliant effort from the former Tennessee Volunteer.
Aaron Rodgers has only played against the Broncos once in his career, and he played very well in a 49-23 win in 2011 at Lambeau Field.
But this time the game will be in Denver at Sports Authority Field, and he will be facing Manning. I see the Packers and Rodgers playing well in this game, but even so, I see the Packers suffering their first loss of the 2015 season.
Week 9: Packers at Panthers
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It's always tough to play back-to-back road games in the NFL, and that's what the Packers will be doing when they face the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
The two teams played each other in 2014 at Lambeau Field, and the Packers had their way with the Panthers in a 38-17 win.
But the Panthers can be very dangerous behind quarterback Cam Newton. The Packers are 2-0 against Newton and the Panthers, including a 30-23 road win in 2011.
Rodgers plays very well against Carolina. In his career against the Panthers, No. 12 has thrown eight touchdown passes versus just one pick for 861 yards. That adds up to a passer rating of 119.8.
Although I see the Panthers putting out a solid effort against the Packers, I see Rodgers leading the way as the Packers walk out of Charlotte with a win.
Week 10: Lions at Packers
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It's really hard to believe, but it's true. The Lions have not beaten the Packers in Wisconsin since 1991. That streak will continue in 2015.
The biggest reason is the Lions are scrambling to put together a new defensive line. Detroit lost defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency, plus the team traded away defensive end George Johnson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Those losses will severely hurt the defense of the Lions, as they were ranked second in total defense in 2014 and were the No. 1 defense versus the run.
In addition to all that, Rodgers loves to play the Lions; he is 10-2 lifetime against Detroit, with 22 touchdown passes against only five picks for 2,947 yards. That adds up to a passer rating of 111.0.
Meanwhile, quarterback Matthew Stafford has not fared well against the Pack. No. 9 is just 2-7 against Green Bay in his career and has thrown 16 touchdown passes compared to 16 picks for 2,594 yards. That adds up to a passer rating of 75.3.
When it's all said and done after this game, the Packers will be 8-1 for the season and 2-0 in the NFC North.
Week 11: Packers at Vikings
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The Packers will face the Vikings for the second consecutive year at TCF Stadium. Starting next season, the Packers will play the Vikings at their new stadium.
In 2014, the Vikings played the Packers tough at home, as Green Bay won 24-20. The Vikings improved as the season wore on behind rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Rodgers has played well against the Vikings in his career, just as he has against any NFC North opponent.
No. 12 is 10-4 against the Vikes in his career, with 31 touchdown passes versus just four picks for 3,490 yards. That adds up to a 119.0 passer rating.
Running back Eddie Lacy has also fared well against Minnesota; he has rushed for 434 yards and five touchdowns in four games.
The Packers are 9-1-1 in the past five years (including the postseason) against the Vikings, and I don't see that dominance ending in 2015, even if running back Adrian Peterson is back with the team.
I see the Packers going to 9-1 in 2015 and 3-0 in the division after this game.
Week 12: Bears at Packers
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The game against the Bears on Thanksgiving night will be one for the ages. Not only will the game be the first Thanksgiving game in Green Bay since 1923, the team is also honoring Brett Favre in a game against their biggest rival.
There will be a special feeling during this game for many reasons. For one, Favre will get to see his name and number put up on the facade inside Lambeau Field.
Secondly, the game is against the Bears. Not only has Rodgers dominated the Bears over the years, so did his predecessor. Favre was 22-10 against Chicago in his career as a Packer.
With a win on Thanksgiving (plus the Week 1 victory), the Packers will have tied the series with the Bears dating back to 1921. A victory would put the teams even with a 92-92-6 mark in the regular season. The last time the Packers were even or ahead in the series with the Bears was 1932.
This game will also be on national television on NBC. The historical victory, along with the festivities, will taste just as good, if not better, to the Packers faithful as the turkey and stuffing they ate earlier in the day.
Week 13: Packers at Lions
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Although the Packers have lost two straight games at Ford Field in Detroit, the Packers have played well in the Motor City overall under Mike McCarthy.
Since 2006, the Packers are 7-3 in Detroit and 17-3 overall with McCarthy on the sideline.
With the aforementioned losses on the defensive line for Detroit, I see the Packers offense putting up some nice numbers indoors in Detroit, especially with the way Rodgers usually lights up the Lions.
When this game is over, I see the Packers with an 11-1 record and a 4-0 mark in the NFC North.
Week 14: Cowboys at Packers
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It seems like the Dallas Cowboys always seem to play at Lambeau Field when it's cold.
Although there are a couple of exceptions in the history between the two teams playing in Green Bay, Dallas has played almost all of its games when the weather starts getting a little nasty in the city where the Fox River connects to the bay off Lake Michigan.
Overall, the Cowboys are just 1-8 at Lambeau, with their lone win coming in 2008. Two of those eight losses were playoff games, including the legendary "Ice Bowl" game.
Last postseason, the Cowboys lost to the Packers 26-21, which will be remembered mostly because of a very controversial call. The play involved was a potential fourth-down touchdown catch by Dez Bryant with less than five minutes left in the game. The officials ruled the pass incomplete after a challenge by McCarthy.
In the upcoming game in December, the Cowboys will be without running back DeMarco Murray, who left via free agency, while the Packers will have a much healthier Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
Rodgers has never thrown a pick against the Cowboys in his career and has tossed five touchdown passes.
When this game is over, the Cowboys will be 1-9 at Lambeau Field, while the Packers will be 12-1 for the season.
Week 15: Packers at Raiders
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The last time the Packers played the Raiders in Oakland was in 2003. That game was played just a couple of days after Favre's dad, Irv, had passed away.
In one of the most memorable games ever on Monday Night Football, Favre played that game with a heavy heart and still had one of the best games of his career. No. 4 threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns without a pick, as the Packers beat the Raiders 41-7.
When the Packers play the Raiders in Oakland this December, there will be a lot of familiar faces on the Oakland sideline. Safety Charles Woodson, wide receiver James Jones and defensive end C.J. Wilson are all former Packers.
Plus, there is the general manager of the Raiders, Reggie McKenzie, who worked for many years in the Green Bay front office, starting in 1994.
I expect the Packers to win their second consecutive game in Oakland and improve to 13-1 for the season.
Week 16: Packers at Cardinals
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The Packers have had an interesting history of playing the Cardinals in Arizona. The Packers are 4-2 versus the Cardinals in Arizona since they moved there from St. Louis.
The most memorable game was the 2009 NFC Wild Card game, as the Packers lost 51-45 in the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history.
Both Rodgers and Kurt Warner were magnificent that day. Rodgers and Warner combined for 802 passing yards and nine touchdown passes.
The 2014 Cardinals finished 11-5 behind NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians.
Because the Packers may have nothing to play for in terms of home-field advantage in the NFC, and the Cardinals will most likely be needing a win, I see Arizona edging Green Bay in a tight game.
Week 17: Vikings at Packers
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Even though there may be nothing to play for in terms of home-field advantage, I still see the Packers playing hard against the Vikings in their last NFC North matchup of the season.
The last time the Packers lost to the Vikings at Lambeau was in the 2009 season, and that was when Favre was the quarterback of the Vikings.
Although he is getting better, second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is no Brett Favre, at least not at this point of his career.
In what could be brutal weather conditions in early January at Lambeau, I see the Packers walking away with their 14th win of the season and keeping their mark in the NFC North a perfect 6-0.
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