Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are coming off of back-to-back disappointing seasons that saw them miss the playoffs. Things have changed in town, however, with Mike McCarthy being fired and replaced by new head coach Matt LaFleur. There is a buzz in Green Bay and the Packers know that they must step up and get back to being a contender.
Looking ahead to the 2019 NFL season, the Packers have to feel more confident than they have been the last couple of years.
While they did lose Clay Matthews and Randall Cobb this offseason, general manager Brian Gutekunst was aggressive in free agency. Green Bay may have to address their wide receiver need in the NFL Draft, but they beefed up their defense in a big way.
Green Bay went out and signed Preston Smith, Za'Darius Smith, and Adrian Amos. All three players fill positions of need and are upgrades over what the team had last season. They also signed offensive lineman Billy Turner to help with protecting Rodgers.
Let's take a look at the five biggest games of the season that will be must-see TV for the fans and key games for their playoff hopes.
5. Week 3 vs. the Denver Broncos
Going up against Joe Flacco and the Denver Broncos is never an easy task, but the Packers have to win this game at home. Lambeau Field will be rocking and the Packers will have their hands full.
Von Miller and the Denver defense will do everything in their power to get to Rodgers. This early in the season, LaFleur and company will have to come together quickly. Green Bay and Denver are fairly even on paper, but this will be an opportunity for the Packers to make a statement early in the year.
4. Week 1 vs. the Chicago Bears
Let's go ahead and get this one out of the way. The first game of the 2019 regular season, the Packers will be squaring off with their bitter rivals. Both teams won a game last season, including Rodgers' heroic comeback win after suffering a serious knee injury in Week 1.
If the Packers are able to take this game and get off to a big start to the season, it could set the tone for the rest of their season.
3. Week 9 at the Los Angeles Chargers
L.A. was one of the top teams in the NFL last season and will host the Packers for an offensive showdown. Philip Rivers and company will be a major test for the new-look Green Bay defense. Rodgers, on the other hand, will be going up against a playmaking Chargers' defense that can get to the quarterback and force turnovers.
This game will come after a Sunday night matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Packers will be in the middle of a tough stretch of games. Getting this win would be huge for the Packers.
2. Week 16 at the Minnesota Vikings
Any time the Packers face off against the Vikings, fans will be watching. This is a bitter NFC North rivalry as well and both teams are looking to get back into the playoffs. There is a chance that both teams will be needing this win to make a playoff push with just one week left in the year after the matchup.
Kirk Cousins has received a lot of heat this offseason and the Vikings are going to have something to prove. Green Bay will have to travel to Minnesota and take care of business.
1. Week 8 at the Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday night is by far the best matchup for the Packers this season. For fans that love offense, this will be a game to watch.
Traveling to Kansas City is not easy and the Packers will do so in primetime. Rodgers and company will have to put up big numbers to keep up with Mahomes and the Chiefs, while the defense will face their toughest test of the year. Everyone has this matchup marked on their calendar and it won't disappoint.