2014 Packers Schedule: The Tale of the Tape

The 2014 Packers schedule has finally been released and it’s a doozy. In preparation for these 16 matchups that are in store for us this fall, here is everything you need to know about each matchup...
Actually now that I think of it, no one needs to know any of these things, but they might make the games more interesting. I found a lot of interesting things to say on some games, while others are short and sweet. Give it a quick look and let me know what you think in the comments!


Week 1: Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Thursday, September 04, 2014; 8:30 PM on NBC
Last Meeting in this Venue: Really?...Well if you must know, it was 12-7 Packers in Week 3 of the 2012 season with one play to go. I don’t remember what happened after that…

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• After tying a franchise record in 2011 with their 5th consecutive opening day win, the Packers have dropped their last 2 season openers. The Packers have not lost 3 straight season openers since the 80s, when they lost 5 straight openers from 1985-1989
• This will be the 5th consecutive year that the Packers begin the season against a team that won 11 or more games the previous season. It’s the 9th straight year that Green Bay begins the season against a team who was .500 or better the year before.
• The Packers have played the defending Super Bowl champions in the regular season 23 times. They are 7-16 in those games. 
• The Packers will open the season on the road for only the 15th time in the last 75 seasons. 
• The NFL began having its Kickoff Game feature the home opener for the defending Super Bowl Champion in 2004. The defending champions are 9-1. Only the 2012 New York Giants have lost. (The Ravens also lost last season, but they were given a raw deal, having to play their game in Denver instead of Baltimore)
• This will be the Packers 4th regular season trip to CenturyLink Field in Seattle. They lost 34-24 during a rare Seattle snowstorm in 2006, defeated Charlie Frye and the ‘Hawks 27-17 in Rodgers’ 6th career start in 2008, and ugh…you know the other one. 

Week 2: New York Jets at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, September 14, 2014; 12:00 PM on CBS
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 10-38 December 3, 2006

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• The Packers open their home season in Week 2 against the Jets. This is the Packers only game at Lambeau in September. (From as far as I can tell) this season is the first time since 1940 that the Packers have started the season playing 3 of their first 4 games on the road.
• If the Jets defeat the Packers, they will have won 4 games at Lambeau Field, tying the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans for most all time by an AFC team 
• The last time the Packers shut out an opponent was when they defeated the Jets in New York 9-0 on October 31, 2010.

Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Sunday, September 21, 2014; 12:00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 10-40 November 28, 2013

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• Aaron Rodgers is 4-0 in games he’s started and finished at Ford Field. He’s thrown 10 TDs with only 1 interception.
• Week 3 has been a bit of a cursed week for the Packers in recent years. In 2010, they lost to Chicago 20-17 on a last second field goal in a game in which they committed 18 penalties. 2012 saw the famous “Fail Mary” loss in Seattle 14-12. Last year saw a 34-30 loss in Cincinnati; a game which saw the game winning points scored on a 54 yard return touchdown of a double-fumble after the Packers lost the ball on a 4th down and 1 play. 

Week 4: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Sunday, September 28, 2014; 12:00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: W 33-28 December 29, 2013

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• A win over the Bears in Chicago this season would mark the Packers’ 6th consecutive win at Soldier Field. This would tie the franchise record for most consecutive wins as a visitor in an opposing stadium. The other stadiums where the Packers have won 6 straight as visitors are Tiger Stadium, where they beat Detroit six times from 1938-1944 and, interestingly enough, Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium where the Packers are a perfect 6-0 all-time against the Chargers. (Although this one may be slightly tainted, as the Packers lost a rather notable “neutral site” game at that venue)
• The Packers have not lost to the Bears in a game televised on Fox since Week 16 of the 2007 season (Chicago won 35-7 in a strange, windy game)

Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Thursday, October 2, 2014; 7:25 PM on CBS/NFL Network
Last Meeting in this Venue: T 26-26 November 24, 2013

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• The Packers/Vikings 2013 tie at Lambeau Field provided a couple of firsts for the league. This was the first tie game in league history where both teams scored in overtime (this has only been possible since the new rules were instituted in 2012). Also, the Packers became the first franchise to play 5 tie games since the league instituted regular season overtime in 1974
• Aaron Rodgers missed the last Packers/Vikings game. Rodgers has owned the Vikings in his career. His 26 touchdowns are his highest total against any one team. 
• This will be the 4th appearance by Green Bay on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football. They are 2-1 in that timeslot. Their first appearance occurred in 2006 when they defeated the Vikings at Lambeau Field 9-7.
• This game will also be simulcast on CBS. The Packers and Vikings played many games on CBS when they held the NFC contract from the early days of television through 1993. Since CBS returned to the NFL TV landscape in 1998, it has been impossible for two NFC teams to play each other on that network. 
• This game will be the 3rd of three consecutive games against NFC North opponents. The Packers have faced all three of their division foes consecutively just two other times since the NFC North’s creation in 2002. Luckily for us, both times they won all three games in the stretch. 

Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, October 12, 2014; 12: 00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: W 34-24 October 22, 2006

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• The Packers are 3-10 all-time against the Dolphins. Their .231 winning percentage against Miami is their worst head-to-head record in franchise history. 
• Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin served as a Packers assistant coach from 2003-2011 (Like you didn't all know that)
• These two teams last met in 2010, when the Dolphins defeated Green Bay 23-20 in overtime. They were the only team to beat the Packers at Lambeau from November 15, 2009 through January 20, 2012 (20 games)
• Miami is one of only 4 teams that Aaron Rodgers has never beaten. 

Week 7: Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, October 19, 2014; 12:00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 31-35 November 30, 2008

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• The Panthers have generally been a welcome inclusion on the Packers schedule since they entered the league in 1995. The Packers are 8-3 against Carolina, however 2 or their 3 losses have come at Lambeau Field.
• While the Panthers were one of the biggest surprises of 2013, the past may be against this bunch this season. Carolina has never had back to back winning seasons in their 19 year history. 

Week 8: Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, October 26, 2014; 7:30 PM on NBC
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 29-51 November 24, 2008

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• The Packers have traveled to the Superdome just once in the Rodgers/McCarthy era. This was in 2008 when the Packers were trounced 51-29. Aaron Rodgers posted a 59.8 quarterback rating. This is Rodgers’ worst performance in a dome in his career. Normally, he averages a passer rating of 117.2 indoors. In fact, his loss to New Orleans in 2008 is the last game he has played indoors where his passer rating was lower than 105.0.
• The Packers and Saints have met four times since Mike McCarthy became the head coach in 2006. Each team has won twice. The average score is 38.75 – 29.25. Look for another shootout in 2014.

Week 9: Bye

What you don’t need to know about this week:

• After giving the Packers their earliest bye week in 14 years last season (Week 4), the schedule makers have provided Green Bay with a more traditional bye week this season.
• This is only the second time since the bye week was established in 1990 that Green Bay has had a week off at the true halfway point of the season (the other being 2004).
• McCarthy’s Packers have won 5 straight times in their first game after the bye week. This is the longest streak in team history. Green Bay is 15-10 all time after a bye week. 

Week 10: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, November 9, 2014; 7:30 PM on NBC
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 20-27 November 4, 2013

What you don’t need to know about this week:

•  2013 saw the Bears defeat the Packers at Lambeau Field for the first time since 2007, when Brett Favre was the Quarterback. Interestingly enough, that 07 matchup was the Packers 4th straight loss to the Bears at Lambeau. 
• While this game last season saw the injury of Aaron Rodgers, it also saw Eddie Lacy’s highest yardage total of the season. Lacy pounded Chicago for 150 yards on the ground on just 22 carries (6.82 yards/carry – also a season high).
• For the 6th straight season, the Bears will play at Lambeau Field in prime time. Chicago has only played at Lambeau Field at 12:00 pm once in the last 10 seasons (2008).
• This is the 3rd time in 4 seasons that the Packers have appeared in two Sunday Night Football games in three weeks (2010 Weeks 7 & 9, 2012 Weeks 12 & 14). However, with a bye in the middle, this will be the first time they have played back-to-back games on NBC’s showcase stage. 

Week 11: Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, November 16, 2014; 12:00PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 13-27 November 10, 2013

What you don’t need to know about this week:

• For the second straight season, the Packers play the Eagles at Lambeau a week after playing the Bears in prime time in the same venue. Last season, they lost both games. Hopefully they don’t do that this time (I guess that goes without saying)
• Philadelphia’s 27 points scored at Lambeau last season was the most points they've scored against the Packers in Wisconsin since 1958. 
• Nick Foles only had 0.6% of his passes intercepted last season. That is the 3rd lowest interception percentage in NFL history. Only Damon Huard in 2006 and Josh McCown for the Bears last season (I know right!?) have ever bested that mark, each with 0.4%. However, Huard only threw 244 passes and 11 touchdowns and McCown had 224 attempts for 13 touchdowns. Nick Foles threw 317 passes and a whopping 27 touchdowns. He was historically good last season. 

Week 12: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, November 23, 2014; 12:00PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: W 44-31 October 27, 2013

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• This game will be played outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium. This will be the first Packers/Vikings game to be played outside in Minnesota since 1981 when Green Bay defeated Minnesota 35-23 at Metropolitan Stadium. 
• The Packers final record at the Metrodome was 15-16; not quite the horrific number you might expect. Over the last decade of the Metrodome’s life, the Packers were 7-4 in their former house of horrors. 
• I’m sure Adrian Peterson is wishing this game would be played indoors. He rushed for 865 yards in his 7 games against the Packers in the Metrodome (5.69 yds/carry, 123.6 yds/game). 

