The Vikings have known who they’ll play and where the action will occur in 2016 since January, and today they’ll find out when the matchups will occur.
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And with the release of the schedule tonight, here is a quick look at what I feel could be the three most risky games for the Packers in 2016.
NFL Network will begin airing a three-hour 2016 NFL Schedule Release Show at the same time.
Last year, only five teams had to start out with two road games and they finished with a combined 56-72 record: Baltimore, 5-11; Miami, 6-10; Tennessee, 3-13; Detroit, 7-9; Seattle, 10-6. Wisconsin weather certainly has its advantages and disadvantages as the season draws on, and looking at the final four home games, here is a look at who will walk onto the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field during that time.
Including the home opener vs. Detroit and the Week 4 bye, the Packers actually have four straight home games for the first time since 1963, a stretch that included one game in Milwaukee. This time around, the only 2015 playoff team the Vikings will play in December will be at Green Bay on Christmas Eve. Minnesota will travel to Philadelphia for Week 7, where they last played on a Tuesday night in December of 2010. It also will mark the Packers’ first appearance at EverBank since 2008 when the Jaguars beat Green Bay 20-16 in Rodgers’ only previous game in Jacksonville.
Early bye: Following the home opener against Detroit in Week 3 (Sept. 25), the Packers have their bye in Week 4, the first weekend in October and the earliest that byes are scheduled. Washington would like to be in the news a lot less given how much turmoil they’ve had over the last several seasons, but it’s a high profile start to their season.
The Vikings play on Monday night at home in Week Four against the Giants and at Chicago in Week Eight. After a 3:25 p.m. game against Dallas the following Sunday, the Packers will face the Chicago Bears in a Thursday night game on October 20. I expect both the Colts and Cowboys to be improved this season, and the Cardinals are always a good test for Minnesota. The final two games will be played in prime time, the first on Sunday night and the second on Monday night. But given the extra preseason game this summer, the timing might be better. In fact, the Vikings have back-to-back home games just once (Weeks 4-5 vs. the Giants and Texans) and only one time with back-to-back road trips (Weeks 7-8 at Philadelphia and Chicago).
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Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving) vs. Minnesota Vikings, 12:30 p.m., CBS.
