If you’re a fan, you know the feeling. The final whistle of the season blows—this time a tough 31-27 Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears just about a week ago—and your brain immediately pivots. You stop mourning the missed tackles at Soldier Field and start wondering: who do the Green Bay Packers play next?
It is January 2026. The 2025 season is technically still alive for some teams, but for the Cheeseheads, the eyes are on the future. We just watched Jordan Love navigate a wild 9-8-1 regular season. Now, we look at the rotation. The NFL doesn't just pull these games out of a hat. There is a formula. A rigid, sometimes cruel, but predictable formula.
Because the Packers finished third in the NFC North this year, the 2026 schedule is already coming into focus. You won't get the official dates and times until the "schedule release" spectacle in mid-May, but we know the names. We know the stadiums.
The Lambeau Field lineup for 2026
There is nothing quite like a December game at Lambeau. The 2026 home slate looks like a gauntlet of familiar faces and a few coastal visitors. Since the Packers finished third in their division, they get a "third-place" schedule for their rotating games.
First, the obvious. Detroit, Chicago, and Minnesota are coming to town. That’s non-negotiable. After a year where the North felt like the best division in football, these games are going to be massive.
But look at the rest. Based on the NFL's scheduling rotation, the NFC North is matched up against the NFC West and the AFC South for 2026.
At home, you're likely looking at visits from the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. Think about that. Jordan Love vs. Brock Purdy in the frozen tundra. It’s the kind of game the league loves to flex into a Sunday Night slot. You’ll also see the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts making the trip to 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
Honestly, seeing C.J. Stroud in Green Bay is a treat for any football purdy, even if he's trying to carve up our secondary. Because the AFC will have the 9th home game this year (the "17th game" rotation), the Packers will actually play nine road games and eight home games in 2026.
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Taking the show on the road
Away games are a different beast. Packer fans travel better than almost anyone, so expect a lot of green and gold in places you wouldn't expect.
The road trips for 2026 take the team out West and deep into the South. You've got the standard NFC North trilogy in Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago. Beyond that, prepare for trips to see the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals.
Ever been to Seattle for a game? The "12th Man" is real, and the environment is hostile, but the Packers have a long, storied history of weird things happening in that stadium.
Then there’s the AFC South swing. The Packers will be heading to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans and down to Florida for a date with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If you're looking for a "vacation game," Jacksonville in October or November is usually the smart bet for anyone living in the Fox Valley.
Why the 2025 finish matters for who do the Green Bay Packers play
The NFL uses a "parity" system. Everyone plays their division twice. Everyone plays one full NFC division and one full AFC division. But those last three games? Those are determined by where you sat in the standings when the 2025 regular season ended.
Green Bay’s 9-8-1 record landed them behind the Lions and the Bears.
This means instead of playing the first-place teams from the other NFC divisions, they play the other third-place finishers. In 2026, that translates to games against the third-place team in the NFC South (at home) and the third-place team in the NFC East (on the road).
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Based on the 2025 final standings, that means the New Orleans Saints are coming to Lambeau, and the Packers are likely heading to the East Coast to face the Washington Commanders or New York Giants, depending on the tiebreakers.
What most people get wrong about the schedule
I hear it all the time at the bars in Ashwaubenon: "The league is rigging it so we have a hard schedule."
It’s just math. The "Strength of Schedule" (SOS) is a moving target. On paper, playing the 49ers looks terrifying right now. But a lot happens between January and September. Injuries, retirements, and the draft change everything.
People also forget about the "17th Game." This is an inter-conference game based on standings. For 2026, the NFC North is paired with the AFC East. Since the Packers finished third, they will play the third-place team from the AFC East on the road. Keep an eye on the New York Jets or Miami Dolphins for that slot.
Imagine a late-season game in Miami. It’s basically a home game for the Packers given how many fans fly down there.
Breaking down the 2026 opponents (The "Who" and "Where")
If you're planning your 2026 travel or looking to renew your season tickets, here is the basic breakdown of the opponents.
At Lambeau Field:
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- Chicago Bears (The oldest rivalry in the books)
- Detroit Lions (The new kings of the North)
- Minnesota Vikings (Skol-ing their way into our backyard)
- San Francisco 49ers (A perennial playoff hurdle)
- Los Angeles Rams (McVay vs. LaFleur)
- Houston Texans (The Stroud era comes to GB)
- Indianapolis Colts (A rare AFC South visit)
- New Orleans Saints (The third-place NFC South matchup)
On the Road:
- Chicago Bears (Soldier Field revenge tour)
- Detroit Lions (Ford Field is never easy)
- Minnesota Vikings (Inside that glass palace in Minneapolis)
- Seattle Seahawks (Loud, rainy, and difficult)
- Arizona Cardinals (A dry heat and a lot of Cheeseheads)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (Sun, sand, and Trevor Lawrence)
- Tennessee Titans (Music City road trip)
- NFC East Opponent (Likely Washington or NY Giants)
- AFC East Opponent (The 17th game—likely the Jets or Dolphins)
The Jordan Love factor in 2026
By the time the 2026 season kicks off, Jordan Love won't be the "new guy" anymore. He’ll be a veteran leader with several playoff starts under his belt. The 2025 season was a rollercoaster—that tie game in Week 4 against Dallas was a head-scratcher—but the growth was there.
The 2026 schedule is actually somewhat favorable. You get the 49ers and Rams at home. You avoid a road trip to San Francisco, which has historically been a house of horrors for Green Bay.
The defense is the big question mark. We saw them struggle against Baltimore in late 2025 (that 41-24 loss stung). Playing high-octane offenses like the Texans and Rams will require a secondary that doesn't just "bend but not break," but actually takes the ball away.
Actionable steps for Packers fans
If you're serious about following the team, don't just wait for the schedule to drop.
- Book your "Tundra" hotels early. Once the NFL announces the official dates in May 2026, prices in Green Bay triple instantly. Look at the home opponents above. If there's a game you know you want to see—like the 49ers—consider booking a "refundable" hotel room for several different October/November weekends now. You can always cancel the ones that don't match the schedule later.
- Watch the AFC East and NFC East tiebreakers. The "17th game" and the "Place-to-Place" game are the only ones not fully locked in yet. Keep an eye on the final league meetings in February to see if there are any changes to the international game rotation.
- Check your passport. The NFL is expanding its international presence. There is a very real chance one of those "away" games (like the Seahawks or Jaguars) could be moved to London or Germany. If you’re a season ticket holder, this affects your "Gold Package" vs. "Green Package" status.
The 2026 season represents a huge opportunity. The North is wide open. The roster is young. And now you know exactly who is standing in the way.