The 2016 Green Bay Packers season was their 98th season overall, 96th season in the National Football League, and the 11th under head coachMike McCarthy. Despite a 4–6 start to the season, the Packers went on a 6-game winning streak to finish the regular season with a 10–6 record. The team clinched the NFC North for the fifth time in six years with their week 17 win over the Detroit Lions. They routed the fifth-seeded New York Giants 38–13 in the wild card round of the playoffs and defeated the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys 34–31 in the divisional round of the playoffs, but their season came to an end when they were beat by the second-seeded Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game 44–21.
As the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Packers experienced during the 2015 free agency period, the team received two compensatory selections for the 2016 draft.[20] Free agent transactions that occurred after May 12, 2015 did not impact the team's formula for determining compensatory selections for the 2016 draft.[21]
Thompson traded three picks to the Indianapolis Colts for their second round (48th overall) and selected Jason Spriggs. Thompson traded the Packers' second round pick (57th overall) a fourth-round pick (125th) and a seventh-round pick (248th).[22]
^ abDetroit finished ahead of Tampa Bay for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents — Detroit's cumulative record against Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New Orleans was 3–2, while Tampa Bay's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
^ abNew Orleans finished ahead of Philadelphia based on better record vs. conference opponents.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The Packers wore their throwback uniforms for this game.
The Dallas defense forced four Green Bay turnovers. It was the first time since 2008, and second time in Cowboys history, that Dallas had won at Lambeau.
This was the Packers first loss wearing throwback uniforms.
Week 7: vs. Chicago Bears
Week Seven: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
For the first time since 1989, the Packers wore their white jerseys at a home game. As part of the NFL Color Rush, they wore white jerseys and white pants for the first time.
Week 8: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Eight: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Despite Aaron Rodgers throwing for 4 touchdowns and the team holding a 32–26 lead with less than a minute left in the game, Matt Ryan threw a game-sealing touchdown pass to wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to stun Green Bay. The Packers drop to 4-3 after the last-second loss.
Week 9: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week Nine: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Despite Aaron Rodgers throwing for 3 touchdowns and just one interception, the Colts got their first victory at Lambeau since 1988 with a 31–26 win. The Packers drop to 4–4 with the loss.
Week 10: at Tennessee Titans
Week Ten: Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
The Packers fell to 4-6 for the first time since 2006. Days later, Aaron Rodgers coined the phrase "Run The Table", which the Packers did by going on an 8-game winning streak (6 regular-season, 2 playoff) that lasted until the NFC Championship against the Falcons.
Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week Twelve: Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
With the 27–13 win, the Packers improved to 5–6. This was the start of an eight-game winning streak going into the NFC Championship against the Falcons.
Week 13: vs. Houston Texans
Week Thirteen: Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
The Packers beat the Texans for the first time at home 21–13 to improve to 6–6 at a snowy Lambeau Field. With the Texans' loss, no team has an undefeated record at Lambeau. This was also the first time the Packers had beaten a Houston NFL team at home.
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
The Packers intercepted Russell Wilson a career-high five times as the Packers routed the Seahawks 38–10 to improve to 7–6. Aaron Rodgers, with his 3:0 TD-INT ratio in this game, posted a 150.8 passer rating, the highest allowed by the Seattle defense (which was without safety Earl Thomas, who was out for the year with a broken leg) since Pete Carroll became the Seahawks' head coach in 2010.
Week 15: at Chicago Bears
Week Fifteen: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
The Packers led 27–10, but the Bears came back and tied the game at 27. Aaron Rodgers then threw a 60-yard pass to Jordy Nelson to set up a Mason Crosby field goal to win 30–27 and improve to 8–6.
The Packers tied the series with the Bears for the first time since 1933.
Week 16: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week Sixteen: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Vikings
3
10
0
12
25
Packers
14
14
0
10
38
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date: December 24
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C), cloudy
Game attendance: 77,856
Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
The Packers defeated the reeling Vikings 38–25 to improve to 9–6 as Rodgers became the first quarterback to throw for 300 yards against the Vikings defense. With the win, the Packers eliminated the now 7-8 Vikings from the playoffs.
Week 17: at Detroit Lions
Week Seventeen: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
The Packers hosted the fifth seeded New York Giants, who defeated the Packers at Lambeau in the 2007 and 2011 playoffs. It was also a rematch of week five, which was won by the Packers 23–16. The Giants had one of the best defenses in the NFL going into the game, but Rodgers threw for 4 touchdowns, including a 42-yard Hail Mary pass to Cobb at the end of the first half as the Packers would lead 14–6. The Packers went on to rout the Giants 38–13 and would travel to face the top-seeded Cowboys.
NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Dallas Cowboys
NFC Divisional Playoffs: (4) Green Bay Packers at (1) Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
This game was a rematch of week six, a game the Packers lost 16–30. However, unlike the previous meeting of these two teams, the Packers were expected to give the Cowboys difficulties. Dallas clinched the #1 seed as well as home-field advantage, but the Packers were able to prevail and upset the Cowboys with a Mason Crosby field goal as time expired 34–31.
NFC Championship: at (2) Atlanta Falcons
NFC Championship: (4) Green Bay Packers at (2) Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
This was the end of an 8-game winning streak for the Packers as they were crushed 44–21. The Packers were scoreless until they scored a touchdown when they were behind 31–0 as Atlanta took an early 7–0 lead and never trailed from there. Green Bay's 24-0 halftime deficit was also then the largest deficit Aaron Rodgers had faced in his entire career. This would later be surpassed with the 27-0 halftime deficit the Packers would face in the 2019 NFC Championship, which resulted in a 37-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Probowler[29] Week 7: FedEx Air Player of the Week (Quarterbacks)[31] Week 14: NFC Offensive Player of the Week[32] Week 14: FedEx Air Player of the Week (Quarterbacks)[31] Week 16: NFC Offensive Player of the Week[33] Week 16: FedEx Air Player of the Week (Quarterbacks)[31] NFC Player of the Month – December[34]
