The NFL schedule is set to come out either this week or early next (by my best guess) and so I thought this would be a good opportunity to take a look at some of the match ups the Green Bay Packers will face in 2017.

Obviously they'll face the usual divisional opponents twice.  The Chicago Bears had a rough 2016 so it seems unlikely that either of those two games would be prime time.  But it's still Packers-Bears.  Anything is possible as we saw in 2015.  

The Minnesota Vikings were on the fast track to a division title and serious contention to a Super Bowl run in 2016 until injuries struck and life intervened to return things to normal: the Packers knocking the Vikings out of postseason contention.  Prime time game always possible.

The Detroit Lions made the postseason after a year off and battled with the Packers for the NFC North up until the last week.  Instant rematch to open 2017?

With three games on Thanksgiving now, it's not impossible that the Packers end up in one of those games.  The Lions and Dallas Cowboys both traditionally host the early two games and the Packers will visit both this season.  The third could be another night home game for the Pack or they may be on the road to face another of their road foes.  Or they won't have a Turkey Day game at all.  Who knows.

Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday and Christmas Day a Monday.  One of the two is likely so it should be another year of Packers holiday ball.  Who might be on the schedule?  If it's a home game, the Lions or Bears could be the pick, as both visited Lambeau Field earlier in the 2016 season.  If they're on the road, it's anyone's guess.  Does Santa bring the Super Bowl XLV rematch with the Pittsburgh Steelers that week?  Should be nice and frigid at Heinz Field.

Speaking of the Steelers, I've had this hunch that that could end up the week one game.  But that would then put the Packers on the road for the season opener five straight years.  It seems more likely the Packers start out at Lambeau Field this year.

So who might be the opener?  Assuming it's not one of the divisional games, the other teams visiting Green Bay this season are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks.  Any of them could be the choice.  

Is it Drew Brees's last time at Lambeau?  Jameis Winston's first trip there?  Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has beaten every NFL team (besides the Packers, obviously) except the Bengals.  Is that the pick?  Or do they come out of the gate firing with another rematch against Seattle?  All good scenarios and so it will probably be Baltimore, knowing the NFL.

The Packers will travel to face the Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Steelers and their divisional games.  It would seemingly be a crime if the game against Atlanta weren't prime time.  Does the NFL try to spice up Thursday night football with that match up?  The risk there is two teams potentially playing on a short week and a less thrilling game.  I'm thinking Sunday or Monday night.

It's fun to speculate where these games will fall and then see the league completely blow up any logic and put out a schedule that has the Packers on the road for two weeks followed by a bye week.  Maybe this season they'll have the Packers at home for two or three and give them the last bye week.  

What say all of you?

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