Green Bay Packers and their fans will be receiving next year’s schedule at some point this week. There are rumors that this will happen on Thursday, April 20th. NFL loves to grab headlines from the NBA and NHL, so releasing the schedule will get people all excited. There will be games people circle already as big ones, but it’s unknown until we get to Fall. Let’s look at Packers opponents again and see what might happen with this schedule.

Packers to open Falcons new stadium? – The rumor that’s out there is Atlanta Falcons’ first game since blowing a 28-3 lead in the overtime, will be against Packers on Sunday Night Football. Green Bay hasn’t opened in primetime since having to travel back to Seattle. A part of me hates that Green Bay is opening another stadium, and the other part of me loves Packers could prey on the still wounded Falcons.

Packers returning to Thanksgiving? – Usually, we see a rumor slide through about who is playing on Thanksgiving, and while the NFL has done a good job of keeping it within the division, Packers-Cowboys is out there as a possible matchup. It would evoke all of the memories of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and others. Green Bay has never beat Dallas on Turkey Day.

What are obvious primetime opportunities? Green Bay is a public and good team meaning they find themselves on primetime more often than not. Some opponents where it makes sense for Green Bay besides Dallas and Atlanta mentions above – at Carolina, at Pittsburgh, vs. Seattle, vs. Tampa Bay, vs. New Orleans, vs. Baltimore. The window is wide open for some late starts or NBC/ESPN games this season. We didn’t even mention the division who ends up getting in primetime once a year as well.

Will we see anything weird like last year? – To me, this is the one million dollar question. Packers had five weeks at home at the beginning of the year. They also went on the road for three straight games. Miami was another team who had a similar schedule to Green Bay’s. I wonder if this is something NFL might be testing around the league meaning Green Bay’s might be more standard. Remember too, NFL schedule makers had to plan for Green Bay not being home the first two weeks due to a college football game. That’s not a problem this year.

We shall see when it all comes out on Thursday night,

Charlie.