The NFL scheduling the Green Bay Packers two Netflix games in 2026 stole headlines after the league’s schedule release. But fans shouldn’t overlook how favorable the slate looks for Micah Parsons and the Packers at the beginning of the 2026 season.
In September, the Packers could still be without Parsons, one of the top edge rushers in the league. But CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell argued Green Bay might not have been able to handpick better opponents to begin 2026.
“The league’s schedule makers gifted Green Bay a relatively soft schedule during the first month of the campaign in which they’re projected to be without their best defensive players,” wrote Podell. “The Packers first games will be against four squads that all missed the postseason a year ago.
“Three of the four also possess uninspiring quarterbacks, which is an ideal situation for a Parsons-less Packers defense.”
The Packers will face the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to begin 2026.
With that start, Podell called Parsons and the Packers winners of the 2026 NFL schedule.
“That’s a pretty favorable stretch for the Packers before Week 5 when they return home to Lambeau Field to host the archrival Chicago Bears with Parsons eligible to return to play.”
Parsons is likely to miss the start of 2026. On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the edge rusher could begin the campaign on the PUP list.
Should that happen, Parsons will miss at least four games.
Micah Parsons, Packers Get Favorable Slate to Open 2026 Season?
It can be dangerous to imply a single opponent or any stretch of games easy. Of Green Bay’s first four games, three of them will also be on the road.
But Podell strongly argued the Packers will benefit from their early season slate.
In their first four games, the Packers will see two teams that could have quarterback competitions this summer. In its other two games, Green Bay could face veteran Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, who is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he struggled.
If those four quarterbacks play as they did in 2025, the Packers defense is capable of stalling each of those teams offenses even without Parsons.
NFL Releases Packers 2026 Schedule
Including the Packers matchup with the Falcons, the NFL scheduled the Packers for six primetime matchups. Five of those contests will be at Lambeau Field.
The lone exception is the Packers-Rams showdown on Thanksgiving Eve. That game will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Packers have another standalone game on Christmas Day versus the Chicago Bears. That kickoff will be 1 pm ET at Soldier Field.
Both the matchups versus the Rams and Bears will be on Netflix.
Overall, those contests and schedule should give the Packers a really exciting slate in 2026. It’s also a slate, as long as one has the streaming services, that fans will be able to follow in primetime.
Thanks to the early road games, a lot of Packers contests in the second half of the season are at home. The Packers will only travel to Chicago during the final five weeks of the season.
Micah Parsons, Packers Get Great News With 2026 NFL Schedule