Week 13: New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, November 30, 2014; 3:25 PM on CBS
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 0-35 November 19, 2006

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• The Patriots are the only team (other than the Packers) that Aaron Rodgers has not started a game against. When Green Bay played New England in the 2010 season, Rodgers was out with a concussion. He did however see significant playing time their 2006 matchup, when Brett Favre was knocked out in the 2nd quarter with an elbow injury. It was Aaron's third worst appearance of any kind in his career (42.4 passer rating), the Packers lost 35-0, and Rodgers suffered a broken foot that would keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. Hopefully this season goes better. 
• New England is one of only 2 teams Mike McCarthy has never beaten, along with Cincinnati. 
• This will likely be Tom Brady’s final start against the Packers. Currently, he is 2-1 against Green Bay. His lone loss occurred in 2002 at home, when the Packers beat down the Pats 28-10 on the strength of 3 Brett Favre touchdown passes. He has an 87.5 passer rating with 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. 
• The Packers are 17-11 when playing AFC teams in games televised by CBS since the network became the primary AFC broadcaster in 1998.

Week 14: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers
Monday, December 8, 2014; 7:30 PM on ESPN
Last Meeting in this Venue: W 22-21 December 8, 2014

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• This game will take place exactly one year after the Packers 22-21 victory over Atlanta last season. This was Green Bay’s first win in a month and kicked off their dramatic finish that would lead to their 3rd straight division championship.
• While Aaron Rodgers may haunt the nightmares of Falcons fans due to his performances in the Georgia Dome, this is just his second start against Atlanta at Lambeau Field. In both Rodgers and Matt Ryan’s 5th career starts, Matty Ice outdueled A-Rod in a 27-24 shootout in Week 5 of the 2008 season. 
• Aaron Rodgers has excelled in most situations in his career, but he has struggled to find victory on Monday Night. Despite a 94.9 passer rating in this time slot, Rodgers’ Packers are just 3-6 on Monday Night. 

Week 15: Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, December 14; 12:00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 10-24 November 5, 2006

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• Green Bay has never won in Buffalo. They have lost all 5 games they have played there. Their average margin of defeat is 13 points (25-12).
• Buffalo is one of only 3 current NFL cities where the Packers have never won, the others being Indianapolis and Nashville (Tennessee). (Why are the Titans so damn hard to beat!?). 
• This will be Green Bay’s first ever trip to Buffalo after Thanksgiving.
• Green Bay is 11-18 all time in games against AFC opponents that are televised on Fox (including 0-2 against the Bills)

Week 16: Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, December 21; 12:00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: L 28-38 November 8, 2009

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• Raymond James Stadium has been one of the most difficult places for the Packers to play in history. They have only won once in the 8 games they’ve played there (20-13 in 2003)
• While Aaron hasn’t struggled much since becoming the Packers starter, he has had trouble with the Bucs. Aaron’s two worst rated regular season starts came against Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium (57.6 2009 and 55.9 in 2008).
• Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions in a 38-28 loss to the Bucs in November 2009. He has not thrown 3 or more interceptions in a game since. 
• New Bucs Head Coach Lovie Smith spent 9 seasons in Chicago from 2004-2012. He instantly turned the tide in the previously-lopsided Packers/Bears rivalry, winning 6 of his first 8 games against Green Bay (the Bears had only beaten the Packers 6 times in their previous 26 meetings) However, Aaron Rodgers arrived in 2008 and turned the table back toward Green Bay, leading the Packers to victory in 9 of the next 11 games against the Bears. This was a key factor in Lovie Smith’s dismissal after the 2012 season. 
• Tampa Bay’s new uniforms are awful. That is all. 

Week 17: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, December 28; 12:00 PM on Fox
Last Meeting in this Venue: W 22-9 October 6, 2013

What you don’t need to know about this game:

• The Detroit Lions will finish their season in Green Bay for the 4th time in 8 seasons. Of course, they lost all of those previous games (34-13 in 2007, 31-21 in 2008, and 45-41 in the Matt Flynn game in 2011)
• Famously, the Detroit Lions have lost their last 23 games against the Packers in Wisconsin dating back to 1992. Only 6 teams have defeated the Packers 23 or more times in their entire 93 year history (Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Cle/LA/STL Rams, San Francisco, and the New York Giants)
• Since Detroit last won in Wisconsin, 4 expansion teams have been formed, 4 others have moved, 21 teams have changed their uniforms (some multiple times), 25 have built new stadiums, and poor Lions K Jason Hanson played a complete 21-year career without ever winning in the state of Wisconsin. 
• One last interesting stat about the Lions Losing at Lambeau: During Mike Holmgren’s tenure with Green Bay, the Lions lost as many games at Lambeau Field as the Packers did (5). That has less to do with the Lions and more to do with how unimaginably good Holmgren’s teams were at Lambeau (Seriously, 47-5 including playoffs! That’s insane!)
• Mike McCarthy’s Packers are 7-1 in regular season finales. His only loss came 37-34 in 2012 at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers have been an impressive 36-15-2 in regular season finales since 1960 

Hopefully that’s enough to hold you over until September. I hope you found some of these interesting, even if entirely pointless. We will be back with a new show this weekend. In addition to our breakdown of the schedule, we will reveal our personal Top 10 All Time Quarterback Lists. You can contribute your list to the show by clicking this link and filling out this short survey.

Thanks for reading.
-Eric