Even after back-to-back seasons without a playoff berth, the Green Bay Packers still went into the 2019 season with the maximum five primetime games on the schedule. The NFL eventually flexed a sixth game (at San Francisco) to primetime. Now, Matt LaFleur’s team is coming off a 13-3 season and a trip to the NFC title game, making it almost certain that the Packers will go into 2020 with five more primetime games.
The NFL will officially release the regular-season schedule on Thursday night.
Here are the top primetime possibilities for the Packers in 2020:
Away vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Many believed the Packers’ 2018 trip to New England would be the last regular-season battle between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Not so fast. Brady landed in Tampa Bay, setting up at least one more duel between the two future Hall of Famers. Could this be a playoff preview? The Bucs are young and talented and now have Brady – instead of turnover machine Jameis Winston – leading Bruce Arians’ offense. The first matchup, set in Tampa Bay, is all but guaranteed to be in primetime. This reunion of old NFC Central foes might be one of the most anticipated games of 2020.
Away vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Packers got blown out twice under the bright lights of Levi’s Stadium in 2019. They’ll get another shot at the NFC champion 49ers in San Francisco at some point in 2020. The NFL doesn’t like blowouts but they do like putting good teams in primetime slots. Considering the Packers and 49ers will go into next season as two of the top teams in the NFC, there’s a great chance the third showdown between the two heavyweights will end up back in primetime, possibly even as a featured Week 1 game.
Away vs. New Orleans Saints
Tom Brady isn’t the only future Hall of Fame quarterback on the schedule in 2020. The Packers will also go to New Orleans to play Drew Brees and the Saints, who – like the Packers – won 13 games last season. The Superdome has been a house of horrors for the Rodgers-led Packers, with losses by 21 points (44-23) and 22 points (51-29) since 2008. In fact, the Packers haven’t won a regular-season game in New Orleans since 1995. Rodgers vs. Brees – and the possibility of a track meet at the Superdome – should make a perfect recipe for primetime.
Home vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Packers and Eagles have played in primetime twice in the last four years, including last season’s Thursday night showdown at Lambeau Field. The Eagles won the NFC East in 2019 and should be playoff contenders once again in 2020. Can Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson march into Green Bay and leave with another win? There’s a good chance they’ll have to do it in primetime.
Away vs. Houston Texans
Plenty of good storylines here. The Texans, the reigning AFC South champions, are led by exciting young quarterback Deshaun Watson and three-time NFL Defensive of the Year J.J. Watt, a Wisconsin native. Houston was Matt LaFleur’s first NFL coaching job. The last time Aaron Rodgers ventured into Houston, he threw six touchdown passes as the Packers routed the Texans. These two teams held joint practices in Green Bay last summer.
Home vs. Tennessee Titans
The first meeting between Matt LaFleur and the Titans – his team for one season before landing as the head coach in Green Bay – would make a nice side story for the battle between the runner up in each conference from last year. The Titans fell to the Chiefs in Kansas City; the Packers to the 49ers in San Francisco. They’ll face off at Lambeau Field in 2020, potentially under the bright lights.
Home/away vs. Chicago Bears
The only thing you need to know: The Packers and Bears, two of the league’s iconic franchises, have played in primetime each of the last 12 seasons. Will the NFL make it 13 in a row for the long-time rivals?
Home/away vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Packers and Vikings won 23 total games in 2019 and will enter 2020 as the favorites to pace the NFC North for the second straight season. These two have played a primetime border battle each of the last seven seasons, including primetime games at U.S. Bank Stadium three out of the last four years. It might be time to head back to Lambeau Field for a nationally televised showdown in 2020.
[vertical-gallery id=40152]