The NFL will be releasing the 2025 schedule this week. The Green Bay Packers will know who they’re playing and when, which games will be on national television, when the bye week will be and when they will face key division and conference opponents. But will the NFL fix one thing that the Packers have not had the benefit of in the first six seasons that Matt LaFleur has been the Packers head coach? It’s time for the NFL to make this change to the Packers schedule in 2025:

It’s Time for the NFL to Make This Change to the Packers Schedule in 2025: The Issue

LaFleur took over as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2019 season. This will be his seventh season as coach of the team. The Packers have made the playoffs in five of the first six seasons. The team reached the NFC Championship Game after the 2019 and 2020 campaigns.

But in all six seasons LaFleur has coached the team, the Packers have never opened the season with a game at Lambeau Field. Overall, the Packers are 3-3 in their six opening games under LaFleur. The Packers were outscored by their opponents 152-130.

The last time the Packers opened the season at home was 2018, with Mike McCarthy as the head coach. In that game on Sunday Night Football, Aaron Rodgers overcame an injury to return to the game and lead the Packers to a 24-23 comeback win over the Bears.

The Road Openers Under Matt LaFleur

LaFleur made his debut has head coach of the Packers in 2019 on a nationally televised game on Thursday night to kick off the NFL’s 100th season. The Packers visited the Bears at Soldier Field and came away with a 10-3 victory. The only touchdown of the game came on an eight-yard pass from Rodgers to tight end Jimmy Graham. Safety Adrian Amos intercepted Mitch Trubisky late in the fourth quarter to help seal the win for the Pack.

The following year, the Packers went into Minnesota and beat the Vikings 43-34. The Green Bay offense exploded for 522 yards in this game with Rodgers throwing for 364 yards and four touchdowns including a pair of scores to Davante Adams.

In 2022, the Packers returned to Minnesota to face the Vikings but were defeated 23-7. The Packers had no answer for Justin Jefferson who caught nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Dillon scored the only touchdown for the Packers on a two-yard run in the third quarter.

The next year, the Packers again opened in Chicago against the Bears. Jordan Love threw three scoring passes and Quay Walker returned an interception 37 yards for another touchdown as the Packers rolled to an easy 38-20 victory.

Overall, Green Bay is 3-1 on the road in season openers under LaFleur.

It’s Time for the NFL to Make This Change to the Packers Schedule in 2025: Neutral Site Games

Twice the Packers opened their season at a neutral site since LaFleur took over as head coach. In 2021, the Pack was scheduled to open the season against the Saints in New Orleans. Instead, Hurricane Ida forced the game to be moved to Jacksonville, Florida. While technically a road game for the Packers, the contest was played at a neutral site.

Unfortunately, the Packers didn’t seem ready to play and were blown out by the Saints 38-3. Rodgers threw two interceptions while no Packers player gained 20 yards rushing all game.

The other neutral site opening game for the Packers came last year when Green Bay met the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The game was close until the end. The Packers fell short despite a four catch, 138-yard effort by receiver Jayden Reed which included a 70-yard touchdown catch. Love was injured during the final series of the game which was played on a playing surface so slick it looked like a skating rink.

Looking Ahead

It has now been seven years since the Packers opened the season at Lambeau Field. In theory, the Pack should open roughly half their seasons at home and half on the road. The league is overdue to give Green Bay a season opener at home for the first time since 2018. We’ll know for sure on Wednesday evening whether this will change this season.

 

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

Click here for more great Packers coverage

Check out our YouTube channel here