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Packers receive a season-altering update that could make their path forward much easier than anyone expected

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Wendell Ferreira | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 12:54 PM ET

When the Green Bay Packers looked at their schedule for 2025, it certainly felt like a challenging season was ahead. The NFC North teams would play the AFC North and NFC East, making it a rough slate of games.

Out of a sudden, though, the situation doesn't seem nearly as complicated as it did before the season. Any year, surprises happen, and it feels like this year's ones are benefitting the Packers.

Aaron Schatz from FTN Fantasy, the man responsible for the highly-respected DVOA rankings, adjusted his schedule strength projections based on what happened in the first five weeks of the season, and the situation for Green Bay, especially for the defense, is much more promising.

On defense (measuring opposing offenses):

Cardinals go from 27th schedule so far to hardest remaining.

Vikings go from easiest to No. 2 hardest.

Commanders go from 30th to No. 4 hardest.

Schedule gets much easier for these defenses: Jets, Packers, Ravens
— Aaron Schatz (@ASchatzNFL) October 10, 2025

Easier schedule than initially projected

According to Schatz, the schedule gets much easier for the Packers' defense, in addition to the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.

So far this season, the Packers faced a slew of great offenses — Detroit Lions (4th), Washington Commanders (8th), Dallas Cowboys (5th). Moving forward, the schedule gets much easier. The next few defensive matchups are against the offenses of the Cincinnati Bengals (31st), Arizona Cardinals (25th), Pittsburgh Steelers (18th), Carolina Panthers (26th), Philadelphia Eagles (14th), New York Giants (28th), Minnesota Vikings twice (27th), and Chicago Bears (23rd).

The most challenging games for the defense will be the second one versus the Lions, the Denver Broncos (12th), and Baltimore Ravens (16th).

Some of these were not expected before the season. The Vikings regressed more than projected without Sam Darnold at quarterback, the Ravens haven't been nearly as effective even with Lamar Jackson on the field, and the Bengals don't have Joe Burrow.

It's a favorable schedule for the Packers' defense, and Jeff Hafley should be ready to take full advantage of this.

How the Packers are doing

With four games over the first five weeks of the season, the Packers are seventh in total DVOA — a metric that takes into consideration advanced performance stats and balance it based on the opponents faced.

The defense is third, being the best aspect of the team so far — despite one bad game against the Cowboys. The offense is seventh, despite one poor game against the Browns (sixth best defense in football so far). As expected, the worst phase of the team is special teams, where the Packers are 25th.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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