(Photo By Flickr User Robb2004)

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will be the first game on the 2019 NFL regular season schedule.

The NFL announced at its annual owners’ meetings that the longest standing rivalry will kick off the season at Soldier Field on Thursday, September 5th. That season-opening game will air as part of NBC’s tradition of airing the first game of the year on Thursday nights.

The Packers and Bears will play their 199th game in the opener, with Green Bay owning a 97-95-6 edge in the series. The two teams have split two playoff meetings. This is the 14th year in a row the Bears and Packers will play in primetime, doing so last year in their Sunday night season opener that saw a 24-23 comeback win for the Green and Gold.

The Thursday night season opener is traditionally reserved for the defending Super Bowl champions;  the NFL announced the New England Patriots will play their opener on Sunday Night Football on September 8th.

(Information Courtesy Of WEEK-TV)