The coffee is brewing, the bratwursts are marinating, and you’re staring at a blank TV screen wondering exactly when to flip the switch. It's the classic Sunday struggle. You want to know when does packer game start, but between flexible scheduling and playoff chaos, the answer is rarely as simple as "noon."
If you were looking for the Green Bay Packers on the field today, January 15, 2026, the news is a bit of a gut punch. The Packers' 2025-2026 season officially hit a wall just five days ago. On Saturday, January 10, Green Bay traveled to Soldier Field for a Wild Card showdown against the Chicago Bears. That game kicked off at 7:00 PM CT (8:00 PM ET) and aired on Amazon Prime Video. Unfortunately for the Cheesehead faithful, the Packers fell 31-27, meaning there are no more "kickoff times" to track until the preseason begins this summer.
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Tracking the Moveable Feast of NFL Kickoffs
NFL scheduling is basically a puzzle designed to drive fans crazy. Gone are the days when every home game was a guaranteed noon kickoff at Lambeau. The league loves "flex scheduling," which essentially means they can move a game from a sleepy afternoon slot to the bright lights of Sunday Night Football with just a few days' notice.
Take this past season as a prime example. On December 20, the Packers played the Bears in a game that was originally supposed to be an afternoon affair. The NFL pulled the flex trigger, moving it to an 8:20 PM ET slot to capitalize on the rivalry. If you hadn't checked your phone that Tuesday, you would have shown up to the tailgate five hours early.
It’s all about ratings. The league wants Jordan Love and the young receiving corps in front of as many eyeballs as possible. This means if you're asking when does packer game start during the regular season, you have to look at the broadcast partner.
- CBS and FOX usually handle the 12:00 PM and 3:25 PM CT slots.
- NBC owns the Sunday Night Football window at 7:20 PM CT.
- ESPN/ABC takes the Monday night stage at 7:15 PM CT.
- Amazon Prime has claimed Thursday nights and, as we saw this year, specific playoff games.
The Weirdness of Week 18 and Postseason Times
The season finale is always the most chaotic. The NFL doesn't even announce the Week 18 times until the Sunday night of Week 17. They do this to ensure that games with playoff implications are played at the same time, preventing teams from resting starters if they already know their fate. This year, the Packers' finale against the Vikings on January 4 was a 12:00 PM CT start, but it wasn't confirmed until the very last second.
Once you hit the playoffs, you're at the mercy of the "Super Wild Card Weekend" rotation. This year, the Packers were the No. 7 seed, which landed them in that Saturday night slot on January 10. It’s a fast turnaround, especially for a team coming off a physical divisional battle.
Why 2026 Will Look Different
Since the season is over, the focus shifts to the 2026-2027 schedule. We already know the opponents, even if the exact dates and times won't be out until May. Green Bay finished second in the NFC North this year, which dictates their "placeholder" games against other second-place finishers like Dallas and Houston.
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Honestly, the home slate for next year looks brutal but exciting. You've got the Bills and Dolphins coming to the frozen tundra, along with the usual divisional suspects. If you’re planning a trip to Lambeau for the 2026 season, keep in mind that the NFL usually releases the full schedule with exact dates and "initial" times in mid-May.
How to Stay Ahead of the Flex
To avoid being the person who misses the first quarter because they thought it was a late game, you need a system. Don't trust the magnet on your fridge from August.
- Check the 12-day window: Starting in Week 5, the NFL can flex games to Sunday night. They have to make the call 12 days in advance.
- The 6-day "Emergency" Flex: In Week 14-17, they can sometimes move things with only six days' notice. It’s rare, but it happens.
- Local Radio: If you're in Wisconsin, Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren are the gold standard. They'll be talking about the kickoff time three days straight on WTMJ.
Next season is going to be a fascinating test for Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love. After the heartbreak in Chicago, the expectations for the 2026 opener—likely in early September—will be sky-high. Whether that first game is a Thursday night season opener or a traditional Sunday noon start, the one thing you can count on is that the schedule will change when you least expect it.
The best move right now is to keep an eye on the NFL Draft in April. That’s the first real "event" of the new season. Once the schedule drops in May, book your hotels, but make sure they have a flexible cancellation policy. In the modern NFL, the clock doesn't start until the networks say it does.
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Keep your apps updated and your Sundays clear. The road to the 2027 Super Bowl starts long before the first whistle blows.