The NFL schedule officially released tonight after months of anticipation, and the NFC North is getting some pretty good primetime treatment. In total, the NFC North will receive 18 total primetime matchups, with the Packers and Vikings getting five each. Meanwhile, the Bears and Lions each got treated to four primetime games.
Today, we are going to break down every primetime game in the division. We will start with the inter-divisional primetime games, before moving on to the other individual games for every team. Note: holiday games will not be included.
NFC North Primetime Contests
Week 4: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (Thursday Night Football)
A rematch of the Week 18 Sunday Night showdown at Lambeau Field, the Lions will play their third consecutive primetime game at Lambeau Field against a new-look Packers team led by Jordan Love.
Week 12: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (Monday Night Football)
The Vikings will play the Bears on Monday Night Football for the fifth time since 2016, but will be the host team for the first time since 2010. If the Bears meet expectations and the Vikings remain a solid team, this could be an exciting matchup.
Week 17: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday Night Football)
For the third straight year, the Packers and Vikings will meet in Week 17, but the game will be in Minneapolis this time around and will be broadcast on Sunday Night Football. This is a classic Border Battle rivalry, and not much else needs to be said.
Bears Primetime Contests
Week 5 at Washington Commanders (Thursday Night Football)
Remember that sub-par Thursday Night game between the Bears and Commanders from last year? Apparently Prime Video wants to go for a rematch.
Week 8 at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday Night Football)
The Bears will make their third primetime trip to SoFi Stadium, but this time to visit Justin Herbert and the Chargers. If Justin Fields makes the leap that everyone expects him to, this will be a good QB showdown.
Week 10 vs. Carolina Panthers (Thursday Night Football)
The Bears will be one of four teams to get two Prime Video games this year, with their second game being against Bryce Young and the Panthers. Again, if Fields improves, this will be an exciting matchup.
Lions Primetime Contests
Week 1 at Kansas City Chiefs (NFL Kickoff Game)
The hyped-up Lions will get a chance to show what they’re made of when they take on the defending champion Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium to open the 2023 NFL season.
Week 8 vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Monday Night Football)
This was not an expected primetime matchup, but this could be fun as both teams sport electric offenses, at least on paper.
Week 17 at Dallas Cowboys (Monday Night Football, Saturday edition)
The Lions will travel to Dallas for a Saturday edition of Monday Night Football. Though last season’s game in Dallas was a relative doozy, this game should be more of a shootout.
Packers Primetime Contests
Week 5 at Las Vegas Raiders (Monday Night Football)
Davante Adams faces his old squad for the first time since being traded to the Raiders, and Jimmy Garoppolo faces the Packers once again after eliminating them from the playoffs twice as a member of the 49ers.
Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday Night Football)
Patrick Mahomes will make his first career start at Lambeau Field, but this game could potentially get flexing treatment if the Packers aren’t meeting expectations prior to Thanksgiving.
Week 14 at New York Giants (Monday Night Football)
A classic matchup dating back to the late 1920s, the Giants and Packers will renew their rivalry at MetLife Stadium for a Monday Night showdown.
Vikings Primetime Contests
Week 2 at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday Night Football)
The Vikings will take on the Eagles in another Week 2 primetime game, which isn’t ideal, but at least this game is on Thursday Night instead of Monday.
Week 7 vs. San Francisco 49ers (Monday Night Football)
Two of the NFC’s top-three seeds from last year will duke it out in this Monday Night showdown. Did I mention that Kirk Cousins is 0-11 on Monday Night games when not playing the Chicago Bears?
Week 11 at Denver Broncos (Sunday Night Football)
New Broncos head coach Sean Payton will meet an old rival when the Vikings travel to Denver to take on his new team in this edition of Sunday Night Football. Like Chiefs-Packers, this game could be flexed out of primetime if one of or both teams don’t meet expectations this season.
What do you guys think of your team’s slate of primetime games? Did you see any surprises regarding the matchups? Comment your thoughts below and keep it real here at NFCNorthReport.
