Watch NFL Tennessee Titans vs Cleveland Browns NFL Sunday Night Week 01 Football Free Online Live Streaming ,September 08, 2019.

Watch NFL Sunday Night Football Tennessee Titans vs Cleveland Browns 2019 NFL Week 01 online free live streaming high quality(HD) broadcast on Sunday,September 08 ,2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Watch NFL Tennessee Titans vs Cleveland Browns free live stream online match on any device .You can follow to Watch NFL Tennessee Titans vs Cleveland Browns free live streaming from here details below.

The Cleveland Browns have been the butt of jokes and the laughingstock of the NFL for most of the last 20 years, but they have a chance to change all of that starting Sunday at home against the Tennessee Titans.

After a promising finish to last season and more changes this offseason, Cleveland appears on the verge of becoming a legitimate contender in the AFC. The city of Cleveland is at a fever pitch, thanks to quarterback Baker Mayfield, a plethora of uber-talented playmakers, a feared pass rusher, and a head coach (Freddie Kitchens) who seems ready to lead Cleveland to AFC North supremacy.



Tennessee at Cleveland


Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Spread: Cleveland -5.5



Three Things to Watch


1. Chemistry between Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr.

Mayfield already has developed a connection with Jarvis Landry and David Njoku, but it will be fascinating to watch how quickly Cleveland tries to establish ODB. The Titans feature a trio of capable cornerbacks in Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan and Adoree' Jackson, and appear on paper to be equipped to throw a variety of looks at Beckham and Mayfield in regards to coverages and man-to-man situations. Beckham has a temper and I'll be dialed into watch how he acts if he's not seeing enough targets in his first game in a Browns uniform.



2. Titans vs. the run
Tennessee was middle of the road last season against the rush, ranking 18th at 116.4 yards per game allowed. While many eyes will be on the quarterback and skill players on the perimeter in this matchup, keep an eye on the Titans' defensive front against the Browns' offensive line. Cleveland running back Nick Chubb is the key to this game. If he can pick up where he left off last year, and the Titans continue to be mediocre against opposing running backs, it would lead you to think that defensive coordinator Dean Pees will be in for a long day with having to drop eight in the box to stop Chubb and try to force Mayfield and Cleveland to be one-dimensional.



3. Browns' revamped pass rush
Beckham wasn't the only key player Cleveland got in the trade with the New York Giants. Olivier Vernon also came in the deal and he will team with Myles Garrett to give the Browns a fearsome pass-rushing duo. How the Titans handle them and protect Marcus Mariota will be one of the keys for their offense. Adding to the degree of difficulty up front is the absence of left tackle Taylor Lewan, who is serving a four-game suspension to start the season. His replacement is Dennis Kelly, who has played in 73 games for the Titans and Eagles in his career after being taken in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. While Kelly is a solid backup/swing tackle, he's no Lewan, a three-time Pro Bowler who also is one of the league's highest-paid tackles. Factor in concerns at right guard and whether or not right tackle Jack Conklin can return to elite form and you have another storyline to watch. Will new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith be able to establish the running game with Derrick Henry as his lead horse? And is Marcus Mariota ready to show he's a bona fide NFL starting quarterback? Look for these questions to be answered on Sunday.

Final Analysis


The Dawg Pound in FirstEnergy Stadium is going to be howling on Sunday. I expect both teams to be a bit sloppy early on. Cleveland, due to the hype, excitement and expectations piled on to this team; the Titans, due to just trying to survive the initial atmosphere and dealing with their own internal issues. Once this game settles in I think we see both teams seeking ultimate balance on offense, with both the run and pass. Ultimately, I think the Browns are just a more dynamic team with more game-changers on both sides of the ball. I expect this game to go down to the final four minutes and for Cleveland to squeeze out a three-point win.



Prediction: Browns 23, Titans 20

Watch NFL Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Sunday Night Week 01 Football Free Online Live Streaming ,September 08, 2019.

