Packers' Schedule 2017-18: Game-by-Game Predictions for the Entire Season
Though we have known the Green Bay Packers' 2017 regular-season opponents since the first week of January, we now know the team's complete 2017 schedule, including home games, away games and the bye week.
What's more, with all that has transpired this offseason already, including losses and additions in free agency, coaching changes and progress made on rehabbing injuries, we have much more information to aid in studying the schedule.
Win-loss predictions ahead of the NFL draft are a tricky business; most teams, the Packers included, have question marks at critical positions on their rosters that won't be filled until the conclusion of training camp.
Still, we can take the information we have at this point in time and sketch out a general idea of how the Packers might fare in their upcoming season.
The Packers open the season hosting the Seattle Seahawks and are scheduled to have a favorable Week 8 bye, right in the middle of the season.
What follows is a complete breakdown of Green Bay's 2017-18 season schedule, including win-loss and score predictions for every game. The Packers look like they could have an 11-5 record on the year; here's how they get there.
Week 1: Packers vs. Seahawks
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The Packers open the 2017 season the same way they opened the 2014 season—against the Seattle Seahawks—but this time, Green Bay will host.
The Seahawks appeared to have the Packers' number for a period of time between 2012 and 2015, defeating the Packers in ugly, memorable games that included the Fail Mary on Monday Night Football, the 2014 season opener and then knocking Green Bay out of the playoffs later that season.
However, beginning in 2015, the Packers flipped the script. They have won their last two matchups against Seattle, both at home.
The 2016 Seahawks finished the season 10-5-1, but not without a couple of missteps, one of which was their seemingly annual loss to the Rams. Still, they advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs, falling to Atlanta.
In free agency, Seattle looked to remain near the top of the NFC, bolstering its defense by adding Dion Jordan, who will make Aaron Rodgers' life difficult when the two meet, as well as inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite.
On offense, of course, the Seahawks made headlines by signing Eddie Lacy away from the Packers. They also gave Russell Wilson more protection by adding offensive lineman Luke Joeckel.
Look for the Packers to continue their string of home success against the Seahawks in Week 1, starting their season 1-0.
Packers 14, Seahawks 13
Week 2: Packers @ Falcons
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If you're looking for the potential losses on Green Bay's 2017 schedule, this one is an obvious candidate.
The Atlanta Falcons may be mocked for their second-half collapse against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, but make no mistake; this is a young, talented team that looks to get better before anything else.
Green Bay had the unhappy task of facing Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game in January, which they dropped 44-21, so the Packers know well how deadly this Falcons team can be.
And Atlanta has arguably improved since then, adding defensive tackle Dontari Poe to provide veteran leadership on the defense at a position of need and adding depth at other positions.
Anyone who takes an interest in the Packers would have hoped they wouldn't have to travel to Atlanta to open their season, and that task does not stand in front of them. But having to face the Falcons on their home turf in Week 2 won't be much easier.
Falcons 30, Packers 24
Week 3: Packers vs. Bengals
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The Packers and Cincinnati Bengals last crossed paths in September 2013 in Cincinnati, a matchup the Bengals took 34-30.
Four years ago, the Bengals offense was powered by quarterback Andy Dalton, running back Giovani Bernard, wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert, and, in that regard, not much has changed.
The Bengals, too, will once again face Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, though Green Bay's running back and tight end situation has changed drastically, as Ty Montgomery and Martellus Bennett will take the field in place of Johnathan Franklin and Jermichael Finley.
Those offensive changes could make the difference for Green Bay, provided its defense is able to contain Cincinnati's scoring threats. The Bengals will have a lot to prepare for as opponents still try to figure out what to make of Montgomery in the backfield and scheme to adequately cover Nelson, Cobb and Bennett.
As long as the Packers defense can hold off Green, Eifert and the rest of Cincinnati's weapons, Green Bay could eke out a win here.
Packers 30, Bengals 27
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Week 4: Packers vs. Bears
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The Packers swept their meetings with the Chicago Bears in 2016, defeating their archrivals in Week 7 to the tune of 26-10 and then again in a much closer battle in Week 15, which the Packers eked out 30-27.
Regardless of everything else, the Packers can safely bank on one thing in 2017: It's highly unlikely that this year's Bears team fares quite as poorly as the 2016 iteration, which went 3-13 for the worst 16-game record in franchise history.
Chicago is something of a question mark considering that, for the first time in eight years, Jay Cutler won't be the starting quarterback. Ahead of the draft, all signs point to Mike Glennon serving that role, taking a cue from the three-year, $45 million contract he signed in free agency.
One of the Bears' biggest deficiencies in 2016 was their secondary, and the front office made moves to correct that in free agency, bringing in defensive backs Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara. If those players pan out, Green Bay's pass-catchers may find themselves amassing less production overall against this secondary.
Still, the Packers carry over many of their strengths from the 2016 season, and, at least before the draft, it's hard to see the Bears outscoring them in this matchup.
Packers 21, Bears 10
Week 5: Packers @ Cowboys
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Yes, we haven't even reached the NFL draft yet, but if 2016 trends carry into this season, it certainly appears that the road to the conference championship in the NFC is going to lead through Dallas.
The Cowboys found a winning formula in young quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott in 2016. However, the team suffered a few key losses in free agency, making this year's draft especially crucial for the team to remain in contention for the conference championship in 2017.
Dallas bolstered its secondary by signing free-agent cornerback Nolan Carroll after losing both Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne in free agency. Dallas also lost safety Barry Church, so it's safe to say that the Packers pass-catchers should be able to amass some yards in this game.
Still, the Dallas offense figures to be one of the most potent in the conference, and, at least before the draft, Green Bay's defense remains average at best.
Because the Cowboys have home-field advantage here, the edge goes to them.
Cowboys 24, Packers 21
Week 6: Packers @ Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings took a step back in the NFC North in 2016, finishing in third place with an 8-8 record.
It didn't appear that was the way things were going early in the year, when Minnesota got out to a hot start at 5-0—all without the help of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The defense and special teams, especially, were playing at an incredibly high level.
However, the Vikings lost their grip on the division as a result of mounting injuries, including those to Adrian Peterson (knee), Matt Kalil (hip), Antone Exum (leg) and Sharrif Floyd (knee), all of which landed them on injured reserve. Many more players would suffer injuries throughout the course of the season.
Heading into 2017, the Vikings are once again preparing for the possibility of playing without Bridgewater, potentially for the entire season. General manager Rick Spielman said in early March that "there is no timeline" for the QB's recovery, per Pro Football Talk.
Minnesota also lost Kalil in free agency to the Carolina Panthers, as well as wideout Cordarrelle Patterson. However, the team landed running back Latavius Murray and former Packers defensive end Datone Jones.
So long as the team can stay healthy, Minnesota could prove to be a thorn in the Packers' side yet again in 2017. Green Bay will likely win the home game, but it could drop the away game to split this series overall.
Vikings 20, Packers 17
Week 7: Packers vs. Saints
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The last time the Packers faced the New Orleans Saints in October 2014, things didn't go so well.
The game, played in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, was a massacre, as the Saints came out on top 44-23.
This time, however, the Packers will host New Orleans at Lambeau Field, and the two teams look a little different three years later.
In perhaps its biggest move of the offseason, New Orleans traded star wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots for first- and third-round draft selections. The Saints acquired wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. from the Carolina Panthers, and also upgraded their offensive line by signing guard Larry Warford.
The Saints have a lot of draft capital now, and the team could look a lot more deadly come the end of the month. At this point in the offseason, with the Saints' 7-9 result in 2016 still fresh in everyone's memory, it seems that the Packers have a pretty good shot of winning this one.
But we'll see how this Saints team shapes up in training camp.
Packers 14, Saints 13
Week 8: Bye
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After landing an unfavorable Week 4 bye in 2016, the earliest possible, the Packers get a much more balanced distribution of games in 2017 with a Week 8 break, right in the middle of the schedule.
In an ideal world, the Packers wouldn't need that week for rest and rehabilitation because no one would get seriously injured up until that point.
However, every year the Packers struggle with injuries and, because 2017 is not likely to be different, the Week 8 bye will be a much-needed and well-timed opportunity to get healthy before the back half of the schedule.
Week 9: Packers vs. Lions
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The Packers had to wrench the division title from the Detroit Lions' claws in 2016, and given the moves both teams have made so far this offseason, they could be similarly evenly matched this season.
Detroit's biggest issue is consistency; though the Lions, and especially quarterback Matthew Stafford, had moments of brilliance in 2016, they fell apart at exactly the wrong moments.
After winning four in a row following their Week 10 bye, the Lions dropped their last three, including their season-closer against the Pack.
Heading into the draft, Detroit will look to bolster its defense. If it can do so effectively, the team can certainly at least split its two regular-season matchups with Green Bay. If the Lions can improve in the secondary and along the defensive line, they should perform with more consistency in 2017.
Look for the Packers to take the first matchup of the season because it's at home and is following the Week 8 bye, which should mean the team is well-rested heading into the clash.
Packers 21, Lions 17
Week 10: Packers @ Bears
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Just as the Packers swept the Bears in the 2016 season, they look capable of doing it yet again in 2017 unless this Bears team takes a drastically different form after the conclusion of the NFL draft.
Green Bay often has good fortune when it travels to Chicago; the Bears have lost their last eight games at home against the Packers.
This game is the second of two division games immediately following the Week 8 bye, and if the Packers can take both of them, it will put them in great position in terms of contending for the lead in the division after 10 weeks.
Packers 30, Bears 17
Week 11: Packers vs. Ravens
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The Packers and the Baltimore Ravens have only ever met five times, so it's needless to say it's hard to pinpoint any trends in this matchup. The last meeting, a Packers victory, took place in October 2013.
Thus, the term "uncommon opponent" is pretty accurate for Baltimore and Green Bay.
