The Chicago Bears have been a team all about tradition for the longest time. It seems in 2018 though that they finally decided this wasn’t in the best interests of the organization. So bit by bit they’ve been bucking trends. They hired an offensive head coach and built an offense around a young quarterback. It’s been a year of firsts in many respects. Now it’s possible the Bears could buck another trend next season.
For years the standing operation for an NFL season is that the defending Super Bowl champion plays the opening game of the year at home against a prominent opponent. That could be changed for the first time in over a decade. The NFL is about to enter its 100th anniversary season and it seems there’s a feeling something special should be done for it.
According to multiple sources including Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com, there’s a growing sense the NFL could make the Bears-Packers rivalry game the opening night matchup of 2019.
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
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It isn’t hard to see the logic in this. Chicago vs. Green Bay always tends to deliver in the ratings and both teams are prominent now. The Bears made the playoffs and the Packers still have Aaron Rodgers. Lump that in with the fact this is the oldest rivalry in the NFL and two of the founding franchises of the league.
Odds are NFL fans at large won’t hate the matchup. It rarely disappoints in terms of excitement when placed in a big spot. That shouldn’t change with such a big moment at stake.
