The Green Bay Packers have five games left on their regular-season schedule after the bye week. With the Pack still in contention for the top overall seed in the NFC with a 9-3 record, every contest will be important.
Still, not all games are equally challenging. Here is a look at the Packers five remaining games in the 2021 regular season and their relative degree of difficulty:
Week 14: Chicago at Green Bay
The Bears invade Lambeau Field in the second meeting between the NFL’s oldest rivals this season. The Packers won the first meeting in Chicago 24-14 back in Week 6.
The Bears are presently 4-7 heading into this week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Packers fans will be rooting for Chicago to pull off the upset this weekend in a rare occurrence.
The Bears continue to struggle on offense even though Matt Nagy has gone back to veteran Andy Dalton at quarterback over rookie Justin Fields. In fact, the Bears haven’t scored more than 20 points in a game and won since they beat the Raiders in Week 5.
The Packers are clearly the more talented team and they will be at home, but the Bears always get psyched up to play the Packers and few games in this rivalry are easy or one-sided.
Chicago’s defense, even without the injured Khalil Mack, is still a solid unit that often keeps the Bears close in games.
Degree of Difficulty: 5 out of 10
Week 15: Green Bay at Baltimore
The Ravens are 8-3 entering this weekend’s divisional matchup against the Steelers. They are in first place and have won three of their last four games.
The Ravens have a unique offense led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson is improving as a passer but is even more dangerous when he runs the football. He leads the Ravens with 707 yards on the ground and is averaging 5.7-yards per attempt. No other Ravens player has gained more than 324 yards rushing.
The Ravens are second in the NFL in rushing defense but are more vulnerable to the pass.
This is probably the toughest game left on the schedule. It’s on the road against a likely playoff team that features an unorthodox offense. Running quarterbacks have often given the Green Bay defense problems in recent seasons.
Because this game is against an AFC opponent, it is also the game the Packers can afford to lose if it had to drop one game down the stretch.
Degree of Difficulty: 8.5 out of 10
Week 16: Cleveland at Green Bay
The Pack hosts the Brown on Christmas Day in a game that will likely have playoff implications for both teams.
Cleveland’s offense has struggled as of late with Baker Mayfield seemingly unable to find his groove. The Browns have scored fewer than 20 points in six of their last seven games although their strong defense helped them win three of those contests.
The key for the Packers defense will be to slow down running back Nick Chubb who is averaging nearly 100-yards per game on the ground.
Defensively, Cleveland is stronger against the pass than the run and it will be a challenge for Aaron Rodgers to move the football consistently on the Browns secondary.
Green Bay is at home on national television and they will be favored, but this will not be an easy game.
Degree of Difficulty: 7 out of 10
Week 17: Minnesota at Green Bay
The Packers look to avenge their only division loss this season when they host the Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football.
The Vikings may have running back Dalvin Cook back for this game, but they beat the Packers earlier this season on the strength of Kirk Cousins downfield passing to Justin Jefferson.
The Packers hope to have some of their injured Pro Bowlers back by the time this game takes place. Certainly, if they can get Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith back, it would strengthen the defense. Rashan Gary also missed the Vikings game which hampered the Packers pass rush.
This game will likely be tougher if the Vikings are still in contention for a wild card spot.
Degree of Difficulty: 8 out of 10
Week 18: Green Bay at Detroit
We are in December and the Lions are still looking for their first win of the season. Could they be 0-15-1 heading into this game? Would that put more pressure on the Packers not to lose this game?
Green Bay is a deeper and more talented team than Detroit. We are still not sure if the Packers will need this game or if they will already be locked into a playoff slot going in. If the game is meaningless for the Packers, they may rest Rodgers and several other starters to keep them healthy for the playoffs.
Even on the road, this isn’t such a big challenge although the Lions have played the Packers tough in many recent games in the Motor City.
Degree of Difficulty: 3 out of 10
You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers