clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Thursday Cheese Curds: Packers have opportunity for early success

Matt LaFleur and company will have to hit the ground running thanks to yet another brutal mid-season stretch

NFL: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

With the release of the 2019 NFL schedule, the path before Green Bay Packers rookie head coach Matt LaFleur has been set.

Upon first glance, it looks like LaFleur will be able to having training wheels at the start of his head coaching career. The Packers start the season with five of their first seven games at home.

In reality, this means the Packers will have to get off to a fast start. This was a challenge in the later years under Mike McCarthy so it should be a focus for the new regime. There are always growing pains with a new staff and a new offense, but given the Packers close the season with four of their final six games on the road, they’re going to have to take advantage of the opportunity of so many early home games.

The most brutal part of the schedule is going to be weeks 8-10 with back-to-back road games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers followed by a home game against the Carolina Panthers. Thankfully the Packers have their bye week after that.

So the road to Super Bowl LIV is set. Will it take Green Bay to Miami? Will Aaron Rodgers be a phoenix rising from the ashes of a disappointing 2018 season?

No one knows, but it will be fun finding out.

Onto today’s curds.

Packers’ schedule makes fast start essential for rookie coach Matt LaFleur—PackersNews.com

It’s a grace period that isn’t a grace period as fans will be ready to pass fast judgement, good or bad, on LaFleur’s team with three home games in the season’s first quarter.

Path to fast start in 2019 begins at home for Packers—Packers.com

The Tundra won’t yet be frozen when the Packers have more than half their home schedule finished. It’s an early advantage but given the team’s road struggles last season, they’ll have to start fast to avoid another hole.

Not a 40-yard dash, a 12-ounce chug: Packers OT David Bakhtiari pumps up hometown Bucks crowd—Packers Wire

It appeared to be Spotted Cow that the all-pro offensive lineman chugged. David Bakhtiari might have had the most Wisconsin moment ever on the Jumbotron and his quarterback apparently approved.

Receiver not sure thing for Packers in first round—ESPN

With a spending spree to shore up the pass rush in free agency, many think the Packers will go offense in the draft to give Rodgers more weapons. Not so fast, says Rob Demovsky.

Packers’ Linsley holds benefit for bike-riding partner’s father—WLUK

Players often bond with the kids whose bikes they ride during training camp. Thanks to the efforts of Corey Linsley and his wife, a lifelong bond has been formed with his “bike kid” and family.