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Packers’ 2021 opponents are set, at least for a 16-game schedule

The NFL appears poised to move to a 17-game schedule next year, but we know who the Packers will play in 16 games.

By Evan "Tex" Western
Green Bay Packers v Cleveland Browns Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The end of an NFL regular season means that every team finally knows with certainty which teams they will play and where in the following season. That time has come again for the 2021 campaign, as each team has set its opponents based on the final standings for 2020.

First, however, there are the typical divisional rotations in play. In 2021, the NFC North is scheduled to play teams from the NFC West and AFC North divisions. Additionally, the Green Bay Packers won the NFC North again this year, which means that they will play the winners of the other NFC divisions again next season.

One other complicating factor arises with the expected addition of a 17th regular season game. That game is expected to be similar to the latter games described above, matching up teams with an opponent that finished in the same place within the division. However, that team would come from the opposite conference, meaning that the Packers would play one of the other division winner from the AFC — either the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, or Tennessee Titans. However, with that plan still not completely finalized, that potential matchup (and its location) are still to be determined.

What is decided, however, are the other 16 games. Here are the Packers’ opponents for 2021, broken down by home and road games:

Home Games

Road Games

This schedule features a few interesting notes. First, this will be the third straight season that the Packers will play a road game at San Francisco and the fourth time in those three years that they play at Levi’s Stadium (including the 2019 NFC Championship Game). Green Bay also draws the Saints in the New Orleans Superdome for the second straight season after winning 37-30 in week three this year.

The last time the Packers played the AFC North division was back in 2017. That year, the Packers went 2-2 against the other division, though Brett Hundley started three of those four games following Aaron Rodgers’ broken collarbone. Both of the wins, which came against the Bengals (27-24) and Browns (27-21), came in overtime.

Green Bay will have a challenging schedule in 2021, at least based on these teams’ 2020 results. Nine of the 16 confirmed games will come against 2020 playoff teams, with a possible tenth game coming if the league does expand the schedule to 17 games as described above. Six of the eight known games at Lambeau Field will be against playoff teams, with the only non-playoff opponents at home being the Vikings and Lions. On the road, Green Bay will face the Bears, Saints, and Ravens as postseason participants from 2020.

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