The table is finally set: The 2026 regular season schedule is officially out for the Green Bay Packers, who now know the sequencing of the 17 games waiting for them — starting with a Week 1 trip to Minnesota and ending with a visit from the Detroit Lions in the season finale.
Can the Packers, who have made the postseason in all three seasons of the Jordan Love era, finally get over the hump and truly threaten to make it back to the Super Bowl in 2026? Or will the good-but-not-great moniker stick with Matt LaFleur’s team for another year?
Time for way-too-early record predictions from the staff at Packers Wire:
Zach Kruse: 10-7
Call me pessimistic. I just want to see it to believe it. For all the flashes of greatness shown over the last three years, there’s always been a stumbling block — either self-made or by the stroke of bad luck — waiting for the Love/LaFleur Packers. This is a talented football team, led by a strong quarterback/playcaller duo and a star pass-rusher and supported by exciting young players growing into bigger roles, but there are a lot of question marks to be answered entering 2026, and just as many difficult opponents awaiting on the schedule. Overall, the schedule sets up nicely for the Packers, who get a relatively easy opening stretch and then four of the last five at home, with five “mini” byes sprinkled in at advantageous spots. But the early stretch while injured players are out or working their way back will be challenging, the NFC North is going to be competitive, and it’s difficult to trust this Packers team to play its best football to end the year. Maybe they change the narrative in 2026. Maybe they don’t. Expect the Packers to be a tough out every week, compete in the division race all year and eventually qualify for the postseason. But winning the division and hosting playoff games? They’ll need to prove me wrong there. I’ll go with 10 wins and another wildcard spot in the NFC. The regular season is just one step, however. After back-to-back exits in the wildcard round, the 2026 Packers will be ultimately judged on postseason results.
Brandon Carwile: 12-5
You won’t find any NFC North Champion banners hanging in Green Bay, but it’s been five years since the Packers last claimed the division crown. When your nickname is Titletown, that’s far too long. It’s about time Green Bay took back the North and secured a home playoff game. They were on track to do so last year, sitting at 9-3-1 through Week 14 before injuries completely derailed their season. The Packers’ 2026 schedule looks tough on paper, but it’s put-up or shut-up time for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Mark Oldacres: 11-6
The Packers have the third toughest schedule based on records from last season, and reside in one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, with no team having an over/under win total of lower than 8.5. I predicted they would go 12-5 last year, and while they were well short of that, injuries played a huge part. If Green Bay is relatively healthy this season, the minimum expectation should be 10 wins, with the realistic ceiling at 12. We will see how many wins it takes to win an NFC North where it is likely the four teams beat each other up all year long, meaning there is no runaway champion.
Brennen Rupp: 11-6
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Wire staff predictions: 2026 season record after schedule release
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Brandon Carwile, Mark Oldacres and Brennen Rupp, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
