Familiar rivals will square off on opening weekend as the NFL announced Monday that the Bears will begin the 2009 season at Green Bay in prime time on NBC‚s "Sunday Night Football."
Commissioner Roger Goodell released the schedule for the prime time games on kickoff weekend, as well as the Thanksgiving Day games at the owners meetings in Dana Point, Calif. This marks the fourth consecutive season the Bears and Packers will tangle at night. This will mark the third time since 1997 the Bears have opened the season at Green Bay.
Bears coach Lovie Smith is 4-1 at Lambeau Field and 7-3 overall vs. the Packers. The Bears opened last season in prime time on "Sunday Night Football," scoring an upset over the Indianapolis Colts in a rematch of Super Bowl XLI. This will mark the 11th time the Bears have played on Sunday night under Smith.
Bears to open at Green Bay in prime time :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears