Everyone is watching the playoffs with baited breath, but for a traditional team like the Green Bay Packers, looking forward is usually as important as looking back. For a team with the history of the Packers, taking a peek at the Packers 2017 schedule has some hopes and dreams for fans.
Previewing the Green Bay Packers 2017 Season
The usual rules of any prediction apply. Yes, we can generally predict much of what a team will look like and even project out some draft prospects if we take that time, but no one can completely see the nuance of the NFL.
Home Games
Seattle Seahawks
The Packers have shown themselves to be superior to Seattle when playing at Lambeau Field. On the road is where the games were close (Fail Mary and the debacle of the onside kick in the NFC Title Game). Seattle is not the same team away from home. The Seahawks have tied up their defense for a few more years, but the problem has been offense. Not much in free agency at wide receiver and the Seahawks will likely be looking to upgrade one of the worst offensive lines in football. This is the toughest game on the home schedule and the Packers would rather more of these types of games were at home.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs were just on the cusp of the playoffs this year. Winston and Evans have shown to be a formidable combination and Doug Martin seems to have returned to form. Tampa is not quite as strong when Martin is hurt or suspended and who knows how long a running back’s career might last. The Bucs will likely be looking to add someone to replace Vincent Jackson, but the defense will need some improving as well. Timing of this game could matter too. Having the Buccaneers in Wisconsin in November or December could be quite useful. The passing attack should push Green Bay past Tampa.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens started to turn their defense into something very potent at the end of the year. This will be one game the Packers are happy to have at home. Joe Flacco has been looking stronger as he improves from his ACL injury from back in 2015. He’s not the mobile quarterback that gives the Packers fits. It’s yet to be seen what the Packers pass rush will look like next year, but it should still be good enough to chase Flacco from the pocket. Also, Baltimore loses Steve Smith Sr. and that will have some impact.
New Orleans Saints
With a healthy defensive backfield, the Packers should have the advantage. Playing at home will help too, but the Saints have the sort of multiple passing attack that hurt the Packers this season. Most of that was injury, but the Packers will need to see improvement from their young corners to win this game. The Saints will also return Sheldon Rankins who missed the season and will likely add to their defensive line in the draft. Packers will need their offense at top form to win and it would be better to face the Saints later in the year when the Packers complex offense has had time to build timing.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals had to deal with the misfortune of losing A.J. Green for a good chunk of the season. We will see how Green returns from injury next year. Bengals have suffered from attrition in their coaching ranks over the last two years (Hue Jackson, Mike Zimmer, Jay Gruden). Andy Dalton has been a good, but not great quarterback. The combination of Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill has lost momentum. Packers should win this game at home.
NFC North
The Packers “ran the table” against their NFC North Opponents at home this year. None of these contests were particularly close either. The Lions and Vikings play indoors and on turf at home and seem disadvantaged at Lambeau. The Bears do not have the firepower to keep with a healthy Packers squad.
Road Games
Dallas Cowboys
This is one of many tough road games the Packers will face next year. If the Packers want any chance at a bye week in the 2017 playoffs, they’ll need to win a few of them. During their game in 2016, the Cowboys attacked the Packers by running right at the strongest part of the Packers defense and it worked. Green Bay will need to find a way to slow down elite running backs like Ezekiel Elliott (or DeMarco Murray for that matter). This would be a very difficult win, but the Cowboys do not have the home field advantage that some teams enjoy.
Atlanta Falcons
The Packers played Atlanta tough in a game where LaDarius Gunter was asked to cover Julio Jones. Rodgers and his passing game have been very solid on the fast track of a turf surface, but Atlanta will have a brand new stadium in 2017. The Falcons have two top-tier running backs and a great passing game. This could be much like the Vikings game from 2016, especially if the game is early in the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Another of these tough road games. Three of the four toughest teams on the calendar are road games. Timing matters again. If this is a second road game in a row or a third in four, there is very little chance. Mike McCarthy is a Pittsburgh guy and he likes these games. Still, the ability of Pittsburgh to attack with the run and pass could make life difficult on the Packers and this would be a great win if the Packers can pull it out.
Carolina Panthers
We will have to see if the Panthers are the the rising team we saw in 2015 or the struggling mess we saw in 2016. The Panthers were just 4-4 at home this season. Wins came against the Saints, 49ers, Cardinals and Chargers. The Packers should win this game, but the Panthers still have the ability to rise up on defense.
Cleveland Browns
If ever there was a team you wished to schedule to use up one of your road games, this is it. The Browns get two draft picks in the first 12 and should likely add Mitch Trubisky, one of the few first round caliber quarterbacks in the draft. Still, the quarterback play is not good enough and the defense is no help either. Packers must win this game.
NFC North
Again, turf teams are built to win at home and it should be harder to win in Detroit or Minneapolis. The Packers ran into the buzz saw that was the Vikings first home game in the new stadium. The Vikings defense will have to answer questions about Captain Munnerlyn, Terrance Newman and Chad Greenway on their defense. On top of this, Minnesota has plenty of issues with their offensive line and the question of if Adrian Peterson might be cut. Detroit is in a much better financial position and have fewer free agency questions. The Lions will have to wait and see if Jim Bob Cooter is returning to his role as offensive coordinator. The Bears have so many questions. Road games are tougher, but the Packers should beat the Bears and hope for at least a split with the Vikings and Lions.
