Packers-Bears game thread to kick things off!

Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Football is back tonight with a game we all can care about!

Typically the NFL season begins with the Super Bowl champions hosting a team on Thursday nights. At least, that’s how it’s been the last couple years.

This year is a bit different as the NFL is doing their NFL 100 promotions for their longevity and is kicking things of with the historic Bears/Packers rivalry. The game kicks off at 5:20 p.m. PT on NBC, with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in the booth.

The Chicago Bears had one of the league’s best defenses in 2018, but the loss of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will sting. Fangio went to be the head coach of the Denver Broncos and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano will take over on that side of the ball. Mitch Trubisky heads into his third season in the league and this will be the year he needs to step things up.

The Packers have their own coaching issues. They fired Mike McCarthy after a brutal loss to the Arizona Cardinals. In comes Matt LaFleur, a proponent of those Kyle Shanahan offenses the league seems to like these days. Aaron Rodgers is a fan. Or was, since there’s now some scuttlebutt going on about his ability to audible in the system. Regardless of the system, Rodgers is one of the best improvisational quarterbacks ever and if the offense isn’t working, he’ll just do his own thing.

The one thing that’s been absolutely hilarious is the vignettes that have been airing over the week. If you watched Saturday Night Live in the 80s and 90s, you might remember the reoccuring sketch, Bill Swerski’s Superfans. One of the more memorable episodes was the late Chris Farley’s character having a heart attack and saving himself by thumping his chest really hard with his fist while his cohosts said “ahhh, nice recovery.” These guys sat in a bar and would always praise “Da Bears” while thinking of Mike Ditka as a god.

Well, they took that concept and started making some sketches. This has led to some hilarious stuff with Brett Favre and a kicker referencing Double Doink from 2018. . They also have one where Peyton Manning becomes a “Super Fan”

This will be our open thread tonight. Happy football. The San Francisco 49ers get going on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Packers vs. Bears

Time: 5:20 p.m. PT
Location: Lambeau Filed
Channel: NBC
Live Stream: NBCSports.com
Fubo: You can stream here
Odds: Pick ‘em

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