Watch NFL Sunday Night Football Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars 2019 NFL Week 01 online free live streaming high quality(HD) broadcast on Sunday,September 08 ,2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET,EverBank Field Jacksonville, Florida. Watch NFL Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars free live stream online match on any device .You can follow to Watch NFL Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars free live streaming from here details below.

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars will open up their NFL seasons with Week 1 action on Sunday, September 8.

The Chiefs are coming out of a successful regular-season campaign in 2018, going 12-4 and winning the AFC West. Kansas City win the Divisional Playoff round over the Colts 31-13 but fell in a tough one 37-31 in the AFC Championship to the Patriots.

This preseason, Kansas City started out with a 38-17 win over the Bengals but then fell in their next pair of games 17-7 (Steelers) and 27-17 (49ers). In Week 4 against the Packers, the Chiefs fell 27-20.

Over on the Jaguars’ side, they’ve got some work to do after a bad 2018. Despite coming out of the gate at 3-1, Jacksonville faltered in a seven-game losing streak and ended up at 5-11 in the basement of the division.

In the preseason, Jacksonville stumbled out of the gate as well, dropping their first three games against the Ravens, Eagles and Dolphins—scoring just 17 points in the process. In Week 4 versus the Falcons, the Jaguars lost 31-12.

The Chiefs are 7-0 ATS in the last seven games in September and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 versus the AFC. The over is 4-0 in Kansas City’s last four games in Week 1 and 5-1 in their last six in September.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars are 4-1 ATS in their last five in September and 14-6 ATS in the last 20 in Week 1. Jacksonville is 2-5-2 ATS in their last nine versus the AFC and the over is 12-5 in their last 17 in September.

Line-wise it’s a little surprising this one hasn’t inflated much further; most people seem to be on the Chiefs here, myself included. Realistically there’s not a whole lot of chance the Jaguars offense keeps up with KC, so I’m not going to overthink it too much.

Watch NFL Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins NFL Sunday Night Week 01 Football Free Online Live Streaming ,September 08, 2019.

Watch NFL Sunday Night Football Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins 2019 NFL Week 01 online free live streaming high quality(HD) broadcast on Sunday,September 08 ,2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET,Hard Rock Stadium. Watch NFL Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins free live stream online match on any device .You can follow to Watch NFL Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins free live streaming from here details below.

The Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins meet Sunday in NFL action at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Baltimore Ravens have won double-digit games in five of the last nine years and enter a 12th season under coach John Harbaugh. The Baltimore Ravens have split their last six road games. The Baltimore Ravens have won each of their last three regular season openers. The Ravens identity will continue to be defense, and they were second in points allowed and first in yards allowed last season. The Ravens do lose two of their top-three tacklers and watched Terrell Suggs leave for the Arizona Cardinals, but this is still a more than respectable unit with Matt Judon leading the linebackers and the addition of Earl Thomas to an already talented secondary that featured Jimmy Smith and Tony Jefferson. The Ravens offense will come down to how effective quarterback Lamar Jackson will be in his second season. With Jackson at quarterback, the Ravens ran more of a college style offense that played of his athleticism and running ability. Jackson becoming more of a consistent passer would open up this offense and create a more dangerous threat overall.

The Miami Dolphins have missed the playoffs in 15 of the last 17 years, and they hope things will change in a new era under coach Brian Flores. The Miami Dolphins have won six of their last eight home games. The Miami Dolphins have won five of their last six regular season openers. The Dolphins seem to be in rebuild mode with a fresh coaching staff and a young roster that will be led by cornerstones Laremy Tunsil, Xavien Howard and Minkah Fitzpatrick. There’s pieces on this Dolphins roster that have them set nicely for the future, but the lack of overall talent and depth makes you question how good they can be this year. It would be wise if the Dolphins started Josh Rosen at quarterback to see what the kid has and if he’s the future, but it felt like they were leaning toward Ryan Fitzpatrick in the preseason. Either way, the Dolphins offense line leaves a lot to be desired and will make it tough for either QB to have much success.

The Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in Week 1 and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in September. The Dolphins are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 1 and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games. The Ravens are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Miami and 8-0 ATS in their last 8 meetings. The under is 4-1 in Dolphins last 5 games on grass. The under is 5-2 in Ravens last 7 road games.

