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          NFL Nation

          Green Bay Packers' schedule opens with two straight road games for first time in 92 years

          The Packers hope to have wide receiver Jordy Nelson back at full strength when the 2016 season begins. Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports
          • Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff WriterApr 15, 2016, 12:33 AM
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              Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA. You can follow him on Twitter at @RobDemovsky.
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          Breakdown: What do 1924 and 2016 have in common for the Green Bay Packers? They’re the only two seasons in franchise history that have started with consecutive road games. It surely will be a lot warmer in Jacksonville, Florida, on Sept. 11, when the Packers open against the Jaguars than it was when the Packers lost to the Duluth Kelleys 6-3 on Sept. 28, 1924. They followed that with a 3-0 loss at the Chicago Cardinals. This season's opening stretch is at Jacksonville and at Minnesota (to open the new U.S. Bank Stadium). For now, there are five prime-time games (pending flexible scheduling), including a Thursday night home game against the Bears for the second consecutive season. Statistically, it’s the easiest schedule in the league, but the disjointed layout of it might be the most challenging aspect.

          Complaint department: Last season, the Packers never had more than two consecutive games on the road or at home. This year, it’s much more imbalanced. They play three straight on the road (at Tennessee, at Washington and at Philadelphia in November) for the first time since 2012. That’s actually part of a stretch of four on the road in five games. It follows four consecutive home games (plus the Week 4 bye) against the Lions, Giants, Cowboys and Bears. Coach Mike McCarthy isn’t usually a fan of the early bye; the Packers had the same Week 4 bye in 2013. But given the extra preseason game this summer, the timing might be better.

          Deciding the NFC North: It’s not quite the four-game division stretch the Packers had last season with two games against the Lions sandwiched around games at Minnesota and home against the Bears in late November/early December, but the defining stretch in the division might come over the final three weeks this season. The Packers play each of their division rivals to finish the season: at Chicago in Week 15, home against the Vikings in Week 16 and at Detroit in the regular-season finale. Last year, the Packers went 3-3 in NFC North games but all three losses came at home.

          Strength of schedule: 32nd, .457.

          Packers Regular Season-Schedule (All times Eastern)

          • Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11, at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

          • Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, Detroit, 1 p.m.

          • Week 4: BYE

          • Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, NY Giants, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, Dallas, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 20, Chicago, 8:25 p.m.

          • Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30, at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

          • Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, Indianapolis, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

          • Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, at Washington, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 12: Monday, Nov. 28, at Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, Houston, 1 p.m.

          • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, at Chicago, 1 p.m.

          • Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, Minnesota, 1 p.m.

          • Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Detroit, 1 p.m.