Green Bay Packers Schedule: 10 Games You Don't Wanna Miss

The Green Bay Packers open the 2011 season a week from today at Lambeau Field, where their Super Bowl banner will be revealed. However, 2011 is a new season. The Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions, but to Mike McCarthy it is just another season. The Packers have to remain hungry to capture another Super Bowl title.

Here are ten games you won't want to miss as a Packer fan:

Week 1: New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers

It's the defending Super Bowl champions against the 2010 Super Bowl champions. 

It will be a game where the Saints need to prove that they are still a team to beat, and for the Packers, that last season wasn't a fluke.

Two elite quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees will duke it out. Both teams like to air it out, and take risk down the field.

Both have risk taking coaches. Mike McCarthy and Sean Payton like to make bold statements. Payton started Super Bowl two years ago with a onside kick, and McCarthy did the same at New England last year. Both make gutsy calls.

Both teams have multiple running backs and wide receivers that see action.

New Orleans will break in Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, Chris Ivory,and Darren Sproles.

Green Bay will start Ryan Grant, but James Starks, John Kuhn, and perhaps Alex Green all see the ball. Rodgers even takes off when no one is open. 

Both teams like fresh legs.

Brees spreads the ball all over. Marques Colston, Deveary Henderson, Lance Moore, and Jimmy Graham are his main targets.

Rodgers does too. Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jermichael Finley, and his running backs. During the Super Bowl, Rodgers hit ten different receivers. How can you gameplan for that?

Their defenses are very good too. The Saints lost Darren Sharper at safety, which hurts. The Packers lost Cullen Jenkins at defensive end. Those are two positions both teams need to shore up.

This will be game that we will see what the rest of the season entails for both franchises. Which team will be gold, or which one might be a little rusty?  

Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler wants revenge. The Green Bay Packers want to make him look foolish again. 

Last season, the Packers went into Soldier Field twice. The first time not so good. Eighteen penalties, dropped passes, and a loss. The second time, a victory and a trip to the Super Bowl. It was one that couldn't have been drawn up any better. The Packers beat their old rival to make the Super Bowl.

The Packers knocked Cutler out the game last time. It was a low scoring game, one which the defenses held their own. Both teams made their mistakes. Rodgers threw two picks, Cutler one, and Caleb Hanie two.

B.J. Raji made a name for himself with his interception return for a touchdown, and Tramon Williams continued his stellar 2010 season by picking off Hanie late that iced the game for the Packers.

What will this year entail?

One quarterback with his back against the wall, literally. Cutler's offensive line has been atrocious this preseason. They gave up nine sacks alone the preseason opener against the Bills.

The other quarterback is now in the the top tier of the rest of the quarterbacks in the NFL. However, Rodgers must prove last season wasn't a fluke. His postseason was one to remember. He threw for 1,092 yards, and had nine touchdowns to two interceptions. 

Cutler must also find a new handcuff receiver. Greg Olsen is gone. Will it be Roy Williams? Williams reunites with Mike Martz. The last time they were together was in Detroit in 2006. Williams had 82 catches for 1,310 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Both these teams will rely on their defenses as usual.

With the Bears offensive line weak, Raji, Ryan Pickett, Clay Matthews, and the rest will have to put pressure on Cutler all day.

For the Bears, same thing. Put pressure on Rodgers. Julius Peppers can change games, and so can Brian Urlacher.

This one will exciting again,  heck it is the best rivalry in football, as some say. Maybe just to Midwesterners, though, as the Steelers and Ravens are pretty good, too.   

Week 5: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

Aaron Rodgers carved up the Atlanta Falcons defense, and Tramon Williams was Matt Ryan's worst nightmare with his two interceptions in the second round of the playoffs last season.

The game was close early on, but at halftime it was a two score game thanks to Williams' perfect read on Ryan's pass, and Williams then took it to the house.

During the regular season, the Falcons had the Packers number, beating them on a last second field goal, but Green Bay won when it mattered most. 

This season, Green Bay will have a new weapon to cover. Julio Jones will free up Roddy White. Charles Woodson, Williams, Sam Shields, and Nick Collins will certainly be busy.

Then mix in Michael Turner. The Falcons certainly aren't one dimensional. 

Ryan and Rodgers are very fun to watch. Two quarterbacks that are clutch, and can fling the ball all over the field.  

This game has the likes to be high scoring come Week Five, and will be fun to watch. Whoever plays the best defense will win.  

Week 9: Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers

Green Bay meets San Diego in Week Nine. The Packers will be coming off a bye and will have prepared for these guys. 

The test for the Packers. Stop Philip Rivers. Rivers had 4,713 passing yards and 30 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions. 

This season, Rivers will throw a lot again. 

This is always about the time San Diego peaks too. 