The Baltimore Ravens have beaten up on the Dolphins in the last two meetings by a combined score of 78-6, and they usually bully them when they play. The Miami Dolphins have more talent than other outlets will tell you, but the offensive line has major holes and it's hard to do anything offensively without even a decent OL. The Baltimore Ravens have failed to cover five of their last six games when a favorite of at least three points. The Miami Dolphins are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games when an underdog of at least three points. The Baltimore Ravens should feast defensively in this contest while their ground game controls the clock. This should be a comfortable victory for the road team. 

Watch NFL Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings NFL Sunday Night Week 01 Football Free Online Live Streaming ,September 08, 2019.

Watch NFL Sunday Night Football Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings 2019 NFL Week 01 online free live streaming high quality(HD) broadcast on Sunday,September 08 ,2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Watch NFL Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings free live stream online match on any device .You can follow to Watch NFL Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings free live streaming from here details below.

The Minnesota Vikings will play host to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon inside U.S. Bank Stadium. It will mark the 31st meeting all-time between the two teams. The Vikings hold a 19-11 edge over the Falcons in the series. And Minnesota has won each of the last three matchups, the most recent being a 14-9 victory in 2017. Both the Vikings and the Falcons look to return to playoff form in 2019 after taking big steps in the wrong direction last season.



The Vikings came into the 2018 season with high hopes following a 13-3 campaign, which earned them a division title and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. Newly acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins was supposed to be the missing piece that would carry them to the next level, but that didn't come to fruition in a disappointing 8-7-1 season that culminated in a missed opportunity to earn a spot in the playoffs.



Thanks to several offseason move, Mike Zimmer's Vikings appear poised to return to front-runner status in 2019. The additions of new offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and assistant head coach Gary Kubiak should go a long way in fixing an offense that ranked just 20th in the league last season. The Vikings return 10 starters on a defense that perennially ranks among the best in the NFL.



The Falcons also entered the 2018 season with high hopes following back-to-back playoff appearances that included a trip to the Super Bowl in '16. Unfortunately, a rash of early-season injuries would take a serious toll, resulting in a lackluster 7-9 campaign that left the Falcons sitting at home during the postseason for the first time since 2015.



Like the Vikings, the Falcons have plenty of reasons to believe that they will bounce back and return to the forefront of the NFL in 2019. First and foremost, they enter Week 1 with a clean bill of health. That alone should pay huge dividends, provided they can remain relatively healthy. The Falcons are also optimistic about their chances to keep their star-studded offense humming along under the direction of new (and former) offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Meanwhile, the defense expects to take a step forward with head coach and defensive guru Dan Quinn now calling the shots on that side of the football.

Atlanta at Minnesota


Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Spread: Minnesota -4



Three Things to Watch


1. Atlanta passing game vs. Minnesota pass defense

The Falcons' high-powered passing attack has long ranked among the best and most feared in the NFL. However, the same can be said for the Vikings' vaunted pass defense. And if recent history is any indication, Matt Ryan and company could have a tough row to hoe on Sunday.



Ryan has compiled just 403 passing yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his last two games combined against Minnesota (2015 and '17), both of which resulted in Falcon losses. The Vikings may also be the only NFL team with a successful track record against elite wide receiver Julio Jones. That's thanks in large part to star cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who has limited Jones to just 13 catches for 162 yards and zero touchdowns over three combined games.



Rhodes vs. Jones will once again be the marquee matchup on Sunday. And there is reason to believe that Jones will finally be able to get over the hump against his arch-nemesis. Rhodes seemed to lose a step last season in a down year that ended prematurely with a torn hamstring. If Rhodes doesn't return to elite form, Jones could have a field day against him. Jones will also benefit from Calvin Ridley's presence this time around. Ridley led the Falcons in touchdown receptions (10) last season and should help take some of the heat off.



