The Green Bay Packers’ 2023 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate Thursday.
The Packers are still a prime-time draw even after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets -- but it comes with an asterisk. They were placed in night-game slots five times once again, but the NFL and the networks left themselves an out if the Jordan Love era gets off to a rocky start. Three of the prime-time games are in December and are subject to flex scheduling rules.
Here's what's in store for the Packers:
Schedule
Sept. 10: at Chicago
Sept. 17: at Atlanta
Sept. 24: vs. New Orleans
Sept. 28: vs. Detroit (TNF)
Oct. 9: at Las Vegas (MNF)
Oct. 15: BYE
Oct. 22: at Denver
Oct. 29: vs. Minnesota
Nov. 5: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Nov. 12: at Pittsburgh
Nov. 19: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Nov. 23: at Detroit (Thanksgiving)
Dec. 3: vs. Kansas City (SNF)
Dec. 11: at New York Giants (MNF)
Dec. 17: vs. Tampa Bay
Dec. 24: at Carolina
Dec. 31: at Minnesota (SNF)
Jan. 6 or 7: vs. Chicago
Strength of schedule: .476 (24th toughest)
Over/Under: 7.5
Biggest takeaway
The Packers will find out quickly if a new quarterback means a change in ownership of the Chicago Bears. Remember, Rodgers claimed he owned the Bears because he beat them so often (a 24-5 record in the regular season). Bears fans are likely relieved that Rodgers is gone, but how will they feel if Love beats them at Soldier Field in the season opener?
Love won’t get much time at Lambeau Field early in the year, and the Packers won’t have much of a cold-weather advantage late. They open with two straight road games (and four of the first six away from home) and then have only three home games after Nov. 19.
Revenge game
The Packers don’t play the Jets, so a game against Rodgers is out. And the game against the Las Vegas Raiders might be more of a revenge game for former Packers receiver Davante Adams, who pushed the team to trade him to the Raiders in 2022, than it is for the Packers.
So that leaves the Detroit Lions, whose Week 18 win at Lambeau prevented the Packers from making the playoffs last season. They’ll get Detroit twice on Thursdays: the first, a night game at Lambeau in Week 4, and then in the Thanksgiving game at Ford Field.
Bold prediction
Love and the Packers will start fast and have a winning record early on given that their first six games -- and eight of the first nine -- are all against non-playoff teams from a season ago. That will keep the Packers relevant late in the season, and they won’t get flexed out of any night games.