During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Green Bay Packers most difficult games are the focus.
Green Bay Packers Most Difficult Games in 2016
1. Week 14 vs Seahawks
The Seahawks and Packers have had some great games in recent years. Unfortunately for Packers fans, Seattle won most of them. However, the latest meeting happened a year ago in Lambeau Field, and the home team won the game 27-17. Was this the breakthrough game? Another important aspect about this upcoming game is the playoff implications it will have as the two heavyweights collide in a deciding matchup for NFC seeding.
2. Week 9 vs Colts
Any game featuring Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck belongs on a list of tough games. Luck had a down year last year before he got hurt, and yet he was on pace to throw 35 touchdowns. Think about that. Luck will bounce back and show the world why he was the consensus first overall pick. Four years ago, in Luck’s rookie campaign, the Colts hosted Green Bay and won 30-27, after trailing 21-3 at halftime.
3. Week 1 at Jaguars
Blake Bortles is fresh off a campaign where he threw 35 touchdowns and 18 interceptions with a rating of 88.2. Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns are two reliable studs on the outside, and the defense is up and coming. Dante Fowler Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, and veteran Malik Jackson make Jacksonville a tougher foe than some other teams on the schedule because they can stop the other team’s offense.
4. Week 13 vs Texans
The Texans are fourth on the list because it is later in the year. Houston as a team tends to start slowly. But as the season progresses, J.J. Watt erupts and leads the defense to a top three unit in the league. By the time these teams square off, they will be one of the best units in the NFL. Their questions on offense are holding them back.
5. Week 2 at Vikings
Similar to the Texans, the Vikings are lower on the list because of the questions surrounding their young quarterback. The running game is deadly, and they have an elite young defense. This game will be tough for two reasons: Minnesota will also be revealing its new stadium on Sunday Night Football, and the Vikings will want to prove that their division title was not a fluke.
6. Week 5 vs Giants
Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz in the slot, Sterling Shepard, Rashad Jennings coming out of the backfield, and Dwayne Harris translates to one of the best offenses in the league. The Giants will score on anybody, but will their defense full of high profile free agency signings be able to stop anyone?
7. Week 6 vs Cowboys
The Cowboys are in the same boat as the Giants. They possess an explosive offense that can score at will when healthy, but their defense can be exposed. The reason the Cowboys are behind the G-men is their health. In recent seasons, Tony Romo has often been on IR, while Dez Bryant is coming back from a foot injury that required surgery. Ezekiel Elliott has not played a down yet, so he is TBD.
8. Week 16 vs Vikings
This game could also have playoff implications, a division title could be on the line, potentially a bye week in the playoffs, and the privilege to host at least one playoff game.
Check out the eight easiest games here.
