Packers ‘likely’ to play Bears in 2019 Thursday Kickoff Game, per report
The NFL’s oldest rivalry could be set to open the new season.
Usually, the season-opening Thursday Kickoff Game is hosted by the defending Super Bowl champions.
But that could be set to change for the 2019 season.
According to Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune, the Green Bay Packers “will likely” play on the road against the Chicago Bears in the opening game of the 2019 season.
Hearing the Packers at Bears game will likely be the 2019 season’s Thursday Kickoff Game to recognize the NFL’s 100th anniversary.
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) February 3, 2019
If the NFL decides to kick off the season with a game not hosted by the winners of Sunday’s Super Bowl, the Packers-Bears game would be a good choice. It’s the longest rivalry in the NFL, and would be a fitting start to the league’s 100th season.
And if it’s anything like the season-opener between these two teams this past season at Lambeau Field, it would be the perfect opener for the 2019 season.
That evening, the Packers were down 20-0 and Aaron Rodgers injured his knee and was out of the game. But his surprising return led to the greatest comeback of his career, and one of the best in franchise history, Green Bay winning the game 24-23.
Rodgers’ comeback earned him the “Moment of the Year” award at the NFL Honors event on Saturday evening.
This would be a tough start for the new-look Green Bay Packers under head coach Matt LaFleur. A primetime game on the road against the defending NFC North champions. But it would be a great opportunity for the Packers to show they are contenders again in 2019 by winning on the road.
What are your thoughts? Should the Super Bowl winners always host the NFL’s season opener, or would the Packers-Bears game be a good choice to open the NFL’s 100th season?
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Also, should a key divisional game like this be played in the season opener or saved until later in the year?