Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers desperate to avoid 0-2 start - NFL.com

Packers can ill afford two-loss start, given their daunting schedule in 2013

It's just Week 2, but the Green Bay Packers better recognize the importance of winning on Sunday. Washington, Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh would all do well to avoid getting behind the 0-2 eight ball, but Green Bay is the team that needs it most.

The Chicago Bears have a winnable home game against the Minnesota Vikings, while the Detroit Lions stand a fair shot at staying undefeated with a roadie against the Arizona Cardinals. Spotting two division foes a two-game lead to start the season wouldn't be insurmountable, but it'd be tough. Yes, the same is true for the Redskins, who risk getting down two games to Dallas and Philadelphia, but the Pack's remaining schedule is tougher. The NFC North might be the NFL's best division in 2013, and along with those six rugged divisional games, Green Bay has road games in Baltimore and Dallas, plus home games against Philly, Atlanta and Pittsburgh.

Oh yeah, and in Week 3, the Packers must head to Cincy. If both teams are 0-2 entering that game ... yikes!