The biggest concern for Atlanta's passing attack on Sunday may lie in the trenches. A retooled offensive line, that is expected two feature two rookies, will be paired against one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL. Atlanta will certainly have its hands full trying to keep the dynamic trio of Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffen, and Linval Joseph out of the backfield. Hunter, who racked up 14.5 sacks last season, provides the biggest threat to Ryan's well-being.



2. Vikings’ new-look offense

Minnesota's offensive woes were well-documented and largely to blame for the team's five-game slide in the win column last season. It also cost offensive coordinator John DeFilippo his job after just 13 games.



In an effort to fix the problem, head coach Mike Zimmer brought in Gary Kubiak as an offensive advisor to help new offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski overhaul the offense, along with new offensive line coach/run game coordinator Rick Dennison.



Sunday's matchup against Atlanta will provide our first real chance to see the new offense in action (in a game that actually counts). The new-look offense employs a zone-blocking scheme that emphasizes the run game to help set up the play-action passing game. It's almost identical to the offense that Kirk Cousins ran during his time in Washington.



That familiarity should help Cousins, which in turn bodes well for top targets Adam Theilen, Stefon Diggs (who has been limited in practice this week due to a hamstring injury) and Kyle Rudolph to continue producing at a high level. But a Minnesota run game that was sorely lacking last season, ranking just 30th in the NFL, stands to benefit the most. The new scheme is tailor-made for a speedy slasher like Dalvin Cook, who should flourish in this system.



Of course, the new zone-scheme will only go as far as the offensive line can take it, and that will be the big test against the Falcons on Sunday. The Vikings' revamped offensive line, bolstered by first-round draft pick Garrett Bradbury at center, still has question marks, despite showing plenty of promise in the preseason.



3. Look who’s back!

As previously referenced, the Falcons were riddled with injuries in 2018, landing some of the team's top players on IR, and significantly impacting their season. The good news is that most of those players will be back on the field this Sunday. Chief among them is running back Devonta Freeman, who played in just two games in 2018. Freeman will be needed more than ever with the departure of Tevin Coleman. And the Falcons can only hope that Freeman returns to Pro Bowl form in short order.



Look for Atlanta to lean heavily on Freeman this Sunday, as success in the run game in this matchup will be crucial to helping Ryan and company get things going in the passing game. That said, success will not come easy against a very stingy Minnesota front seven.



The Falcons defense will get a big shot in the arm with the healthy return of several star players as well. Middle linebacker Deion Jones was sorely missed last season. Jones is a tackling machine that will provide a much-needed stabilizing force in the middle for the Falcons against the Vikings on Sunday. He’s also one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL.



The Atlanta secondary also gets a big boost with the return of safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. Their absence last season left a huge void in the Falcons secondary. And their return should prove invaluable against a dangerous Minnesota receiving corps.



Final Analysis


Week 1 of the NFL season offers plenty of intriguing matchups, and this one ranks right near the top. The big question is – will the Vikings' new-look offense magically cure their biggest source of frustration from last season?



There will likely be some kinks to work out in week 1. And Minnesota will be put to the test by an Atlanta defense that should be much improved with the healthy return of Deion Jones, Keanu Neal, and Ricardo Allen and Dan Quinn calling the plays. But it seems likely that the Vikings will find some semblance of success on Sunday, particularly in the run game with Dalvin Cook.



The Falcons' chances hinge on their ability to establish the ground game with Devonta Freeman. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones do not have the best track record against the Vikings. And the Atlanta passing game will have a hard time taking flight without plenty of help from Freeman. In the end, the Vikings' defense will prove to be too much for the Falcons. Minnesota wins a hard-fought battle in front of the home crowd.



Prediction: Vikings 24, Falcons 20

Watch NFL Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets NFL Sunday Night Week 01 Football Free Online Live Streaming ,September 08, 2019.

Watch NFL Sunday Night Football Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets 2019 NFL Week 01 online free live streaming high quality(HD) broadcast on Sunday,September 08 ,2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium. Watch NFL Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets free live stream online match on any device .You can follow to Watch NFL Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets free live streaming from here details below.

It’s a virtual guarantee that the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will win the AFC East and the Miami Dolphins will finish in last place as one of the worst teams in football. That means its a battle between the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills for second place in the division. Week 1 could provide a major hint as to which of those two teams is going to come out on top in 2019 NFL season.

