Packers are going to have to earn everything they get in 2025

Not Your Average Third-Place Schedule for the Packers in 2025

After the 2024 Packers finished third in the NFC North, one consolation was that a third-place schedule could set them up for success in 2025, given Green Bay was not your average third-place divisional team. That did not exactly go to plan though, as their 2025 slate is not your average third-place schedule either. 

The tough division the Packers play in contributes massively to making their upcoming fixture list not look as hospitable as they would probably like. No one in NFC North has an over/under of lower than 8.5 wins for the 2025 season, with the Lions at 10.5, the Packers at 9.5, and the Vikings and Bears at 8.5. Green Bay went 1-5 against the division last year, with the lone win coming courtesy of a last-second field goal block against Chicago.

The Packers will have to improve against NFC North foes in 2025 to better their standing within the division at the end of the year. A strong division record will be even more imperative this year, as the rest of their schedule is not exactly a walk in the park either.

The Packers only face three opponents this season with an over/under of lower than 8.5, the Panthers at home (6.5), the Browns on the road (4.5) and the Giants on the road (6.5). Those are ‘gimmes’ in theory, but even then, the Packers have not beaten the Giants since 2019, losing their last two matchups, one in London in 2022 and another at MetLife stadium to Tommy DeVito in 2023.

On the flipside, Green Bay plays six games against teams with 10.5 or better over/unders: Detroit twice, Washington, and Cincinnati are all at 10.5, while Philadelphia and Baltimore are at 11.5. An early bye, coming at the earliest possible time in week five, will not help matters. In the last seven weeks of the season, Green Bay will not play an opponent with an over/under of lower than 8.5, which could have given them some respite.

There is an inherent folly to analyzing an NFL schedule months before a ball is kicked off, and even further from when teams reveal themselves to be better or worse than anyone thought, or get decimated by injuries. But in terms of the logistics of the Packers’ schedule, and the general strength of their opponents, there are very few, if any soft spots or true situational advantages baked in. Green Bay is going to have to earn everything they get in 2025.

Way too early game-by-game predictions for the 2025 Packers

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler and Bill Schmid of the Packers Radio Network go game by game through the Packers 2025 schedule and give their win/loss predictions.

Add Leadership to the Qualities Packers WR Jayden Reed Brings to the Table

When the Packers selected Matthew Golden in the first round of this year’s draft and Savion Williams in the third round, Packers wide receiver reportedly had questions. According to a report by Adam Schefter, Reed’s agent contacted the Packers asking for a clarification of his role in 2025. The agent was reassured that Reed was still a big part of the team’s plans going forward. Despite this alleged uncertainty by Reed, he has been impressing the coaching staff at OTAs this past week by the way he has handled himself and how he has interacted with the other receivers at practice.

Head coach Matt LaFleur came away singing Reed’s praises, telling Chris Simms, “He's one of the guys out there, I mean, he's out there the other day at practice when we're doing some of our drills, and he’s coaching up Matthew Golden,” LaFleur said. “He's a guy I don't worry about, he's going to go out there, he's going to compete, he's going to compete at a high level, he's going to bring up everybody around him as well.”

LaFleur hasn’t been the only coach that Reed impressed with this leadership at OTAs. Passing game coordinator Jason Vrabel has also noticed a difference this year. “Probably the biggest growth is the way his leadership has been right now,” Vrable said. “I really want to commend him because he’s standing behind Matthew Golden right now helping him out with every single play. He’s going over with Mecole Hardman, who just got here, and he’s the one guy right now that I feel – all our guys, the brotherhood is strong right now – but he is like, ‘I’m going out of my way.’ Because he is a natural leader, and he always has been.”

2025 Could Be Kenny Clark’s Green Bay Swan Song

Kenny Clark has been a staple of the Green Bay Packers’ defensive front since way back in 2016. That year, the Packers drafted Clark with the 27th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft out of UCLA—at the ripe old age of 20. He now has three Pro Bowls to his name and has been a defensive pillar through what is now a plethora of defensive coordinators. In fact he is the last remaining player on the roster from before the Brian Gutekunst era, having been a Ted Thompson draft pick. While it feels like he’s been around forever, it’s amazing that Clark is still just 29 years old—he won’t turn 30 until around Week 5 of this season. There’s no doubt that Kenny Clark will go down as one of the great Packers defensive tackles, but it definitely feels like he’s entering 2025 as potentially his final season in Green and Gold.

