2009 Schedule Dope Sheet
The Green Bay Packers' regularseason schedule containing five nationally televised games was released early this evening by the National Football League.
The Packers will play each of their www.officialfootballredskins.com/15_josh_morgan_jersey_authentic_black_limited_cheap.html NFC North opponents in front of a national audience, including a primetime opener in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field and a Thanksgiving game in Detroit against the Lions in Week 12.
Green Bay also will travel to Minnesota to take on the rival Vikings in Week 4 for the first of two appearances on Monday Night Football.
"It's great to see that the NFL and our network partners feel strongly about the national appeal and popularity of the Packers, with five of our games slated for national broadcasts," President and CEO Mark Murphy said. "For those taking in games at Lambeau Field, we'll now
begin our detailed planning with our sponsors for creating the great gameday fan experience."
The Packers' other appearance on Monday night comes Dec. 7 in a Week 13 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field. It marks the first MNF game played at Lambeau Field in the month of December.
2009 marks the 17th consecutive season the Packers have appeared on Monday Night Football, the NFC's longest active streak.
Green Bay's fifth game in front of a national TV audience comes against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10. The Nov. on FOX. The fifth home game on the schedule, the Cowboys contest is slated as a Gold Package (Milwaukee seasonticket holders) game. Cincinnati comes to Lambeau Field in Week 2 for the other Gold
"I'm excited for the 2009 regular season we have a great opportunity starting with two home games and three early division games," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "Playing on Monday night after Thanksgiving will give us a chance for another break before the final
month. Historically we've been strong in December, and we'll look to rise to that challenge."
Green Bay's final four games of the season, including matchups against Super Bowl XLIII opponents Arizona and Pittsburgh, as well as the club's final division game of the season in Chicago, are all subject to the NFL's flexible scheduling.
Built into the schedule for Sundays from Weeks 1117, flex changes must be announced 12 days prior to kickoff, except for Week 17, which is announced on six days' notice.
Green Bay is not a candidate to be flexed in Week 11 against San Francisco because the team plays just four days later against Detroit on Thanksgiving. The Packers also are not a candidate to be flexed in Week 13 because of the Monday night matchup against the Ravens.
Though their bye week comes early, the Packers will get some extra rest coming off the Week 12 Thanksgiving contest. They won't play until the following Monday night, Dec. 7, at home.
The Packers have five games against playoff teams from a year ago (Week 4 at Minnesota, Week 8 vs. Minnesota, Week 13 vs. Baltimore, Week 15 at Pittsburgh and Week 17 at Arizona).
The first four games of the season will be broadcast on four different networks. After the bye week, Green Bay has seven straight games on FOX and could have 11 of the last 12 on the network, pending the NFL's flex scheduling. Also dependent upon the flex scheduling is the amount of 12 Josh Morgan Black Jersey noon starts, which at this point is set for 10 games.
Green Bay plays three of the four teams who played in last season's conference championships. All three games (vs. Baltimore, at Pittsburgh, at Arizona) occur in the season's final five weeks. Making the season's final stretch tougher too is the fact that three of the final four games will be on the road.
For the first time since 2003, the Packers will not play a division opponent in the season's final three weeks.
STAFF CHANGES HEADLINE OFFSEASON
On the heels of a disappointing 610 season, a new defensive staff and scheme headlined the changes this offseason at 1265 Lombardi Ave.
Dom Capers was brought in as defensive coordinator, and the Packers will begin the transition to a 34 scheme.
Joining Capers on the defensive staff are Mike Trgovac (defensive line), who spent the last six years in Carolina as defensive coordinator; outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene, third on the NFL's alltime sacks list and a former player under Capers; and safeties coach Darren
Perry, who most recently coached in Oakland and also played under Capers. Assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach Winston Moss remains on the staff, as does Joe Whitt Jr., who spent 2008 as defensive quality control before his promotion to cornerbacks coach this offseason.
Shawn Slocum was promoted to special teams coordinator after serving as the unit's assistant each of the last three seasons. Curtis Fuller, a former Packers safety and training camp coaching intern, will serve as his assistant. New strength www.officialfootballredskins.com and conditioning coordinator Dave Redding is entering his 23rd season at the NFL level, while Scott McCurley (defense) and John Rushing (offense) will serve as the quality control coaches.
THE SCHEDULE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
No sport exhibits parity like the National Football League, making it almost impossible to predict what teams will look like when they line up across from the Packers next fall.
And as coaches often say, it's not who you play, but when you play them. Looking at the schedule five months before the regular season kicks off, it certainly appears as though the offensive unit faces a number of challenges in 2009.
Under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers have finished among the NFL's top 10 offenses each of the last three seasons. What's more, 100 percent of the offensive production from 2008 remains on the roster, with additional weapons likely on the way through the NFL Draft and free agency.