Where Do the Packers Play Tonight? What Fans Are Getting Wrong About the Schedule

Where Do the Packers Play Tonight? What Fans Are Getting Wrong About the Schedule

If you’re scrambling to find the TV remote or checking your sportsbook app to see the point spread for a Green Bay game right now, I have some news that might sting a little. The short answer to where do the Packers play tonight is actually nowhere.

As of today, January 16, 2026, the Green Bay Packers are officially in offseason mode. It’s a weird feeling for a fan base that’s used to deep January runs, but the reality is the season ended just a few days ago in a way that’s still probably keeping Matt LaFleur up at night.

What Actually Happened to the Packers Season?

Honestly, the confusion is understandable. We just came off a Wild Card weekend where the Packers were very much in the mix. They traveled to Soldier Field on Saturday, January 10, to face their eternal rivals, the Chicago Bears. It was a classic, gritty NFC North battle, but the Packers ended up on the wrong side of a 31-27 scoreline.

That loss effectively turned out the lights on the 2025-2026 campaign.

So, while the NFL Divisional Round is about to kick off this weekend, the Packers won't be part of it. The "tonight" part of your search is likely hitting a wall because the team is currently busy with exit interviews and roster evaluations rather than lining up at a stadium.

The Wild Card Heartbreak in Chicago

If you missed the game or blocked it out for your own mental health, here is the gist of why tonight is quiet in Green Bay:

  • The Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago.
  • The Result: A narrow 31-27 loss to the Bears.
  • The Seeding: Green Bay entered as the No. 7 seed after a rollercoaster 9-7-1 regular season.
  • The Turning Point: A late-game surge by Chicago's defense that the Packers' offensive line just couldn't solve in the final four minutes.

It’s a tough pill to swallow. Watching the Divisional Round from the couch is never the plan in Titletown, especially when you lose to a division rival.

Where Do the Packers Play Next? Looking at 2026

Since there isn't a game tonight, the real question becomes: when and where do they suit up next? We actually already know who they are playing in the 2026 season because the NFL's scheduling formula is basically a math equation that doesn't care about our feelings.

The 2026 schedule is going to be a gauntlet. Because the Packers finished second in the NFC North (behind those pesky Bears), they are slated to play a specific rotation of teams. They’ll be facing the entire NFC South and the AFC East.

2026 Home Opponents at Lambeau Field

You can expect the usual suspects plus some heavy hitters coming to 1265 Lombardi Avenue.

  1. Chicago Bears: The revenge game.
  2. Detroit Lions: Always a shootout lately.
  3. Minnesota Vikings: The border battle continues.
  4. Atlanta Falcons: A young team that’s becoming a problem.
  5. Carolina Panthers: Usually a cold-weather advantage for the Pack.
  6. Buffalo Bills: This is the big one. Josh Allen in the frozen tundra? Yes, please.
  7. Miami Dolphins: Hopefully, this one is scheduled for December to give them the "Miami flu" (shivering).
  8. Dallas Cowboys: Because the NFL can’t go a year without this drama.
  9. Houston Texans: A cross-conference clash with a lot of firepower.

2026 Road Trips

Packers fans are known for traveling well, and 2026 has some great destinations. They’ll be heading to the usual divisional spots (Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis), but they also have dates in New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and a trip to the Northeast to face the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. There’s also a West Coast flight on the books to face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

Common Misconceptions About the Schedule

I see people searching for game times on Friday nights a lot. It’s worth noting that unless it's a special Black Friday game or a very rare late-season flex, the NFL rarely plays on Friday nights to avoid clashing with high school football. If you're looking for the Packers on a Friday in January, you're almost always going to find an empty stadium.

👉 See also: Who Won the Kansas City Chiefs Game: How Kansas City Pulled Off the Impossible Against the Chargers

Another thing: people often think the "No. 7 seed" gets a second chance or some kind of play-in. Nope. In the NFL, it’s one and done. That Saturday night in Chicago was the end of the road.

The State of the Roster Heading Into the Spring

Jordan Love and the crew have a lot of soul-searching to do. While the 9-7-1 record showed flashes of brilliance, the inconsistency is what killed them. Defensively, there are questions about the secondary that will likely be addressed in the draft or free agency.

Keep an eye on the salary cap situation. The Packers have some decisions to make regarding aging veterans and whether they want to go "all in" for 2026 or continue this "retooling while winning" approach they've been doing.

Actionable Next Steps for Fans

  • Stop checking the TV guide for tonight: Take a breath. The stress of the season is over for a few months.
  • Watch the Divisional Round anyway: It’s good to scout the competition. The Rams and Bears are still alive in the NFC, and seeing how they handle the pressure can tell you a lot about what Green Bay needs to do differently.
  • Mark your calendar for the NFL Draft: It usually goes down in late April. That’s the next "big event" where the Packers will actually be "playing" (in the front office sense).
  • Check the official schedule release in May: That’s when we’ll get the exact dates and times for those 2026 matchups I mentioned earlier.

The Packers aren't playing tonight, but the road to the 2027 Super Bowl starts with the decisions the front office makes this week. Grab a brat, put the jersey in the wash, and get ready for a long, interesting offseason.