The Packers' full 2022 schedule is out. Here's the lowdown on opponents, game dates and more
Richard RymanGREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers will play on two holidays this season, Christmas and New Year's, and have only five noon games, and only one of them at Lambeau Field.
The NFL released its full schedule Thursday night after a day of anxious leaking all over social media. The NFL was said to be cracking down on leaks, and indeed there were some holes in the Packers' schedule throughout the day, but you can bet the league is simultaneously not unhappy about all the attention.
As for the Packers, they will begin the season on the road for the fifth time in the last seven years, playing at Minnesota on Sept. 11. Their first home game will be Sept. 18 on "Sunday Night Football" against the Chicago Bears.
The Green Bay Packers' 2022 schedule (home games in bold) is:
- Week 1, Sept. 11, Sunday, at Minnesota Vikings, 3:25 p.m.
- Week 2, Sept. 18, Sunday, Chicago Bears, 7:20 p.m.
- Week 3, Sept. 25, Sunday, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3:25 p.m.
- Week 4, Oct. 2, Sunday, New England Patriots, 3:25 p.m.
- Week 5, Oct. 9, Sunday, New York Giants, London, 8:30 a.m.
- Week 6, Oct. 16, Sunday, New York Jets, noon
- Week 7, Oct. 23, Sunday, at Washington Commanders, noon.
- Week 8, Oct. 30, Sunday, at Buffalo Bills, 7:20 p.m.
- Week 9, Nov. 6, Sunday, at Detroit Lions, noon.
- Week 10, Nov. 13, Sunday, Dallas Cowboys, 3:25 p.m.
- Week 11, Nov. 17, Thursday, Tennessee Titans, 7:15 p.m.
- Week 12, Nov. 27, Sunday, at Philadelphia Eagles, 7:20 p.m.
- Week 13: Dec. 4, Sunday, at Chicago Bears, noon
- Week 14, Bye
- Week 15, Dec. 19, Monday, Los Angeles Rams, 7:15 p.m.
- Week 16, Dec. 25, Sunday, at Miami Dolphins, noon
- Week 17, Jan. 1, Sunday, Minnesota Vikings, 3:25 p.m.
- Week 18, Jan. 8, Sunday, Detroit Lions, time to be announced.
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The games against the Patriots on Oct. 2 and the Titans on Nov. 17 are the Gold package games for Packers season ticket holders. The Nov. 17 game is on a Thursday night, not the optimal time for Gold package holders, who are largely from southern Wisconsin.
The Packers will play five prime-time games, as well as their first game in the United Kingdom.
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The Lambeau Field game against the Bears will be the 23rd time the Packers play Chicago for their home opener, the most recent being Green Bay's dramatic come-from-behind win over Chicago, 24-23 in 2018, also on Sunday Night Football.
Christmas and New Year's fall on Sundays this season, so the Packers had little chance to avoid playing on Christmas for a second consecutive year. This year, at least, the Christmas game is in Miami, so Lambeau Field workers will be spared working on that holiday. The New Year's Day game is at Lambeau, however, which could cut into some New Year's Eve celebrations.
The Packers avoided getting tabbed for Thanksgiving, this year.
In the heart of the schedule, Green Bay will play four of five games on the road, including the one in London and three in a row after they play the Jets at Lambeau.
But they'll also finish with three of four at home, including the last two games against divisional opponents Minnesota and Detroit.
Green Bay will play the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 19 at Lambeau, which can't hurt the Packers' chances.
Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.