The Ravens are coming off a mediocre 8-8 2016 season, which saw them miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. Joe Flacco's not getting any younger and John Harbaugh's seat is growing hotter, so Baltimore is looking to bounce back in a big way in 2017.
To that end, the Ravens upgraded their secondary by signing safety Tony Jefferson and cornerback Brandon Carr, and they also re-signed defensive tackle Brandon Williams. On offense, Baltimore lost fullback Kyle Juszczyk but added running back Danny Woodhead.
Because these teams play each other so infrequently, it's difficult to predict the narrative of the game. Since the Packers have home-field advantage here, they get the nod.
Packers 20, Ravens 13
Week 12: Packers @ Steelers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a conference championship appearance in 2016 and have retained many of the key pieces that allowed them to go toe-to-toe with the New England Patriots to begin with.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger regressed noticeably toward the end of the season, but he is returning for another year and trying to prove that he can still perform at a championship-caliber level.
The Steelers also franchise-tagged running back Le'Veon Bell for the 2017 season, but they could have trouble re-signing him thereafter. Therefore, if Pittsburgh wants to win another title in the Roethlisberger era, a lot is riding on 2017.
Pittsburgh will need to address its defense in the draft to get back up to 2016 status after losing Lawrence Timmons to the Miami Dolphins in free agency. But that offense, led by Roethlisberger, Bell and Antonio Brown, still looks deadly enough to give Green Bay's defense fits. The Steelers could just barely take this one.
Steelers 24, Packers 21
Week 13: Packers vs. Buccaneers
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Don't sleep on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017.
The young up-and-comers had their first winning season in 2016 at 9-7 after five straight years of sub-.500 finishes. While head coach Dirk Koetter's first season wasn't without its growing pains, it's clear that the Bucs are on the ascent heading into his second season at the helm.
The Bucs put together nine wins despite suffering a rash of injuries, including those to Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Robert Ayers, Noah Spence and Luke Stocker.
Jameis Winston and Mike Evans combined for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns, with both players starting a full 16 games. The team started the season with a bang, defeating eventual Super-Bowl contender Atlanta, and also defeated the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints.
If this matchup were in Tampa Bay the Packers might not escape with a win. Because it's at Lambeau, however, you can chalk this one up as a "W" in Green Bay's column.
Packers 27, Buccaneers 17
Week 14: Packers @ Browns
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The Packers have reached the point in the four-year cycle that matches them up with the four teams in the AFC North, and not much has changed since the last time around.
It's still not an enviable task to have to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens in today's NFL; however, it's likewise still a favorable matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
It is, of course, not fair to malign the Browns before OTAs have even begun.
Cleveland is shaking up its front-office strategy under chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta and has the chance to walk away with the best defensive player in the draft in Texas A&M's Myles Garrett, as well as one of the best quarterback prospects in Mitchell Trubisky out of North Carolina.
Still, the Browns are in the middle of their rebuild, the fruits of which could take a few years to ripen.
Packers 30, Browns 10
Week 15: Packers @ Panthers
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It's safe to say that no one has any idea what form the Carolina Panthers are going to take in 2017.
After ending their 2015-16 campaign as the Super Bowl 50 runners-up, the Panthers limped through a 6-10 season and missed the playoffs altogether.
Injuries to the offensive line were a big culprit for the Panthers' woes, and Carolina took considerable steps to bolster it by adding left tackle Matt Kalil in free agency. If the Panthers add a running back with their No. 8 selection in the NFL draft later this month, they will have taken a ton of pressure off quarterback Cam Newton.
In short, don't expect the Panthers to curl up into a ball here. They should certainly look improved from last season's peformance and could even give the Packers a run for their money.
But as long as Green Bay's defense can neutralize Newton and whoever is leading the charge in Carolina's run game, they can get out of Charlotte with a win.
Packers 17, Panthers 14
Week 16: Packers vs. Vikings
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By this point in the season, the Packers are projected to be at 10-4, so to get them to their final prediction of 11-5 on the year, they'll need to both win and drop one of their last two games, both of which are division matchups to close out the season.
We had Green Bay falling to what could be a difficult Minnesota team this season back in Week 6, so the Packers are projected to be getting hot at this late point in the season and seeking revenge when they host the Vikings at Lambeau.
By winning this game, the Packers will go a long way toward cementing their quest to lock down the NFC North title.
Packers 24, Vikings 17
Week 17: Packers @ Lions
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For the second year in a row, the Packers close their season against the Lions in Detroit.
That went pretty well for them in 2016, as they beat Detroit 31-24 to clinch the division title, even though both teams earned playoff spots.
We said earlier the Lions and Packers had a good chance of splitting their regular-season meetings in 2017, and since Green Bay earned the nod in the home game in Week 9, Detroit takes this game to wrap up the season.
Traveling in the final week of the season is never easy, and doing so to a division rival makes things more difficult.
Never fear, however; Green Bay's projected 11-5 record should still mean it clinches the division, and a loss to the Lions in the final week shouldn't do much to hamper the Packers' spirits heading into the postseason.
Lions 21, Packers 20
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