NFC North: What Bears fans should be watching in Week 1

Share

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers kicked off the 2019 NFL season Thursday night in an early-season NFC North battle, one that the Bears lost, 10-3. And while the loss certainly stings, there's more than enough football remaining for Chicago to win the division for the second year in a row.

The rest of the NFC North kicks off Sunday, with a pair of games Bears fans should pay close attention to.

Atlanta Falcons (0-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-0)

The Falcons high-octane offense will be a great test for the Vikings' stout defense, but we already know Minnesota will be a strong defensive team. The real intrigue resides on the offensive side of the ball, where Kirk Cousins enters his second season as the Vikings starter with a new focus on the running game. Third-year RB Dalvin Cook will be Minnesota's X-factor this season; pay close attention to him. If he regains the explosive form that made him such an exciting prospect out of Florida State, the Vikings will be a very, very tough team to beat. 

Detroit Lions (0-0) at Arizona Cardinals (0-0)

Despite neither team beginning the year with much hope for a playoff run, Detroit vs. Arizona will be must-watch television. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was the first overall pick in last April's draft and he'll debut Kliff Kingsbury's air-raid offense, one that has every NFL fan on the edge of their seat to see how it transitions to the NFL. The Lions just happen to be the other team playing. But Bears fans will get a good look at where Detroit is at this point in the Matt Patricia era. If they lose to the Cardinals, forget it; they're no threat in the division. If they win? Well, that's what they're supposed to do. Instead, focus on how they win. How does Matt Stafford look with a healthy Kerryon Johnson in the backfield? What kind of impact will rookie TE T.J. Hockenson make on offense? And what about the healthy return of WR Marvin Jones?

The best-case scenario for the Bears if for Atlanta and Arizona to come out on top and keep Chicago (essentially) in second place behind Green Bay. If, however, the Vikings and Lions win, seeing the Bears dead last in the NFC North at the start of Week 2 will be a hard pill to swallow.

Contact Us