The 2019 season is the NFL’s 100th season. They will be honoring their past throughout the upcoming year. There is no better way than to start their 100th season than with the Packers and Bears.

The NFL will kick-off their 100th NFL season with their oldest rivalry, the Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears. The Bears will host the Packers on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:20 p.m. CT, at Soldier Field, on NBC.

This is a little different for the league than in years’ past. The league typically features the previous seasons Super Bowl champion and maybe their opponent from the conference championship game or one of their rivals. But this is the league’s 100th season, and it doesn’t get more historic than kicking off a season long celebration then with the league’s longest rivalry.

The 2018 season was the Green Bay Packers 100th season as a franchise. Green Bay opened its’ 100th season versus the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football. Who can forget last seasons thriller in which Rodgers led a second-half comeback for the ages. So, this will be the second season in a row that the two teams will start the season in prime time.

There is no better way for new head coach Matt Lafleur to start is coaching tenure than against the organizations biggest rival. He can set the tone that this is still the Packers division.

According to Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Packers, this will be the 199th meeting between the two franchises. The Packers lead the series 97-95-6 including, including playoffs. The Packers have held the series advantage since 2017, and that was the first time they held the lead since 1993.

The full 2019 schedule will be released later this spring. Packers vs Bears to start the season, it doesn’t get much better than that.

The Packers will host the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and the Chicago Bears. While they will visit the Bears, Lions, Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Anthony Haag is a writer for PackersTalk.com. He has been a Packers fan since the day he was born and truly bleeds green and gold. He makes annual visits to Lambeau Field and has attended his fair share of games. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthony_haag