A couple of days ago, the NFL announced that the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears would kick off the 2019 campaign on September 5th in the Windy City. Courtesy of the NFL’s press release that I receive for being a real big journalist:
The NFL’s 100th Season will kick off with a classic rivalry as the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, September 5 at 8:20 PM ET on NBC. This will be the 199th meeting between the Bears and Packers, including regular-season and post-season games.
The Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will raise their championship banner on NBC Sunday Night Football in Week 1 at 8:20 PM ET on Sunday, September 8. Their opponent will be announced when the full 2019 regular season schedule is released later this spring.
I’m usually a ‘don’t mess with tradition’ guy. I love the Super Bowl champs kicking off the season on that first Thursday night game. It’s almost poetic, don’t you think? Not to get too cheesy, but the team that closes the bar down, so to speak, for the previous year, getting the first run on the new season.
That’s always been a cool deal to me. But, this is a neat way to incorporate the rich history of two of the NFL’s most storied franchises, and one of its deepest rivalries, to celebrate 100 years of NFL football.
It’s probably coming at a good time, too. Let’s face it – Patriots fatigue set in for a lot of folks a looooooooong time ago. Another Thursday night season kickoff with the New England Patriots raising yet another banner?
Yeah, this is probably a nice little breath of fresh air for a lot of fans.
Not to mention, this should be a good match-up between two teams that figure to be contenders in 2019. It’s going to be interesting for several reasons. How do the Bears rebound from that early exit in the playoffs? How does Matt Nagy follow up a ‘Coach of the Year’ performance? What will the new-look Packers defense look like? How’s the marriage between Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers going to go?
*sigh*
Is it September yet?
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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