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From The Vault: NFC North Schedule Ryan's Reaction: Who's Scared of Green Bay? (May 21)
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From the Packernet vault, originally aired May 21, 2026.
The 2026 NFL schedule is out, and Ryan does something more useful than reading the Packers' games in order. He goes division-wide to see how the Vikings, Lions and Bears are feeling about their slate, and specifically what each fanbase thinks about facing Green Bay.
The Vikings are the story. The optimism is loud and the Packers disrespect is real. Week one at home is already being called a win, Kyler Murray is apparently the missing piece to eleven-plus wins, and Brian Flores is apparently worth more than an actual roster. Ryan is not pleased. The Lions are a different conversation: they give Green Bay its due, acknowledge the Packers swept them last year, and know they have something to prove. The Bears land somewhere in the middle, with plenty of assumptions about Caleb Williams taking a big jump in year two under Ben Johnson, but at least they treat the Christmas matchup at Soldier Field like it matters.
Ryan's takeaway: all four NFC North fanbases are projecting double-digit wins. Someone's going to be very wrong.
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