One glance at the Chicago Bears’ 2019 schedule and it’s easy to see that there are plenty of marquee match-ups that present some intriguing storylines.
Revenge is a common theme for the Bears in 2019, as they get the opportunity to face off against former Bears and the lone team that delivered them their only division loss last season. It also reunites Matt Nagy with some former colleagues as the second-year head coach looks for his team to continue to make strides this season.
While it’s far too early to start judging the Bears’ schedule and making predictions, it’s not too early to start examining some of the more headline-worthy contests that will surely garner some national attention.
Here are five games with intriguing storylines to watch in 2019.
A NEW CENTURY OF BEARS FOOTBALL BEGINS with a classic rivalry
Week 1 vs. Green Bay (Sept. 5)
What better game to kickoff the NFL’s 100th season than a clash between bitter rivals Chicago and Green Bay. With the Bears also celebrating their 100th season, the NFL went against the Super Bowl-winning team hosting the first game of the new season to honor the tradition that comes with a historic season. And it doesn’t get any better than Bears-Packers — and this time it’s at Soldier Field.
Last season, the Packers hosted the Bears in primetime at Lambeau Field to celebrate their own 100th season. While the Bears came one-point and one dropped-interception short of what’s typically a hard-earned victory against the Packers, Sept. 5 promises an opportunity to finish it out this time.
PROTÉGÉ VS. MENTOR. TRUBISKY VS. MAHOMES. DEFENSE VS. OFFENSE.
Week 16 vs. Kansas City (Dec. 22)
This game has all of the storylines deserving of a primetime affair. The student, Matt Nagy, meets the teacher, Andy Reid. The battle of the top two quarterbacks taken in the 2017 class in Mitch Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes. Not to mention it’s arguably the NFL’s best defense, the Bears, against arguably the NFL’s best offense, the Chiefs.
These two teams met in preseason last year, where the Bears elected to rest their starters. So it wasn’t exactly the match-up that this one aims to be. With reigning MVP Mahomes coming to town to play this ferocious Bears defense, this is a game that could become an instant classic. I wonder how many Trubisky/Mahomes comparison headlines we’ll see that week? The limit does not exist.
THE REVENGE GAME, V. I:
An Old Friend Returns
Week 2 at Denver (Sept. 15)
Well, maybe calling it a “revenge game” isn’t the right way to put it. But after Vic Fangio left the Bears for a head coaching job in Denver, it did feel like a small betrayal leaving behind a defense in its prime that had just had the monster season they did. Not that anyone could fault Fangio for taking a head coaching job when the window was open.
The Bears defense won’t have to wait long to be reunited with their former defensive coordinator when the Bears travel to Denver in Week 2. This defense gets the benefit of going against new Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco and doing what they do best, which is attack. We’ll also get to see exactly what kind of defense Fangio dials up for a Bears offense looking to make strides in 2019.
THE REVENGE GAME, V. II:
RETURN OF THE MACK
Week 5 at Oakland (Oct. 6)
Khalil Mack returns to Oakland…well, to play the Raiders. But in London. Not because the Raiders are still without a home (they’ll be playing in Oakland for another season), but this is one of the NFL’s International Games that are aimed towards football fans overseas.
Sure, it might’ve felt more impactful had the game been a return to Oakland, but Mack playing his old team — the team that didn’t feel he was worthy of the kind of contract afforded to Antonio Brown — well, make sure you’re playing the Bears defense on your fantasy team that week.
THE REVENGE GAME, V. III:
Redemption for the double doink and jordan howard
Week 9 at Philadelphia (Nov. 3)
The Bears’ magical 2018 season came to an end in the Wild Card round of the playoffs off Cody Parkey’s right foot, and it was the Philadelphia Eagles that emerged victoriously. And if that wasn’t enough to make this match-up a must-watch, let’s discuss how the Bears traded running back Jordan Howard to the Eagles during the offseason.
Surely, Howard is looking to prove his old team made a mistake in trading him. And, surely, the Bears are looking to get revenge against the team that brought an abrupt end to their playoff hopes in January. Not to mention it’ll be the second meeting between Matt Nagy and Doug Pederson, who both worked together in Kansas City. Plenty of storylines to go around in this one.
.jpg?w=600)
