NBC must love the Green Bay Packers, they'll get three cracks at the Pack in prime time this fall. The NFL schedule came out last night and the Packers will play three Sunday night games on NBC, two of them at Lambeau Field. There are 4 prime time games in all, with a Monday nighter at Soldier Field in September. Let's rate the slate for 2010. For the first time in 5 years, the Packers open on the road at Philadelphia September 12 facing not Donovan McNabb, but Kevin Kolb in the opener at the Linc. The home opener is the following Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, still the weakest team in the AFC East. Then it's the prime time trip to Chicago to face the Bears on September 27. The Detroit Lions come to Lambeau on October 3, looking for their first win on Wisconsin soil in 20 years. On October 10, it's off to Washington where they'll see McNabb working under Mike Shanahan. Next, the heavyweights arrive, the Sunday nght NFC North showdown with the Vikings on October 24, a visit to the new Meadowlands Stadium against the New York Jets on Halloween. On November 7, the Cowboys come to town for the second Football Night In America showcase. The bye week is next, as late as its ever been for the Pack in week 10. Plenty of time to pack their bags as four of the next five games are on the road. At the Metrodome for the Vikings rematch on November 21, then its off to Atlanta on the 28th. The 49ers are back in Green Bay for the second straight year on December 5, the rematch with the Lions is at Ford Field on December 12. The final prime time date is at New England against the Patriots on Sunday night, December 19. The Packers finish with two at home, against the New York Giants in a 3:15 kickoff at Lambeau the day after Christmas, then they'll ring in the new year on January 2 in the finale against the Bears. At first blush, the schedule looks easy at the start, rough in the middle and chilly down the stretch with one dome game wrapped around 4 outside from December on. While everyone wants to pencil in the wins and losses in April, it's a futile exercise but 2010 is clearly a prime time show for the Pack. Next on the agenda of course is the NFL draft, only a day away and as we continue our draft preview series, we'll give you a crash course in how Ted Thompson sets up his draft board.



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