The 100th NFL season kicks off on Thursday night with a classic NFC North rivalry, as the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers.
Last season the Bears went 12-4 on their way to win a first divisional title since 2010, with Khalil Mack making an immediate impact after arriving from the Oakland Raiders.
The linebacker led the team with 12.5 sacks last season, the joint-third highest for any Bears player since 1989. The four-time Pro Bowler has recorded 49 sacks since 2015, the third-most in the league, and will again be integral to Chicago's defense.
Former Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton Dix and ex-New York Jets cornerback Buster Skrine have joined Mack in Illinois, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio left to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos.
Chuck Pagano has come in to replace Fangio, while former Seattle Seahawk Mike Davis and David Montgomery, a third-round selection from Iowa State, should fill the gap left by running back Jordan Howard.
Mitchell Trubisky passed for 3,223 yards and 24 touchdowns for a 95.4 rating in 2018, but has a 107.4 rating in his two career games against the Packers.
Green Bay went 6-9-1 last season—their worst record since 2008—but there's renewed optimism about the Packers.
Matt LaFleur is the new head coach. He replaced Mike McCarthy, who was fired before the end of last season after his relationship with Aaron Rodgers broke down beyond repair.
The two-time MVP passed for 4,442 yards and 25 touchdowns for a 97.6 rating last season and remains one of the greatest signal-callers the NFL has ever seen.
Rodgers' relationship with LaFleur, however, will be even more important to the Packers' chances of returning to the playoffs than his talent.
Meanwhile, Mike Pettine has been confirmed as defensive coordinator. Big improvements are expected from the Packers' defense this season.
Chicago and Green Bay are expected to battle it out for the NFC North title, although the Packers have an easier path than the Bears, who have the joint fifth-hardest schedule in the NFL.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Thursday.
When and where is the game?
The Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, September 5.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
TV coverage
The game will be nationally broadcast by NBC.
Live stream
A live stream will be available via NBC's digital platform and the NBC Sports app, as well as via NFL Network online and on connected devices and fuboTV.
Form
The Packers went 2-2 in preseason, winning against the Houston Texans and the Kansas Chiefs and losing to the Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland Raiders. The Bears went 1-3, losing to the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans and beating only the Indianapolis Colts.
Series record
The Packers lead the all-time series with 96 wins to the Bears' 94 and six draws since the two teams first met in November 1920.
Green Bay has won five of the past six games between the two NFC North rivals, but the Bears took the last meeting with a 24-17 victory at Soldier Field in December 2018.
Odds
According to Oddschecker, the Bears are a three-point favorite and are 91/100 to win and cover the spread. The Packers are a 36/25 underdog and the over/under bar in terms of points scored is set at 41.5.
