| The '09 season has to be considered pretty | | | | Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Atlanta, 1:00 PM |
| successful for the Packers, as they won five | | | | Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, San Francisco, 1:00 PM |
| more games than in 2008 (Aaron Rodgers' first | | | | Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Detroit, 1:00 PM |
| year as the starting QB) and earned a playoff | | | | Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at New England, 8:20 |
| spot before their defense was gutted by Kurt | | | | PM |
| Warner in the Wild-Card round against the Arizona | | | | Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, NY Giants, 4:15 PM |
| Cardinals. | | | | Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Chicago, 1:00 PM |
| That game did show what Green Bay really has in | | | | This schedule ranks as the 22nd hardest in the |
| store for 2010 and what could be a big concern. | | | | NFL with an opponents' 2009 cumulative winning |
| On the bright side, Rodgers was nearly as good | | | | percentage of.488 (125-131). |
| as Warner in that game and Rodgers emerged as | | | | Checking the football betting lines for the first six |
| a Top 5 quarterback during the regular season, | | | | games, there's really no reason Green Bay should |
| ranking fourth in the NFL in yards (4,434), rating | | | | be any worse than 4-2. The Pack get the benefit |
| (103.2), touchdown passes (seven) and with the | | | | of being the first opponent of new Eagles starter |
| fewest interceptions (seven) of any quarterback | | | | Kevin Kolb (that game is currently a 'pick'em'), and |
| with at least 200 attempts. Pretty much all of | | | | nobody knows who the quarterback of the Bills |
| Rodgers' weapons from last year are back | | | | will be. The Packers swept the Bears last season |
| although 35-year-old No. 2 WR Donald Driver | | | | by nearly identical scores (21-14 and 21-15), and |
| might be slowing down as he tailed off in a big | | | | that matchup will be in prime time for the fifth |
| way at the end of last season. | | | | straight season with the first meeting between |
| Warner went balistic on the Green Bay | | | | the two being No. 180 in the all-time series. This is |
| secondary, especially with Al Harris hurt. Charles | | | | the 18th consecutive season the Packers have |
| Woodson and Harris, one of the best tandems in | | | | appeared on "Monday Night Football," the NFC's |
| the NFL for years, are both getting up there in | | | | longest streak. |
| age with Woodson turning 34 this season and | | | | The Pack better be no worse than 4-2 because |
| Harris during 36. I'm probably picking too much on | | | | they could easily fall into a three-game skid (albeit |
| Woodson considering he was named the NFL | | | | unlikely) entering the bye week with games |
| Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and had | | | | against Super Bowl contenders in the Vikings, Jets |
| nine picks and three TDs. Plus he reportedly | | | | and Cowboys. Of course, that Minnesota game |
| re-dedicated himself this offseason. Harris, | | | | will be Brett Favre's second-ever game as a |
| however, is coming off major knee surgery that | | | | visitor at Lambeau. He led the Vikings to a 30-23 |
| ended his 2009 season early. | | | | win over Green Bay in a Monday night game at |
| That Green Bay defense will be down two key | | | | Minnesota last season and then a 38-28 win at |
| players this season as Aaron Kampman, a | | | | Lambeau. |
| two-time Pro Bowler, is now in Jacksonville (he | | | | Green Bay has the benefit of an extra week to |
| also suffered a season-ending injury in November | | | | prepare for the rematch with Minnesota (the |
| last season) and Johnny Jolly was suspended | | | | Vikes aren't off the same week) in a game that |
| without pay for 2010 after violating the league's | | | | could well determine the NFC North. Week 10 is |
| substance abuse policy. Although if there's one | | | | the latest a team can have a bye, by the way, |
| area the Pack can withstand a few hits, it's | | | | and it's the latest the Pack have ever had theirs. |
| probably on the defensive line. | | | | Four road games in five weeks is pretty rare, but |
| The oddsmakers have Green Bay's wins total at | | | | Green Bay is 18-11 overall on the road under Mike |
| 9.5 for NFL season win totals. What's the best bet | | | | McCarthy from Nov. 15 and beyond. Then the |
| there? Let's check the 2010 Green Bay Packers | | | | Packers finish with back-to-back home games for |
| schedule (all times Eastern): | | | | only the second time since 1923. Since 1998, the |
| Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Philadelphia, 4:15 PM | | | | Packers have finished the season against the |
| Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Buffalo, 1:00 PM | | | | Bears three times, all of them victories in Chicago. |
| Week 3: Monday, Sep. 27, at Chicago, 8:30 PM | | | | NFL Handicapping makes this look like a 10-6-type |
| Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Detroit, 1:00 PM | | | | schedule for Green Bay, which may or may not |
| Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at Washington, 1:00 PM | | | | be enough to win the NFC North (I predicted 10-6 |
| Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, Miami, 1:00 PM | | | | for Minnesota as well), but it should be enough for |
| Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Minnesota, 8:20 PM | | | | a return trip to the playoffs. Green Bay is |
| Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at NY Jets, 1:00 PM | | | | currently a slight favorite (+125) over the Vikings |
| Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Dallas, 8:20 PM | | | | to win the North and +650 to win the NFC (tied |
| Week 10: BYE | | | | with Minnesota behind New Orleans and Dallas). |
| Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM | | | | |