Man, looking back at the Green Bay Packers 2024 schedule is like rewatching a movie where you know the ending but still find yourself yelling at the screen. People talk about the 11-6 record like it was this smooth, upward trajectory, but honestly? It was a total rollercoaster. If you just look at the final standings, you're missing the real story of how this team almost fell apart in Brazil and then somehow became a defensive juggernaut by December.
The Green Bay Packers 2024 Schedule and the Elite Wall
Here is the thing about that 2024 slate: it was brutal. We’re talking about the fourth-toughest schedule in the league based on opponent win percentages. And the Packers felt every bit of it. The weirdest part about the season wasn't just who they played, but how they played against the big dogs.
Green Bay went 0-6 against teams that finished four games or more over .500. Think about that. They were basically the kings of beating the teams they were supposed to beat, going 11-1 against everyone else. But when the Lions, Vikings, or Eagles showed up? It was like hitting a brick wall.
That Weird Trip to Brazil
Starting the year in São Paulo against the Eagles was basically a fever dream. Friday night, Week 1, on a field that looked like a slip-and-slide. Jordan Love going down with that knee injury in the final seconds? I think every fan in Wisconsin stopped breathing for a solid minute.
Losing 34-29 sucked, but the real panic was the thought of Malik Willis—who had been in the building for about ten minutes—having to save the season.
When the Defense Actually Saved the Day
We’ve spent years complaining about the Packers' defense. Basically, it’s a regional pastime in Green Bay. But Jeff Hafley came in and changed the vibe. The 2024 Green Bay Packers schedule saw the team force 31 turnovers. Thirty-one! That’s a massive jump from the 18 they had the year before.
Xavier McKinney was the absolute steal of free agency. Five interceptions in his first five games? That's not real life; that's Madden on rookie mode. He and rookie Evan Williams turned the secondary from a liability into a "no-fly zone" faster than anyone expected.
The Mid-Season Grind
- Week 2-3: Malik Willis somehow manages the clock and beats the Colts and Titans. Total shocker.
- Week 4: The first meeting with the Vikings. Losing 31-29 at Lambeau was a gut punch, especially with Aaron Jones doing the Leap in the wrong jersey.
- Week 7: A 24-22 nail-biter against C.J. Stroud and the Texans. This was the moment people started thinking this team might actually be a contender.
The Jordan Love Paradox
Jordan Love's stats in 2024 look pretty similar to 2023, which has some people worried. 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions isn't exactly "MVP frontrunner" territory. But you've gotta look at the context. The guy was playing on a bum knee and a strained groin for half the year.
Once he got healthy after the Week 10 bye, he turned into a different human. Between Week 11 and Week 13, his passer ratings were 113.0, 107.7, and 129.2. He was taking the checkdowns. He wasn't forcing the "hero ball" throws that led to those 11 early-season interceptions.
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The Thanksgiving game against Miami was probably the peak. 30-17 win, Love finally gets his turkey leg, and the offense looked unstoppable.
Why the Division Games Mattered So Much
The Packers finished 1-5 in the NFC North. That’s ugly. The only win came in Week 11 against the Bears, and let’s be honest, we got lucky. Karl Brooks blocking that 46-yard field goal at the buzzer is the only reason the Packers didn't get swept by the division.
The Actionable Reality of the 2024 Season
If you're trying to figure out what this means for the future, stop looking at the 11-6 record and look at the roster age. This was the youngest team to make the playoffs in 2024, averaging 25.3 years old. They were basically a college team playing on Sundays.
What you need to keep an eye on moving forward:
- The Red Zone Fix: They went from 29th in the league to scoring on 11 of 15 trips late in the season. That’s the Josh Jacobs effect.
- The Cap Space: After being broke for years, the front office is looking at roughly $62 million in space for the next cycle.
- The "Elite" Gap: Until LaFleur finds a way to beat the Lions and Eagles of the world, 11 wins is the ceiling. They need more than just "taking care of the ball" to jump into that top tier.
The 2024 season didn't end with a trophy—it ended with a 22-10 Wild Card loss back in Philly—but the foundation is clearly there. The schedule was a gauntlet that exposed their flaws against elite speed, but it also proved that Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme is the real deal.
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To truly understand this team, stop looking at the final scores and start looking at the turnover margin. When they won the turnover battle, they were nearly unbeatable. When they didn't, they looked like the youngest team in the league.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
Check the official Packers salary cap updates on OverTheCap to see how Brian Gutekunst uses that $62 million. Specifically, look for whether they prioritize a veteran corner to pair with Jaire Alexander or if they double down on the offensive line to keep Love's jersey clean.