The Jets are favored by three points at home over the Bills in Sunday afternoon’s opener, according to the latest betting line at OddsShark. The game total is 41.

The point spread indicates that the two rivals are equal on a neutral field. It won’t take long before it’s apparent that New York is the better team, making them a strong bet in Week 1.

The big difference between the two teams comes down to the young starting quarterbacks. Both Sam Darnold and Josh Allen were top-10 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. Considering how they performed as rookies, Darnold is much more likely to be a winning quarterback for the Jets in Year No.2 than Allen is for the Bills.

Darnold is no lock to have a good 2019 campaign after ranking second in the NFL with 15 interceptions and posting a poor 77.6 passer rating. His floor, however, is much higher than that of Allen, who threw more picks than touchdown passes for a 67.9 passer rating.

Concerns over Allen’s accuracy in college weren’t lessened when he completed 52.8 percent of his passes in 12 games. The quarterback’s legs were as important as his arm in 2018, rushing for 631 yards and eight scores.

Allen’s ability to run will be a weapon that helps Buffalo in 2019. Just don’t expect him to repeat what he did last year when he totaled at least 95 yards on the ground in four of his last six starts.

The way Darnold concluded his 2018 season is more replicable. At just 21 years old, he exhibited star potential with a strong December. After outdueling Allen and leading the Jets to a 27-23 comeback victory in Buffalo, Darnold posted passer ratings of 100.0 and 128.4 in consecutive weeks. Darnold threw for five touchdowns and no interceptions in the season’s final three games.

Darnold is bound to improve if only because of the added weapons on New York’s roster. The Jets signed Le’Veon Bell, who was arguably the league’s best playmaker before he decided to hold out for an entire year. The running back caught at least 75 passes in three of his last four seasons.

Buffalo definitely has the advantage on defense. The Bills are much better in pass coverage and might be able to generate a decent amount of pressure against a bad Jets’ offensive line.

But Buffalo doesn’t exactly have an elite offensive line either, and New York’s secondary won’t look so bad against a quarterback that barely completes more than half of his throws.

The Bills are 2-4 straight up and against the spread in their last six games with the Jets, per OddsShark. Look for both records to move to 2-5 Sunday afternoon.

Prediction Against The Spread: New York over Buffalo, 23-13

Watch NFL Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles NFL Sunday Night Week 01 Football Free Online Live Streaming ,September 08, 2019.

Watch NFL Sunday Night Football Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles 2019 NFL Week 01 online free live streaming high quality(HD) broadcast on Sunday,September 08 ,2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET, Lincoln Financial Field. Watch NFL Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles free live stream online match on any device .You can follow to Watch NFL Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles free live streaming from here details below.

The NFC East is kicking off the first week of the NFL regular season with a bang. The Washington Redskins will travel to face off against its divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, before the Dallas Cowboys welcome the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.



The Redskins started the 2018 season with an impressive 5-2 record, but only won two of their remaining nine games on the schedule to finish 7-9.



The Eagles, on the other hand, won five of their last six games in the regular season. Then, they went on to defeat the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round before losing 20-14 to the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round.



Washington at Philadelphia


Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1:00 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Spread: Philadelphia -10



Three Things to Watch


1. Carry distribution for the Eagles

Philadelphia completely overhauled its running back group during the offseason. First, the team made a trade for former Bears running back Jordan Howard. As if that wasn’t enough, general manager Howie Roseman decided to also add Miles Sanders, a Penn State product, in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.



With third-year player Corey Clement and seasoned-veteran Darren Sproles also on the roster, it’ll be interesting to see how the distribution of carries plays out against the Redskins on Sunday.



Sanders is clearly the most talented running back on the roster, but will he struggle to get carries in his debut like fellow rookie David Montgomery (six carries, 18 yards) did for the Bears? If so, look for Howard to be beneficiary in that scenario.



2. The playing status of Trent Williams

At this point, we have no idea where things stand with Washington’s front office and the team’s star left tackle. On Friday, it was reported that Williams was in Washington meeting with teammates ahead of Sunday’s game.