The Chargers defense improved after resigning Eric Weddle, signing Travis LaBoy, Takeo Spikes, and Bob Sanders. They drafted Corey Liuget, who had 63 tackles, 12.5 for a loss, 4.5 for sacks. Liuget also had ten quarterback hurries. 

This too, like the Falcons game, has the likes of being high scoring. Aaron Rodgers vs. Rivers. Doesn't get better than that. 

One thing that the Packers may want to take advantage of is the San Diego special teams. The Chargers allowed four returns for touchdowns, had four punts blocked, and another deflected. They hired a new special teams coach, Rich Bussacia to help change that. 

Maybe Randall Cobb can take one back to the house, who knows. 

Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night at Lambeau Field. Does it get any better. Absolutely not. 

The rivalry is in favor of the Packers, 51 to 47 wins, but every time these two teams face each other, anything can happen. 

Brett Favre no longer is playing for either team. It is Rodgers vs. Donovan McNabb, or by Week 10, maybe Christian Ponder or Joe Webb? 

The Vikings will be led by Adrian Peterson. Peterson rushed for 1,298 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. That is who the Packers must key on. Peterson will most likely get 20-25 touches a game this season, maybe more. 

Rodgers should be able to tear up the Vikings secondary, as the Vikings are young. Asher Allen, Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson and Cedric Griffin. Antoine Winfield is the best man back there for the Vikings.

As always, this game could be a blow out, or come down to last second field goal. One thing we know for sure, it will entertain you, no matter if Favre or Randy Moss isn't playing.   

Week 11: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers

Two young teams that could dominate the NFL for years to come.

Josh Freeman had a great second year, throwing for 3,451 yards, and 25 touchdowns to only six interceptions. Freeman completed 61% of his passes too. Freeman is very mobile too. He rushed for 364 yards last season.

The Buccaneers have a young runner who can jump defenders, spin around defenders, and bully them as well. It's LeGarrette Blount. For a guy who went undrafted because of his character, Blount proved that he can be a beast. He rushed for 1,007 yards and six touchdowns. Blount had three fumbles, so that is an area he will want to work on.

On defense, the Buccaneers are on the rise. They drafted Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers to their defensive line. Barrett Rudd is a great tackling linebacker. Aqib Talib, their cornerback, got good news, after learning he is not going to be suspended.

This will be a fun game. Two years ago, the Buccaneers beat the Packers to get their first win. I am sure the Packers will use that as motivation to beat them this year. At least it's at Lambeau this year, too. 

Week 12: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

Last year in Detroit, the Lions beat the Packers. The Lions also knocked out Aaron Rodgers with his second concussion, and forced him to sit out the next game against New England. 

Rodgers would get a new helmet, and had a great rest of the season, and we all know how it ended for the Super Bowl MVP. 

Their wasn't much offense scored in this game. Detroit won 7-3. It was the Lions defense that was stellar. They shut down Rodgers, Flynn, and made the Packers running game nonexistent. The Packers ran for 66 yards. 

Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk were the best part of the game for the Packers, both getting 10 tackles. 

This year it will be different, or so we hope. The game will be on Thanksgiving. The Lions are much improved. Matthew Stafford is healthy, and so is the rest of the offense. The team is coming off an unbeaten preseason, and the defense got better. They could be the silver lining for the team.  

All the pressure will be on the guys blocking up front for Rodgers. It will be a tall task. However, if they give Rodgers time to throw, the Lions secondary is still their weakest. 

Week 13: Green Bay Packers at New York Giants

The Green Bay Packers annihilated the New York Giants last year at Lambeau Field, 45-17. 

It was a sense of urgency for both teams. The Packers needed to win their last two games, and so did the Giants. 

The Giants definitely still were feeling the effects of their collapse against the Eagles a week before.

Rodgers threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns, while Eli Manning threw four interceptions. Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson both went over 100 yards as well.

It was the defense that was the star of the game for the Packers. Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Nick Collins and A.J. Hawk all had interceptions. Desmond Bishop led the team in tackles with seven.

The Giants will surely want to put this one to the back of their minds, but will be ready to get revenge on the Packers next December.  

Week 16: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears on Christmas. Say what? That's two of the best traditional teams in the league going at it for the second time of the season. 

This game might even be for a division title if the teams are close in the standings this late in the season. Doesn't get better than that. 

Last year at Lambeau Field, in the bitter cold, the Packers beat the Bears in Week 17 to make the playoffs as a sixth seed. The game was defensive, as the final score showed it, 10-3.

That is how it should be. Good, old fashioned defensive football played outside. Vince Lombardi and George Halas would be proud.  

Week 17: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Who knows, the Packers and Lions could be battling for a playoff spot here. Hopefully by this time next year it will be wrapped up for the Packers, but as you know with injuries anything can happen.

Against a divisional foe, home field is also a bonus this late in the season. Especially, when it is at Lambeau Field where the cold can usually help the Packers. It likely would help in this case as the Lions are a dome team.