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Long-time fans, born and raised in the heart of Packer Country, talk about the present, past, and future of the Green Bay Packers and the NFL
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Tuesday Apr 21, 2015
Tuesday Apr 21, 2015
The schedule is out and I’m so excited! This is one of my favorite days of the year despite absolutely nothing of note actually happening. But if you’re a football nut like me, the order that these games occur in will be burned into a part of your brain for the rest of your days. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
While we wait for the season to start, here are some facts about each game that you can memorize and use as trivia at your Packer parties during the season. You’ll be sure to accrue plenty of sighs and many an eye roll from these nuggets of knowledge. Let’s get to it!
Week 1: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Sunday, September 13, 2015; 12:00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting at this Venue: W 38-17 September 28, 2014
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Game:
This is the first time since 1977-1979 that the Packers have started the season on the road 3 years in a row.
After tying a franchise record in 2011 with their 5th consecutive opening day win, the Packers have dropped their last 3 season openers. The Packers have not lost 4 straight season openers since the 80s, when they lost 5 straight openers from 1985-1989
The Packers have not played at Noon in Week 1 since 2007.
For the first time since 2005, Green Bay will open the season against a team that had a losing record the year before.
This year, I wanted to point out just how insane Rodgers and McCarthy have been against the NFC North. For the home games, I will share McCarthy’s stats. For road games, I will share Rodgers stats.
Aaron Rodgers Career Stats vs. Bears: 293/425 (68.9%) for 3,448 yards, 31 TDs – 8 INTs, 109.8 Passer Rating, 11-3 record.
In two meetings last year, the Packers outscored the Bears 93-31. The +62 scoring differential was the 3rd highest in Packers/Bears history. Green Bay outscored Chicago 73-9 (+64) in 1994 and Lombardi’s mighty 1962 Packers abused the Bears 87-7 (+80) in their two meetings.
Last year I erroneously reported that the Packers were going for their 6th straight win at Soldier Field. They were not, but THIS year they are (trust me). THEN I erroneously reported yesterday that this would tie a franchise record. In reality, it's not even close. The Packers beat Chicago at Soldier Field 10 times in a row from 1994-2004 (and in 2002 they took the time to visit Champaign, IL and beat the Bears there too while Soldier Field was being renovated). I am just going to assume that's the franchise record (and quite possibly an NFL record). It's quite embarrassing that I didn't remember that since I was an active fan during that entire period. But I guess the rivalry has been so one sided you just take it for granted and it fades into the background.
Aaron Rodgers is the 3rd highest rated passer in Soldier Field history (99.0 passer rating – min 50 attempts). This despite having thrown nearly twice as many passes and having played in twice as many games as number 1 and 2 on the list (Tony Romo (1) and Peyton Manning (2)).
Sunday, September 20, 2015; 7:30 PM on NBC
Last meeting at this Venue: W 48-10 December 27, 2009
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Game:
There has been so much history between these two teams the last few years, but all at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Seattle hasn’t played at Lambeau Field in 6 years, where they were buried 48-10. Seattle’s quarterback was Matt Hasselbeck and their head coach was Jim Mora Jr. I was in the stands for this game and I’m not sure it actually happened.
This will be the Packers Lambeau Field opener. Surprisingly, Green Bay is just 27-28-2 in Lambeau Field openers. I can hear you saying, “Surely that’s caused by all the bad teams in the 70s and 80s”. Partly. Starting with the Ron Wolf era in 1992, the Pack is still only 14-9 in their Lambeau opener. But here’s the better news: Aaron Rodgers is 6-1 in home openers, losing only to the 49ers in 2012.
Revenge is always a motivating factor for fans going into a season following a devastating playoff loss. They always wish to get a rematch the next year so the Packers can set things right. Well, be careful what you wish for: Green Bay is just 2-13 all-time against teams that beat them in the previous year’s playoffs.
Aaron Rodgers has a cumulative passer rating over 100.0 in head-to-head matches with all but three NFC Teams: Philadelphia (97.5), Seattle (92.6), and Tampa Bay (84.4).
While Russell Wilson is an amazing 26-2 at home, he’s a pedestrian 16-12 away from Seattle.
Aaron Rodgers has never thrown an interception on the 1-yard line; even when his coach calls a passing play when the entire world thought they should run instead.
Monday, September 28, 2015; 7:30 PM on ESPN
Last Meeting at this Venue: L 34-40 OT October 12, 2003
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Game:
This will be the first time the Chiefs have played a regular season game at Lambeau Field in 12 years. Due to a scheduling quirk I don’t quite understand, the scheduling rotation sent the Packers to Kansas City in both 2007 and 2011 (when it should have had the Chiefs come to Green Bay).
In another bizarre scheduling occurrence, the Chiefs played at Lambeau Field in back-to-back seasons in 1989 and 1990. Back in the 28 team NFL, there were six divisions: 4 with 5 teams (AFC West & East and the NFC Central & East) and two with four teams (AFC Central & NFC West). The four teams that finished in 5th place each year would form their own mini league the following year. They would play each of the two 5th place teams from the other conference and play the other 5th place team from their own conference twice in a home and home series. The remainder of the schedule was eight division games and four games against the four team division within their own conference (in Green Bay’s case, the NFC West). This allowed the Packers to play Kansas City, Miami, and the Dallas Cowboys twice in 1989. After the Packers finished second in the division in 1989, they were placed back into the more familiar rotation of playing eight division games: two games against conference foes in the other two divisions, and four games against the 1st thru 4th place teams from an AFC division. For the NFC central in 1990, that was the AFC West. So they played the Chiefs again. After ALL that….they lost both games by the respective scores of 21-3 and 17-3. So...yeah. Aren’t you glad you know all that?
