Packers’ Early Season Schedule Feels Like Old NFC Central Days
Jordan Love won his first start in Minnesota's US Bank Stadium. The Packers open the season at the Vikings for the third time since 2020.
In the first seven weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers will play all three of their divisional opponents as well as take a trip to Tampa Bay, to play against their former divisional rival. Also included in the first seven games is a visit from the Dallas Cowboys.
The early-season schedule feels reminiscent of 20-25 years ago when the Packers would annually play both the Cowboys and Buccaneers.
In Week 1, the Packers will visit U.S. Bank Stadium to open their season for the third time in seven seasons, dating back to 2020.
In the two previous Week 1 meetings, the Packers won 43-34 in 2020 in front of zero fans. In the game, Aaron Rodgers would start his 2020 MVP season by throwing for 364 yards and four touchdowns. In the 2022 opener, the Vikings beat the Packers 23-7 in a game that is infamously remembered for Christian Watson’s drop on the Packers first play from scrimmage.
The Packers and Vikings opened against three times between 1994 and 2008, with all of those games being played at Lambeau Field.
In Week 4, the Packers will travel to Florida to play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It will be early-season game at Raymond James Stadium, a location where the Packers haven’t had much success since the Bucs moved into the stadium in 1998.
Packers at Bucs games since 1998
| Year | Week | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 1998 | 14 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 24-22 |
| 1999 | 16 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 29-10 |
| 2000 | 11 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 20-15 |
| 2001 | 4 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 14-10 |
| 2002 | 12 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 21-7 |
| 2003 | 11 | Green Bay | Tampa Bay | 20-13 |
| 2008 | 4 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 30-21 |
| 2009 | 9 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 38-28 |
| 2014 | 16 | Green Bay | Tampa Bay | 20-3 |
| 2020 | 6 | Tampa Bay | Green Bay | 38-10 |
| 2022 | 3 | Green Bay | Tampa Bay | 14-12 |
In 11 games played at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs hold an 8-3 lead over the Packers. Four of those 11 games were played in either September or October, where the Packers wore their green uniforms because of the Florida heat. It is likely this year’s game will be similar.
The Packers are 1-3 in those games, but did win the most recent meeting in Tampa Bay, 14-12. The win was clinched by Devondre Campbell’s knocking down of a Tom Brady pass on a potentially-tying two-point conversion.
The first win in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium came in 2003, which was one of the more memorable wins of that season. It was a 20-13 win, which included a 98-yard drive that spanned the 3rd and 4th quarters, and was finished off by an Ahman Green touchdown run.
Today in 2003: Packers get first win at Raymond James Stadium, topping Bucs, 20-13. Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, and Tony Fisher combine for 218 total yards and two TDs. The win is the first of six in a seven-game stretch to close the season en route to an NFC North title. pic.twitter.com/rSskk1m2qg
— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) November 16, 2022
After their first four games, which includes three on the road, the Packers will get two familiar opponents at home and then their third divisional matchup to early in the season.
These three games, against Chicago, Dallas and then Detroit, are hopefully the games where the Packers welcome back Micah Parsons and maybe even Tucker Kraft from their 2025 ACL injuries.
From the league's approved bylaws released today, this is a big one for Micah Parsons. Assuming he starts on PUP, before he would have had to wait to practice until after the Packers 4th game. Can now start his ramp up after the 2nd game of the season. pic.twitter.com/MfKjiCvAZy
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) March 31, 2026
Last week it was reported Parsons would likely start the season on the PUP list, which means he wouldn’t be eligible to play Week 5, which is the home game against the Bears. A tantalizing matchup follows the Bears game, where the Packers host Parsons’ former teams, the Dallas Cowboys.
Packers DE Micah Parsons is a "candidate to be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform List" to start the season as he completes his recovery from a torn ACL last December, per @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/DWPoOvvOpA
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 14, 2026
The last of these three games is an away game against the divisional rival Detroit Lions. Jordan Love improved to 2-1 in Detroit, with both of his wins coming on Thanksgiving.
This stretch of the first seven games will likely be a big determining factor in if the Packers can win their division title since 2021 or if they will be in wild card contention in Weeks 17 and 18 like they have been in each of the last four seasons.
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (4)
GreenandBold
May 19, 2026 at 02:31 pm
I have tickets to the Dallas game so I’m selfishly hoping Parsons comes back for that game .
Starrbrite
May 19, 2026 at 10:49 pm
Cool—the Dallas game is gonna be great.
I’ve got tickets for the Atlanta game. I’m gonna miss Parsons and (maybe) Kraft?
Leatherhead
May 19, 2026 at 08:29 pm
My Uncle Elmer told me long ago that you have to make hay while the sun shines. I look at the first four weeks of this schedule and see opportunities to make some hay.
An opening win at Minnesota tells them, right away in the first week, that it's not going to be their year. They can spend the season looking up at us. I love ripping their hearts out.
A win on the road against the Jets. I'd call the Jets hapless except it's an insult to hapless.
2-0. Then, we host the Falcons, followed by a trip to Tampa. No offense, but I don't think that Minnesota, or the Falcons or Bucs, are first tier teams in the NFC. That's Seattle, Rams, 49ers, Philadelphia.
The Bears and Lions are on the next tier down.
Boneman
May 20, 2026 at 06:26 am
I Love the trip down memory lane, but. it has absolutely no relevance towards what to expect this season. Ahhh, off season!