The Green Bay Packers escaped a difficult four-game stretch to start the 2019 season with an encouraging 3-1 record, but the next five games will likely define the direction of Matt LaFleur’s first season.
The stretch, which begins Sunday in Dallas, features three road games against potential playoff teams and zero games against teams currently possessing a losing record.
The Packers faced a similar stretch last season, playing four important road games in five weeks coming out of the bye. Mike McCarthy’s team went 1-4 during the stretch, submarining the season and eventually leading to his early departure.
LaFleur’s job isn’t in jeopardy, but a promising start to 2019 could evaporate quickly if the Packers can’t survive the gauntlet awaiting his team over the next five weeks.
Here’s what LaFleur’s team is facing between Weeks 5-9:
| Week | Opponent | Record |
| 5 | at Cowboys | 3-1 |
| 6 | vs. Lions | 2-1-1 |
| 7 | vs. Raiders | 2-2 |
| 8 | at Chiefs | 4-0 |
| 9 | at Chargers | 2-2 |
Make no mistake about it: The Packers have an opportunity to announce themselves as legitimate contenders in the NFC by going into Dallas and beating the Cowboys on Sunday. Starting the season with road wins in Chicago and Dallas would be nothing short of incredible for a team that didn’t win away from Lambeau Field until Week 16 last season.
Expectations for 2019 would need to be reset for LaFleur’s team if they arrive home from Dallas with a 4-1 record, especially with home games against the Lions and Raiders looming.
Beating the Cowboys won’t be easy. They have difference-making playmakers on offense, including an All-Pro running back, and a defense fully capable of shutting down a Packers offense that is still attempting to find an identity. Aaron Rodgers has owned the Cowboys in AT&T Stadium, but Sunday’s visit might be his most difficult trip yet, especially if Davante Adams doesn’t play.
There’s really no such thing as a “must win” game in October, but the Packers will really need to beat the Lions and Raiders at home.
The first half of the equation looks increasingly difficult. The Lions already have wins over the Chargers and Eagles, and they nearly scored the win of the season with NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and the unbeaten Chiefs in town last Sunday.
The Chiefs and Chargers both won 12 games last season. Each team has an elite quarterback. Winning games on the road against the league’s best passers is arguably the most difficult task in the NFL. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Packers dropped both games. In fact, they’ll likely be underdogs in each game.
If the Packers can win three or more of the next five games, they’ll be in terrific shape to make a second-half run.
But if LaFleur’s team goes 1-4, like McCarthy’s last year? Well, that 3-1 start would be a distant memory if the Packers are sitting at 4-5 entering Week 10.
The Packers had an opportunity last season to pave a legitimate path to the playoffs with road games in Los Angeles, New England, Seattle and Minnesota. They lost all four games and dropped to 4-6-1 after 12 weeks, essentially eliminating themselves from playoff contention. One week later, they lost to Arizona at home and then quickly fired McCarthy.
A new opportunity awaits this season. LaFleur’s team survived a tough early stretch, but the next five games will likely determine if the 2019 Packers are a serious contender or a transitioning team.
