“It’s not who you play, but when you play them” has never been more true. With the NFL expanding its presence internationally and across the week, rest and travel disparities must be considered when evaluating a matchup. The Packers 2024 schedule exemplifies both factors in the very first week of the season when they play in Brazil on a Friday night.
With these considerations in mind, let’s take a trip through the Packers’ 2024 schedule (Green Bay Packers Schedule | packers.com) and see which games may provide hidden advantages and which may be more challenging than expected.
Week One: “at” Philadelphia Eagles; Friday, 09/06 7:15 PM CDT; Sao Paolo, Brazil
This game can’t be seen as anything but a bonus for the Packers. What could have been a difficult road game against another NFC playoff contender will be held on a neutral field. Playing a “short week” game is typically a disadvantage for the road team, but both teams will have to travel to Brazil. Both teams will have long flights, but the Packers’ is only about an hour longer. Less time than it would take to fly to Philadelphia. Since it’s the first game of the season, neither team will have a rest advantage. Philly’s a good team and won’t be easy to beat, but this could have been a much tougher spot.
Week Two: Home vs. Indianapolis Colts; Sunday, 09/15 12:00 PM CDT
The Packers will play their home opener in Week Two with two extra days of rest. That’s a recipe for some favorable home-cookin’.
Week Three: at Tennessee Titans; Sunday, 09/22 12:00 PM CDT
Both teams play noon central games the Sunday prior so no rest advantage to be had for either side. Matt LaFleur returns to the place he coached immediately prior to joining the Packers. That coaching staff was replaced this offseason so there won’t be many old friends for him to reminisce with. Malik Willis revenge game?
Week Four: vs Minnesota Vikings; Sunday, 09/29 12:00 PM CDT
Both teams play same day, same time in Week Three, so again, no rest advantage to be had. Minnesota will be coming off playing consecutive games against San Francisco and Houston. That’s an on-paper meat grinder stretch for anyone.
Week Five: at Los Angeles Rams; Sunday, 10/06 3:25 PM CDT
A third straight week with both combatants having played in the same window the previous week, so, again, no rest advantage for either. A couple opposing forces will be at play for Matt LaFleur. His teams are 4-0 against his mentor Sean McVay, but are 3-6 in games played west of the central time zone.
Week Six: vs Arizona Cardinals; Sunday, 10/13 12:00 PM CDT
Another week with neither team having a rest advantage. The Cardinals will be playing their second straight road game and will have to travel two time zones east to play an early window game. That’s never an easy task.
Week Seven: vs Houston Texans; Sunday, 10/20 12:00 PM CDT
Same as the previous week, the Packers will be at home against a team playing the second of back-to-back road games.
Week Eight: at Jacksonville Jaguars; Sunday, 10/27 12:00 PM CDT
The Packers catch the Jags following a game in England. No rest advantage but a pretty sizable travel advantage for a road team. They also play in Jacksonville at the end of October instead of in September when the conditions likely would have been much more oppressive for a team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Week Nine: vs. Detroit Lions; Sunday, 11/03 3:25 PM CST
Neither team will have a rest advantage, but daylight savings time will be ending, so both will get an extra hour of sleep the night before.
Week Ten: Bye
Week Eleven: at Chicago Bears; Sunday, 11/17 12:00 PM CST
The Packers come off their bye against a division rival. As good a time as any to have a seven-day rest advantage.
Week Twelve: vs. San Francisco 49ers; Sunday, 11/24 3:25 PM CST
This is a late window Sunday game, so no West Coast team playing a noon game like Week Six, but you’d always rather get the Niners at home than have to travel west to play them.
Week Thirteen: vs. Miami Dolphins; Thursday, 11/28 7:20 PM CST
The Packers get to host a Thanksgiving night game. A short week road game for Miami, a team that doesn’t have a reputation for playing well in the cold. Last time I checked, late November evenings in Green Bay can be fairly chilly.
Week Fourteen: at Detroit Lions; Thursday, 12/05 7:15 PM CST
Like Week One, the schedule makers do the Packers a solid. What normally would have been a short week road game is a full week of rest game with both teams having played the prior Thursday.
Week Fifteen: at Seattle Seahawks; Sunday, 12/15 7:20 PM CST
The Packers’ first Sunday Night game of the season is a tough trip west to Seattle. It’s also their only two-game road trip. Those disadvantages are muted by Green Bay having the “mini-bye” and three extra days off in between. The Seahawks will be coming home following two straight road games.
Week Sixteen: vs. New Orleans Saints; Monday, 12/23 7:15 PM CST
The Packers follow their first Sunday Night game with their first Monday Night game. Neither team will have a rest advantage, but the Packers will get a southern, dome team at Lambeau in December. Saints (presumed) starting quarterback Derek Carr has never won a start when the game time temperature was below freezing.
Week Seventeen: at Minnesota Vikings; Sunday, 12/29 12:00 PM CST
The Packers will experience their first rest disadvantage of the season against Minnesota in Week Seventeen. A road game following a Monday Night game is never easy.
Week Eighteen: vs Chicago Bears; Time and date TBD
For the second straight season, the Packers finish their season at Minnesota and at home against the Bears. Chicago plays on Thursday Night in Week Seventeen so this will be Green Bay’s most rest-disadvantaged game of the season.
An NFL schedule is never easy. The teams are too good. It can be favorable, though. The Packers’ 2024 schedule can only be considered favorable. From getting Philly on a neutral field to the Goldilocks (not too early, not too late) bye week to having a mini-bye before the trip to Seattle, Green Bay won’t be able to blame any lack of success on their schedule.
