Green Bay Packers: 3 takeaways from 2019 schedule

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GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 16: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings passes under pressure from Muhammad Wilkerson #96 of the Green Bay Packersat Lambeau Field on September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Vikings and the Packers tied 29-29 after overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

3. Playoff contenders right out of the gate

The Packers open up the season at the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football. It’s the oldest rivalry in football and the second season in a row these two teams meet to begin the season. And on National Television nonetheless. The Packers then return home to host the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles in consecutive weeks before returning to the road to face the Dallas Cowboys.

The Bears and the Cowboys made the playoffs last season and will be contenders once again in 2019. The Vikings missed last year, but have more than enough talent to return to the postseason. And the Broncos aren’t complete rollovers.

The stiff competition presents a challenge for Green Bay. It will be an early measuring stick and we’ll see just how prepared this new coaching staff is after the first five games of the season. It will be impressive if they can rack up a couple of wins against potential playoff teams right out of the gate. However, the potential for a slow start is also there.

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