The NFL released their 2026 schedule on Thursday night and the Green Bay Packers will have some very exciting games coming up in 2026. This season, the Packers will be facing teams from the AFC East and the NFC South along with other key matchups. The release of the schedule allows Packers fans to look forward to the 2026 season and make plans to attend the game(s) they want to see both at home and on the road. Here are 10 key takeaways from the Packers 2026 schedule:
Ten Takeaways from the Packers 2026 Schedule, Number One: The Packers Open the Season with Two Road Games
The Green Bay Packers have nine home games and eight road games this season. So, it was a bit surprising when the schedule started with two road games. The Packers are opening their season away from Lambeau Field for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
The Packers open the season in Minnesota and follow that up with a game against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands.
After these two road games, the Packers have nine home games and only six road games for the rest of the season.
Number Two: The Packers Have an Early Advantage
The Packers may not have Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft, two of their best players, available to start the season as they rehab from knee surgery. Even if they are available, they may be on a play count as the gradually return to full health.
The Packers first two games are against teams they should be favored to beat in the Vikings and Jets. In addition, both of those teams play their games on artificial turf. Both these fields are considered difficult on players knees and injuries are more likely to happen on them.
If Parsons and Kraft miss these games, it will spare them a tough surface for their injured knees and allow them to return to action in more favorable conditions for their bodies.
Ten Takeaways from the Packers 2026 Schedule, Number Three: The Packers Will Play On a Wednesday for the Second Time Ever
The Packers will travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams in Week 12 on the night before Thanksgiving. The last time the Packers played a regular season game on a Wednesday was September 28, 1938, when the team faced the Chicago Cardinals in a neutral site game played in Buffalo. This game will be nationally televised by Netflix.
The Packers will be coming off their bye, so they will have enough rest before the Rams game. They will also have a mini bye before facing the Saints in New Orleans for Week 13.
Number Four: The Packers Will Be Play in Prime Time Six Times So Far
The Packers will play in prime time six times this season although that number could change as the networks and the NFL can flex games in and out of prime time during the season. Six is the maximum number of games a team can play in prime time.
In Week 3, the Packers host the Atlanta Falcons in the home opener. It will be played on Thursday night. The Pack will also host the Carolina Panthers in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football.
In Week 6, the Packers will host Dallas on Sunday Night Football as Parsons gets another chance to face his former team.
The Thanksgiving Eve game in Week 12 against the Rams will also be in prime time, as will a Sunday night game against Buffalo in Week 14 at Lambeau Field.
The final scheduled prime time game as of now comes in Week 17 when the Packers host the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football.
Ten Takeaways from the Packers 2026 Schedule, Number Five: The Bye Week Is Later This Season
Last season, the Packers were stuck with an early bye. The Pack were off for Week 5 and then had to get through the rest of the season without a break.
This season, the bye comes in Week 11 before their Wednesday night tilt in Los Angeles. The Packers hope to be rested for the stretch drive after the bye week. They will have a mini bye after their bye because they are playing on Wednesday after the bye.
Number Six: The Packers Will Face Their Former DC and Backup QB
The Packers will host the Miami Dolphins this season in Week 15 at Lambeau Field. The Dolphins head coach is former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Their starting quarterback is expected to be Malik Willis who spent the last two seasons backing up Jordan Love.
This game will be a noon CT start and give the Packers an advantage against a warm weather team like Miami.
Ten Takeaways from the Packers 2026 Schedule, Number Seven: Four of the Final Five Games are at Home
There was a time when the NFL rarely allowed the Packers to finish their schedule at home. That is not the case this season. Four of the Packers final five games will be at Lambeau Field.
In Week 14 they host the Bills, followed by the Dolphins in Week 15. In Week 17, the Packers host another warm weather/dome team in the Houston Texans and then close their season at Lambeau against the division rival Detroit Lions.
The only road game in the final five wees of the season will be in Chicago. This means the Packers will not have to travel far for the final five weeks of the 2026 campaign.
Number Eight: There are No Three-Game Road Trips or Home Stands
The Packers have two road trips of two games and three home stands of two games this season. There will be no three-game road trips or home stands.
One of the two-game road trips opens the season, the other is right after the bye week which gives the Packers a mini bye between the two games.
Ten Takeaways from the Packers 2026 Schedule, Number Nine: The Packers Do Not Have Back-to-Back Division Games
None of the Packers six games against division opponents will be on consecutive weeks. Last season, the team played three consecutive division games in Weeks 12-14.
This year, the Packers play division games in Week 1, Week 5, Week 7, Week 10, Week 16, and Week 18.
This will allow the team to space out these critical games that will go along way towards determining the winner of the NFC North.
Number Ten: The Preseason Schedule Has Also Been Released
The Packers three preseason games were announced. Because they have nine home games during the regular season, Green Bay will have only one home game and two road games in the preseason.
The exact dates have yet to be finalized, but the Packers open the preseason in Pittsburgh in Week 1. They then travel to Denver to face the Broncos in Week 2 before the preseason ends with their only home game against the Arizona Cardinals.
That game will feature Packers head coach Matt LaFleur facing his brother, Mike, who has taken over as head coach of the Cardinals. New Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will also be facing the team he coached last season in this game.
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