The Green Bay Packers showed a lot of promise last season under the leadership of second-year starting QB Aaron Rodgers on their way to an impressive 11-5 record and playoff berth. Unfortunately, it was their former QB Brett Favre who kept them from winning the NFC North and will lead the defending division champs if he decides to come back yet again this year. Favre’s Minnesota Vikings are expected to be the only major divisional roadblock for the Packers, who are +125 to win the NFC North, 6/1 to win the NFC and 12/1 to win Super Bowl XLV.
Odds to win NFC North Division: +125
Odds to win the NFC Conference: 6/1
Green Bay Packers Odds to win Super Bowl XLV: 12/1
Regular Season Wins Total Line: 9.5
*all odds quoted from Bodog*Let’s take a look at Green Bay’s schedule to see their chances of going OVER 9.5 wins:
Week 1 Sunday, September 12, 2010 @ Philadelphia Eagles
Analysis: The Packers have the good fortune of not having to play back-to-back road games until after their bye in Week 10, and they also have the benefit of facing new Eagles starting QB Kevin Kolb in Week 1. A win here in the regular-season opener would not only get Green Bay off to a great start but also set the table nicely for the next five games against non-playoff teams.
Week 2 Sunday, September 19, 2010 vs. Buffalo Bills
Analysis: Buffalo was one of the worst offensive teams in the NFL last year and will likely find scoring to be very difficult at Lambeau Field in Green Bay’s home opener. It also does not matter that it’s not December since the Packers are more lethal through the air in warmer weather.
Week 3 Monday, September 27, 2010 @ Chicago Bears
Analysis: The Bears will either be a pretender or contender in the NFC North, and this game will give us a glimpse of how good or bad they will be. Chicago QB Jay Cutler threw six interceptions in two meetings with Green Bay last year but still kept his team within a touchdown both times.
Week 4 Sunday, October 3, 2010 vs. Detroit Lions
Analysis: The Lions could be facing a 10-game losing streak dating back to last season in this one, which will be their third road game against an NFC North foe in four games to open this year. The only positive for Detroit is the fact that St. Louis visits the following week.
Week 5 Sunday, October 10, 2010 @ Washington Redskins
Analysis: The new-look Redskins will be coming off an emotional rivalry game against QB Donovan McNabb’s former team in the Eagles, which could obviously go either way. The only certainty here is that McNabb will either be really high or really low depending on the outcome.
Week 6 Sunday, October 17, 2010 vs. Miami Dolphins
Analysis: Miami will be fresh off a bye week following back-to-back home games against the two top teams in the AFC East (the New York Jets and New England Patriots). This visit to Lambeau will also kick off a string of three road games in four weeks for the Dolphins.
Week 7 Sunday, October 24, 2010 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Analysis: Minnesota will be playing a playoff team from last year for the third straight game, which is part of a bigger five-game stretch against winning clubs. The words “Favre” and “Minnesota” also mean something to Cheeseheads who will witness their second prime-time game of the season on Sunday Night Football.
Week 8 Sunday, October 31, 2010 @ New York Jets
Analysis: The Jets interrupt a string of three home games in four weeks for the Packers, who might be down a bit mentally after facing the Vikings and with the Cowboys on deck. Meanwhile, New York will be coming off a bye week and will be on the road the next two weeks.
Week 9 Sunday, November 7, 2010 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Analysis: Green Bay shut down Dallas at Lambeau last year in a dominating 17-7 victory and hopes to finish strong on prime-time television before the bye week. The Cowboys will be playing the first of back-to-back road games before facing the New York Giants at the Meadowlands.
Week 10 — BYE WEEK —
Week 11 Sunday, November 21, 2010 @ Minnesota Vikings
Analysis: The NFC North division title could be on the line here in the Metrodome, where the Vikings will be playing in between road games at Chicago and Washington. This also starts the first set of a pair of back-to-back road games in five weeks for the Packers.
Week 12 Sunday, November 28, 2010 @ Atlanta Falcons
Analysis: This visit to Atlanta completes what could be the toughest back-to-back games on the slate for Green Bay. The Falcons will be at home for the only time during a five-game period that sees them play four road games against teams that went a combined 17-47 last year.
Week 13 Sunday, December 5, 2010 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Analysis: The Packers will be playing the 49ers at home around the same time for the second year in a row. Last season, Green Bay edged San Francisco 30-24 after building a 23-3 halftime lead. The 49ers scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make it close, but it wasn’t enough.
Week 14 Sunday, December 12, 2010 @ Detroit Lions
Analysis: The Lions will be playing their third straight game at Ford Field but will be ending a brutal stretch nonetheless. Detroit faces New England and Chicago at home before meeting the Packers and then plays back-to-back road games at Tampa Bay and Miami.
Week 15 Sunday, December 19, 2010 @ New England Patriots
Analysis: The Patriots and Packers will be playing their final prime-time TV game of the year barring a late-season schedule change. Since both teams are again expected to compete for playoff berths and division crowns, you will likely hear the words potential Super Bowl preview.
Week 16 Sunday, December 26, 2010 vs. New York Giants
Analysis: Eli Manning returns to Lambeau Field for the first time since leading his Giants to a stunning upset of the Packers in the 2008 NFC Championship. Whether both teams still have something to play for at this point remains to be seen.
Week 17 Sunday, January 2, 2011 vs. Chicago Bears
Analysis: The Packers wrap up the 2010-11 regular season with the NFL’s longest running rivalry against the Bears. Chicago has played much better than Green Bay in colder weather the last few years, but that might not matter here if neither team needs to win this game.
