The Green Bay Packers have been the talk of the NFL in recent weeks. What will come of the Aaron Rodgers saga is all people around the league want to talk about because the whole landscape could change in one fell swoop.
As long as the Packers have Rodgers under center, they will remain contenders. They have won 13 games and made the NFC Championship game two straight seasons, so they are on the cusp of the ultimate success. If he holds out or is traded, another team will move into contender status and the Packers will witness the end of another era.
Alas, no matter who is under center, the Packers will have 17 regular-season games to play this season. Which drew our attention? Here are the five biggest games on the Packers’ 2021 schedule.
5. Week 6 @ Chicago Bears
Week 6 could be the first time that the Packers see the newest franchise quarterback in the division, Justin Fields. The Bears traded prime draft capital to the New York Giants to move up to the No. 11 spot in the 2021 NFL Draft to nab Fields.
The Minnesota Vikings were reportedly hopeful that Fields would drop to them, which would have been equally as bad for the Packers since both are division rivals. It would be an odd sight, seeing the Bears and Packers take the field and the Bears possibly having the quarterback advantage.
4. Week 9 @ Kansas City Chiefs
The NFL thrives on marquee matchups, especially when it is star quarterbacks facing off. When the Packers and Chiefs faced off in 2019, Patrick Mahomes was injured and not playing. The Packers won that game 31-24 in Arrowhead Stadium, and now we may finally get the superstar matchup we want to see.
While this game isn’t on prime time in Week 9, it is the Game of the Week 4:25 slot, and it doesn’t get much better than this. As long as Rodgers is on the Packers, this game will be must-see TV.
3. Week 12 vs. Los Angeles Rams
If the Packers are going to make it to the NFC Championship for a third consecutive season, the path very well could go through Los Angeles and the Rams. The Packers will be facing off with a familiar foe, as longtime Detroit Lions quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is now leading the Rams’ offense after a blockbuster trade this offseason.
This is another Game of the Week time slot for the Packers, as the rivalry between Stafford and Rodgers will hopefully, have one more chapter added to it.
2. Week 17 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Divisional games are of the utmost importance in the NFL. This late in the season, every game is important, especially against another playoff-hopeful team in the NFC North rival, Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings are looking to knock the Packers off their pedestal in the division, which they have won two consecutive seasons. Kirk Cousins was brought in to help compete against the Rodgers-led Packers but has yet to fulfill that goal. Could this be the season Cousins helps the Vikings’ breakthrough as division champs?
1. Week 1 @ New Orleans Saints
Week 1 is the most important game for the Green Bay Packers this season because we will see how serious Aaron Rodgers is about not playing.
Can the Packers repair this relationship enough to get him on the field for the first game of the season against the new-look Saints, who will be without the retired Drew Brees? Or will Rodgers stick to his guns and not play another snap for the Packers organization.
This is a game everyone around the league will be paying attention to because the Rodgers ramifications impact more than just the Packers.
