So, if you woke up today, January 16, 2026, and were frantically checking for the kickoff time for a green bay game today, I’ve got some bad news. There isn't one. The Packers’ season is officially over. It’s a bitter pill, especially considering how things looked just a week ago.
Green Bay’s 2025-26 run hit a wall at Soldier Field on Saturday, January 10. They lost 31-27 to the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card round. It was one of those games that makes you want to throw your remote through the drywall. Honestly, the way they let it slip away—giving up a massive lead and watching the defense crumble in the fourth quarter—is going to haunt Lambeau Field all winter.
The Wild Card Heartbreak
The Packers entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed after a weird, up-and-down 9-7-1 regular season. They were the underdogs, sure. But for three quarters in Chicago, they looked like the better team. Jordan Love was dealing, the run game was clicking, and it felt like another "Packers-own-the-Bears" chapter was being written.
Then the wheels fell off.
Chicago’s rookie sensation Colston Loveland and the rest of that Bears offense started carving up Jeff Hafley’s secondary. An 18-point lead evaporated. The final score, 31-27, doesn't even fully capture the feeling of the collapse. It was the kind of loss that shifts the entire conversation from "how far can they go?" to "who is getting fired?"
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Why Everyone Is Talking About Matt LaFleur Today
Even though there’s no green bay game today, the team is dominating the headlines for all the wrong reasons. There’s a massive power struggle brewing in the front office.
Reports from ESPN’s Rob Demovsky suggest that new CEO Ed Policy might want to revert to the "old way" of doing things—basically giving General Manager Brian Gutekunst full authority over the head coach. Currently, LaFleur and Gutekunst both report directly to the CEO. Changing that dynamic while LaFleur is asking for a massive contract extension (rumored to be around $15 million a year) is creating a lot of friction.
- The Record: LaFleur is 1-5 in his last six playoff games.
- The Staff: Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley is already interviewing for head coaching jobs, with the Titans and Falcons showing interest.
- The Roster: Star tackle Zach Tom is likely headed for surgery on a partially torn patellar tendon.
It’s a mess. Fans are split. Half the town wants to reward LaFleur for getting a young team to the dance, while the other half is tired of seeing the same postseason meltdowns.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Schedule
Since we aren't watching a green bay game today, we might as well look at what’s coming next fall. The NFL has already finalized the 2026 opponents. It’s not going to be an easy road.
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Because the Packers finished second in the NFC North, they’ve got a slate that includes the NFC South and the AFC East. That means games against the Bills, Dolphins, and a trip to face the Rams in LA.
2026 Home Opponents
You’ll see the usual divisional rivals—Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota—at Lambeau. But the Packers will also host the Cowboys, Texans, Falcons, Panthers, Bills, and Dolphins. Seeing C.J. Stroud and Josh Allen come to 1265 Lombardi Avenue will be the highlights of the home calendar.
2026 Road Trips
The away schedule is a gauntlet. Green Bay has to travel to New Orleans, Tampa Bay, New England, and the New York Jets. They also have that tough matchup against the Rams in Los Angeles. If you’re planning a fan trip, New Orleans in the fall is usually the winner, but don't sleep on a late-season game at MetLife against the Jets.
The Zach Tom Injury Factor
One huge reason there isn't a green bay game today is the offensive line's health. Zach Tom tried everything to play against Chicago. He even did PRP injections to try and stabilize that knee. In the end, he couldn't go.
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He admitted this week that he just wasn't competitive in pass protection during practice. When your Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle is sidelined, and you’re facing a pass rush like Chicago’s, you’re in trouble. Tom is now weighing surgery options, which will be a major storyline to follow during the OTA period this spring.
What You Should Do Now
Since the season is done, the focus shifts to the "Underwear Olympics" and the front office drama. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here is how you should spend your off-season:
- Watch the Coaching Carousel: Keep an eye on Jeff Hafley. If he leaves for a head coaching gig, LaFleur has to find his third defensive coordinator in three years. That kind of turnover is rarely good for a young locker room.
- Monitor the Extension Talks: If the Packers don't lock LaFleur down by March, things will get awkward. Watch for news regarding Ed Policy’s restructuring of the front office hierarchy.
- Draft Prep: Green Bay will likely be looking for secondary help and depth on the offensive line. Start looking at Mock Drafts that focus on safety and interior swing guards.
The road to the 2026 season starts with these front-office decisions. It sucks not having a game to watch this afternoon, but in Green Bay, the drama never really stops.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Salary Cap: Head over to OverTheCap to see how much room Gutekunst has to work with. Spoiler: It's tight, especially if they pay LaFleur and Jordan Love's cap hit escalates.
- Review the 2026 Opponent List: Start looking at flight prices for New Orleans or Los Angeles if you plan on attending an away game next season.
- Follow Local Beats: Keep tabs on beat writers like Wes Hodkiewicz or Pete Dougherty for the latest on Zach Tom’s surgery schedule.