But even if he were to suit up – and that’s highly unlikely – it would not be fair to expect

him to play at a high level considering he’s been away throughout the offseason and missed all of training camp.



The Eagles have a fearful group of defensive linemen, including Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, Brandon Graham, and Derek Barnett, that will welcome a subpar Redskins offensive line to Philadelphia.

Veteran journeyman Case Keenum will get the start at quarterback for Washington over rookie first-round pick Dwayne Haskins. But is that because Haskins isn’t ready or because the coaching staff knows what’s coming on Sunday? Maybe it’s a little bit of both.



3. DeSean Jackson versus his former team

Jackson was originally drafted by the Eagles in the second round in 2008. The University of California product spent six seasons with the team, racking up 6,117 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns, before being released following the 2013 season.



Jackson eventually ended up in Washington and spent three seasons with the franchise before spending the last two with Jameis Winston in Tampa Bay. Now, Jackson has returned to Philadelphia to finish out his career.



It will be interesting to see if there is any added motivation for the 32-year-old receiver playing against his former team. But either way, expect him to be a much-needed vertical threat for Carson Wentz and in this Eagles offense.



Final Analysis


The spread on this game sits at minus-10 for the Eagles. While that may seem like a lot for an NFL game, it’s a warranted number considering all the question marks surrounding Washington’s offense.



All the new additions for the Redskins, especially on defense, should help them keep the Eagles in check for part of the game. But there is way too much talent across the board for head coach Doug Pederson’s team to be slowed down for four quarters.



This one ends up being a blowout before it’s all said and done.



Prediction: Eagles 28, Redskins 6

Watch NFL Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears Week 01 Football Free Online Live Streaming ,September 05, 2019.

Watch NFL Football Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears 2019 NFL Week 01 online free live streaming high quality(HD) broadcast on Thursday,September 05 ,2019 at 8:20 p.m. ET, Soldier Field, Chicago. Watch NFL Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears free live stream online match on any device .You can follow to Watch NFL Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears free live streaming from here details below.

 


The National Football League kicking off the season on Thursday nights has become so commonplace that non-football fans have gotten used to it. Normally, the Super Bowl champion from the previous season headlines the Thursday night opener (in some cases it's a Super Bowl rematch). But this year the league decided to change things up. In celebration of the NFL's 100th anniversary season, the league has decided to showcase its oldest rivalry instead. The Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers as the NFL's "Black and Blue" division will be on display.



The Bears are coming off a 12-4 campaign in 2018. They won their first NFC North title and made their first playoff appearance since 2010. Although they lost in the Wild Card Round to the Philadelphia Eagles, they showed the football world that Chicago is a force to be reckoned with again. The Packers posted a 6-9-1 record last season and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. The team did deal with some injuries, but ultimately it was a 1-5 stretch during November and early December that caused the front office to remove Mike McCarthy as head coach with four weeks left in the season.



Interim head coach Joe Philbin was not retained either. The Packers are looking for a fresh start under new head coach Matt LaFleur, who spent the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator for both the Los Angeles Rams (2017) and the Tennessee Titans (2018). The matchup between LaFleur and Bears head coach Matt Nagy should be quite the chess match, especially since both teams evenly split last year's meetings.

Green Bay at Chicago


Kickoff: Thursday, Sept. 5 at 8:20 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Spread: Bears -3.5



Three Things to Watch


1. Defenses could take center stage

Many fans are hoping for a shootout between Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (62.3 completion percentage, 4,442 passing yards, 25 TDs in 2018) and Bears counterpart Mitchell Trubisky (66.6 percent, 3,223 yards, 24 TDs). But I don't expect that to be the case. The Bears return just about all of their talent (with some nice additions) from last year's dominant defense (league-leading 17.7 ppg allowed) which finished as the NFL's best unit. Khalil Mack (12.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for a loss last year), Akiem Hicks (14.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks), Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan (combined for 224 tackles), Eddie Jackson, and Kyle Fuller (combined for 13 interceptions and 36 pass deflections) and company are back to prove that last year was no fluke.



