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It’s almost here. The start of the Green Bay Packers’ 2018 season — the franchise’s 100th year of football — and the push for Super Bowl LIII begins this weekend. And how else would such a momentous year begin than with a game against the team’s oldest rival?
That’s just what we have on tap in week one, as the Packers host the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football to close out the first NFL Sunday of the year. Interestingly, this is the eighth straight year that the game at Lambeau Field between the two legendary franchises will be in prime time. The last three years the Packers hosted Chicago on Thursday nights, with early-season matchups in 2017 and 2016 and a Thanksgiving night game in 2015; going back from there they played on Sunday night, Monday night, Sunday night, and Thursday night again in 2011, with the last non-night game coming in week 17 of the 2010 season.
Leading the storylines in this game are the massive new contracts signed by Aaron Rodgers, which made him the highest-paid player in NFL history, and newly-acquired Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack, who became the highest-paid defensive player in league history. Count on those numbers coming up early and often in the game broadcast.
With the game on the horizon, here’s a look at how and when to get tuned in for Sunday’s opener.
WHO
Chicago Bears (0-0) and Green Bay Packers (0-0)
WHERE
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin
WHEN
Sunday, September 9, 2018
7:20 PM Central Time
HOW
TV Broadcast: NBC (national broadcast)
Commentators: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tafoya
Online Streaming: NBC Sports Live
Radio Broadcast: Packers Radio Network, Westwood One Sports
ANYTHING ELSE?
Odds
Packers favored by 7.5 points
Over/under total: 47.5
All-Time Series Record
Regular Season: Packers lead 95-93-6
Playoffs: Tied 1-1
2017 Meetings
Week 4: @Packers 35, Bears 14
Week 10: Packers 23, @Bears 16
Fun Fact
The Packers have won on the first weekend of the NFL regular season 55 times, the most of any team in league history. The Bears are in second place with 54.