Strength of Schedule
Heading into the 2019 season, it seemed like the Packers were going to have to an average schedule in terms of QB play. On paper, Green Bay had the benefit of playing Mitchell Trubisky, whoever the Redskins were going to play at QB and whoever the Giants were going to play at QB, but they also were in line to face the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Cam Newton, and Phillip Rivers, but fortunately for the Packers, the QB’s they eventually had to play changed drastically.
During Week 8, Instead of playing arguably the greatest QB in the NFL right now in Patrick Mahomes, the Packers ended up playing Matt Moore. Green Bay would eventually end upbeat beating Matt Moore and the Chiefs 31-24.
During Week 9, the Packers did end up playing Phillip Rivers, but this wasn’t the Phillip Rivers everybody was used to as he was having one a very poor season by his standards. Green Bay would end up losing to Rivers and the Chargers 26-11.
During Week 10, the Packers were supposed to play Cam Newton, but Cam suffered a foot injury in Week 2 that sidelined him for season, and instead Green Bay played against Kyle Allen. Green Bay would end up defeating Kyle Allen and the Panthers 24-16.
The Packers also benefited from Matt Stafford going down with an injury as well as they only had to play him once. During Week 17, Green Bay played David Blough and would end up beating Blough and the Lions on a game-winning field goal.
Heading into the 2020 season, the Packers schedule in terms of QB’s is much harder than before. Here is a chart of who they played last year compared to who they will likely play this upcoming season:
| 2019 | 2020 |
| Mitchell Trubisky | Kirk Cousins |
| Kirk Cousins | Matt Stafford |
| Joe Flacco | Drew Brees |
| Carson Wentz | Matt Ryan |
| Dak Prescott | Tom Brady |
| Matthew Stafford | Deshaun Watson |
| Derek Carr | Kirk Cousins |
| Matt Moore | Jimmy Garoppolo |
| Phillip Rivers | Gardner Minshew |
| Kyle Allen | Phillip Rivers |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | Mitchell Trubisky |
| Daniel Jones | Carson Wentz |
| Dwayne Haskins | Matthew Stafford |
| Mitchell Trubisky | Teddy Bridgewater |
| Kirk Cousins | Ryan Tannehill |
| David Blough | Mitchell Trubisky |
As you can see, the schedule that the Packers are facing in 2020, compared to 2019 is much tougher. Green Bay wasn’t losing easy games against the likes of Kyle Allen, Daniel Jones, David Blough, Matt Moore, and Joe Flacco, and are replacing them with tough games against the likes of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Ryan Tannehill, and Deshaun Watson.
I’m not saying the Packers are going to get demolished by their new tougher competition, but Green Bay’s defense is going to have a much harder time dealing with these much more talented QBs they are set to face.