New additions to this defense include former Packer and Redskins safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (14 career INT's) and cornerback Buster Skrine (9 career picks), along with rookie cornerback Duke Shelley (12 tackles in the preseason), and rookie linebacker Josh Woods (23 tackles, 3 TFLs, sack in preseason). The only major change is that former Indianapolis head coach (2012-17) Chuck Pagano replaces Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. Pagano's version of the 3-4 is similar to Fangio's so there shouldn't be too many changes.



The Packers (allowed 25.0 ppg in 2018) hope to improve on defense after heavily investing in the linebacker position and the secondary this offseason. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was retained by LaFleur so his 4-3, 3-4 hybrid scheme is still in place. Pettine has several fresh faces at linebacker this year, including first-round pick (12th overall) Rashan Gary and seventh-round selection Ty Summers, along with free-agent signings Za'Darius Smith (18.5 career sacks with the Baltimore Ravens from 2015-18) and Preston Smith – no relation – (167 career tackles, 24.5 career sacks). They join Blake Martinez, the anchor in the middle who led the team with 144 tackles in 2018. The big addition in the secondary is safety Adrian Amos, a former Bear (2015-18) who signed a four-year, $37 million contract in free agency.



2. Coaches and quarterbacks

This storyline will get the most attention albeit for different reasons. Trubisky and Nagy are entering their second season together. Trubisky flourished under Nagy's guidance last year, and now Bears fans are hoping that the No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft can take it to the next level. Rodgers had been paired with Mike McCarthy for his entire career. But entering his 15th season, all eyes will be watching to see how the veteran and rookie head coach work together.

LaFleur has 10 years of NFL coaching experience but this is his first shot at being a head coach on any level. LaFleur's arrival also means a new offense for Rodgers and the Packers as a whole. Under McCarthy, the Packers essentially ran the NFL's version of the no-huddle/shotgun/spread offense that we see dominating college football. This offense gave Rodgers plenty of control at the line of scrimmage, especially when it came to audibles and calling his own plays. LeFleur's playbook has elements of the West Coast offense that's seen success at both the pro and college levels, and he's promised that the Packers will run the ball more often in 2019 after finishing 22nd in that department (104.2 ypg) last season.



We all know that Rodgers loves to throw the ball early and often, but it's also been documented that the previous offense left Rodgers open to unnecessary hits at times. LaFleur's system should help prevent some of the injuries that Rodgers has endured in recent seasons, but the more important aspect moving forward will be the relationship between quarterback and head coach.



3. The nationally televised spotlight

This will be the first of several national billings for these teams this year. After the opener the Bears will be on "Monday Night Football" in Week 3 (Sept. 23 at Washington), "Sunday Night Football" in Week 11 (Nov. 17 at Los Angeles Rams), they open up the Thanksgiving Day schedule in Week 13 (Nov. 28 at Detroit), return to Thursday night the following week (Dec. 5 vs. Dallas), and have one more Sunday night matchup in Week 16 (Dec. 22 vs. Kansas City).



The Packers will be back under the Thursday night lights in Week 4 (Sept. 26 vs. Philadelphia), they'll be on MNF two weeks later (Oct. 14 vs. Detroit), they hit the road for an intriguing Week 8 Sunday night matchup with Kansas City (Oct. 27), and return to the Monday night spotlight in Week 16 right before Christmas (Dec. 23 at Minnesota). The NFL is doing things right by featuring these teams prominently during its 100th season.



Final Analysis


These teams split their two meetings last season with both winning on their home fields. Green Bay has a commanding 15-4 edge in this rivalry since 2010. But Chicago is 9-5 in its last 14 games at Soldier Field, outscoring opponents 331-227 in those contests. With a sellout crowd expected as the NFL kicks off its 100th season and with franchise legends Walter Payton and George Halas being honored with statues before the game, the Bears will have plenty of motivation. This will be a defensive battle, but the defending NFC North champions find a way to pull out a slim victory on their home field.



Prediction: Bears 17, Packers 14