There’s no denying that 2024 may have been the worst season of Clark’s career. He did manage to start all 17 games plus a playoff appearance, but if you look at the numbers, you might have a hard time guessing that. Clark recorded 37 tackles (20 solo), five quarterback hits, and just one sack. He earned a 60.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF)—his lowest total production since his rookie season. Yet even in that 2016 campaign, he posted a higher PFF grade (74.8), albeit with fewer snaps.

However you look at it, Kenny Clark is facing the most pivotal season of his career as he reaches the decade mark. It’s hard to imagine him playing for Green Bay in 2026 under his current contract, even with a good season—but a bounce-back campaign could change his fate from cap casualty to contract restructure candidate.

One thing is certain: Kenny Clark will once again be an essential piece of this Green Bay Packers defense, and how he performs in 2025 will determine whether he remains in the picture for 2026, or if he is looking for another team for the first time.

Top 5 Most Important Non-Divisional Games in 2025

The Green Bay Packers went 10-1 against non-divisional opponents in their 2024 campaign. However, 7 out of the 11 non-divisional opponents finished with a record below .500. With a rather lackluster schedule last season that included the Packers going 4-0 against a putrid AFC South division, Green Bay was the definition of a team who won the games they should have won but failed to rise to the occasion in the games that mattered most.

The Packers are tied with the Cowboys for the 5th toughest strength of schedule in the upcoming 2025 season with their opponents having a combined winning percentage of .557. 6 out of the 11 non-divisional opponents the Packers will face in 2025 finished with a record above .500. Mark the calenders because here are the five most important non-divisional games for the Packers.

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Packers will have joint practices with Colts and Seahawks

The Packers got good work in against the Broncos and Ravens last summer and hope to do so again with the Colts and Seahawks.

NFL teams are permitted to hold joint practices for as many as four days during training camp, and those can be divided in any way possible. No word yet how many practices the Packers will have against each team but there's a good chance each session will be limited to one joint practice each. Last summer, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur mentioned his team's joint practices with the Patriots a few years ago as an example of what can happen when teams get after it for multiple days in the dog days of summer. After the first day with the Patriots went by without any major incidents, three fights broke out about five minutes into their second joint practice.

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Clifford vs Elgersma: The QB3 Competition

Normally, when you bring a fourth quarterback into camp while having an established QB1, they're just there as an extra hand. A QB4 in Training Camp is often called a "camp arm" as they're assumed to just be there to handle the extra reps for all the extra pass catchers in attendance so that QB1 doesn't get overworked. But that appears to be different this season with the Packers.

They have QB1 in Jordan Love, they have QB2 in Malik Willis, but who's going to be their developmental QB3 for 2025? Sean Clifford had a good start after being drafted in the 5th round of the 2023 draft. He found himself in the QB2 position behind Jordan Love and put together a good enough Training Camp and Preseason that some folks even debated if he should be considered for QB1. Of course, this was an exaggeration, but Clifford made a statement that he could be a valuable backup QB for the future. He was then challenged in 2024 by 7th-round pick Michael Pratt as from what some assumed to be a "prove it" QB2 competition. Unfortunately, neither QB showed they deserved the position, which resulted in Pratt's release, the trade for Malik Willis, and Clifford's demotion to the practice squad.

This offseason, Clifford could even be challenged for that practice squad position. After having him in on a tryout for rookie mini camps, the Packers recently signed QB Taylor Elgersma out of Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada. Packer fans couldn't be blamed at all if they thought of Elgersma's signing as being a camp arm, however, the Packers' previous interest in Elgersma shows that this may not be the case. Back in mid-April, the Packers had Elgersma in on a top-30 visit to Lambeau Field. There is definitely some interest there beyond just taking up practice reps.

Last year, it was believed that Michael Pratt may have been the favorite for the QB2 position over Sean Clifford. Clifford was not QB2, but Michael Pratt ended up out of the Packers' locker room altogether. It's like Clifford has taken a step back in each season. First QB2 and then practice squad. This year, we'll see if he even has a locker at 1265 Lombardi Ave. The competition is on.

What to pay attention to in the Green Bay Packers 2025 schedule

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler breaks down the Green Bay Packers 2025 schedule.

Don’t miss the 25th Anniversary Green Bay Charity Softball Game Hosted by Jordan Love this Friday!

Jordan Love will host the 2025 Green Bay Charity Softball Game presented by Network Health. The Game will start at 7:05pm this Friday, May 23rd at Neuroscience Group Field. Tickets for the game are available right here. Mark your calendar and see you at the ballpark!