The Chiefs are 3-0 all-time at Lambeau Field. They are the only team to have played more than once at Lambeau and be undefeated (The Texans are 1-0).
This is expected to be just the second career meeting between 2005 QB Draftees Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith. Smith’s 49ers beat Rodgers’ Packers 30-22 in the 2012 season opener.
Aaron Rodgers has excelled in most situations in his career, but he has struggled to find victory on Monday night. Despite a 95.1 passer rating in this time slot, Rodgers’ Packers are just 4-6 on Monday night.
The Chiefs are one of two teams that Aaron Rodgers has never beaten (the other being the Cincinnati Bengals). His only meeting with the Chiefs was a 19-14 loss that ended the Packers’ 19 game winning streak in 2011. You hear that, Aaron? Alex Smith, loss of an undefeated season, Monday Night jinx, you’ve never beaten them AND they are the only unbeaten team left at Lambeau? How’s that chip on your shoulder feel? Does it feel like it could throw eight TD passes?
Sunday, October 4, 2015; 3:25 PM on Fox
Last Meeting at this Venue: First Time at Venue (L 28-34 September 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park)
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Game:
At one time the Packers completely dominated their rivalry with the 49ers, winning 13 of 14 games against them from 1995-2010. But since then, the tide has shifted drastically. San Francisco has won four straight against the Packers
In their last meeting in San Francisco, Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards. It is his only career 400-yard game and just one of four games in which he’s thrown for over 300 yards. (Also one of 12 400-yard passing games allowed by Green Bay since 1960 – half of which have been allowed by Dom Capers’ defenses).
This will be the first game between these two teams at Levi’s Stadium, which opened last season. Following this game, the Packers will have played in every NFL stadium currently in use. They are 17-13 in their first game in each of the current NFL stadiums.
The Packers’ final record at Candlestick Park was 6-5 (2-2 in postseason).
Sunday, October 11, 2015; 12:00 PM on CBS
Last Meeting at this Venue: W 24-3 October 16, 2011
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Game:
The Rams are the only NFC team that Aaron Rodgers has never lost to (3-0). He has absolutely pummeled them in his career, posting a cumulative 127.9 passer rating with eight TDs to 1 INT.
In a 2011 matchup against the Rams, Jordy Nelson hauled in a 93-yard touchdown catch. It’s the second longest touchdown pass in franchise history (Robert Brooks had a 99 yard TD catch against Chicago in 1995).
Since moving to St. Louis, the Rams are 2-3 against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
If the Rams are able to beat the Packers, they will tie the head-to-head series (Currently the Packers have a 45-44-2 edge in their all-time matchup).
Note that this game is on CBS. This is the first time since last year when the NFL decided to no longer care about the TV contract making sense that the Packers have played an NFC opponent on Sunday afternoon on CBS. The last time the Packers played the Rams on CBS they won 36-6 in Jerome Bettis’ first game in 1993.
Sunday, October 18, 2015; 3:25 PM on CBS
Last Meeting at this Venue: W 31-24 September 23, 2007
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Game:
The Packers are currently on a six game winning streak against the Chargers dating back to 1993. In fact, the Chargers have not defeated Green Bay since 1984. That is one of the longest current streaks in the league. The Redskins have not defeated the Chiefs since 1983 (0-6), and the New York Jets have several strange streaks: They haven’t lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 1984 (8-0) or the Cardinals since 1975 (7-0), but they have NEVER beaten the Eagles (0-9; first meeting in 1973).
Only 6 players currently on the Chargers roster were alive when San Diego last beat Green Bay.
Despite the lopsided affair of this matchup, the last three games have been quite high scoring and competitive, with the average final score being Packers 38 Chargers 27.
Philip Rivers is 0-2 against the Packers despite a cumulative 99.7 passer rating in those games.
Randall Cobb has caught a pass against every NFL team he’s played against, except the Chargers. He has yet to play the Browns or Steelers.
Week of Sunday, October 25, 2015
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Week:
McCarthy’s Packers have won six straight times in their first game after the bye week. This is the longest streak in team history. Green Bay is 16-10 all-time after a bye week.
I didn’t prepare much else about the bye…um….Week 7 is decent for a bye I guess.
Sunday, November 1, 2015; 7:30 PM on NBC
Last Meeting at this Venue: W 19-13 OT October 29, 2007
What You Don’t Need to Know About This Game:
This will be the Packers 1st trip to Denver since 2007 when the Packers beat Jay Cutler’s Broncos on an 82-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre to Greg Jennings on the first play of overtime. Boy, does that sentence make that game feel like it was 25 years ago.
Peyton Manning is 1-2 in his career against the Packers, including a 34-14 loss to Aaron Rodgers and Company in 2008. The most memorable play of that game was a 99-yard touchdown return of a Peyton Manning interception by S Aaron Rouse. It’s the longest interception return against Peyton Manning in his career and the longest regular season defensive touchdown in Packers history.
Aaron Rodgers is clearly one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and has plenty of great years ahead of him, but at 226 career touchdown passes, he is currently 304 touchdown passes behind Peyton Manning! He has only accumulated less than 43% of Manning’s career total! Can he get the other 57%? It will be tough, but it’s possible.
Green Bay is 1-5 all time in Denver and has never scored 20 or more points in the Mile High City.
Last time the Packers played the Broncos in Denver, it was also in prime time, also in Week 8, and also right after a bye! That’s kinda weird. I’m predicting a TD pass from Rodgers to Cobb on the first play of overtime to win this game.
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