In professional sports, one fact is true regardless of what field you take. The more eyes that are on you, the better you must be doing. Such is the case for the Chicago Bears, who haven’t been considered a prime time team for at least half a decade. That’s all changed under second-year head coach Matt Nagy and he, for one, is excited about the extra attention.
“So, what I learned from coach (Andy) Reid when we were in Philadelphia and Kansas City is that you don’t want to be a team that has a bunch of 12 or 1 o’clock games,” Nagy told the NFL Network. “You want to have as many prime time games as possible. We’re excited to be in that position.”
Matt Nagy on Bears' 5 prime time games: "You want to have as many prime time games as possible. We're excited to be in that position."https://t.co/P7Uoa4iV3N pic.twitter.com/ohk42gmyws
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 13, 2019
There’s a reason people want to watch the Bears play. They went 12-4 last year, came within a missed field goal of winning their Wild Card playoff game and boast one of the best players in the NFL in defensive end Khalil Mack.
After just two prime time games in 2018, they’ll have five (so-far) on the 2019 schedule and that’s not counting what they could flex into at the end of the season if they’re able to repeat their 2018 success.
The Bears will kick off the 2019 season on Thursday Night Football, playing their arch rival Green Bay Packers. It’s a marquee match-up with the players alone, but add in new Packers head coach Matt LaFleur actually drawing up NFL caliber plays for Aaron Rodgers (something Rodgers has never had), and it could be one of the more exciting games of the season.
“What a rivalry,” Nagy said. “It goes back to George Halas and Vince Lombardi. For me, personally, selfishly, to be a part of that, I’m completely honored. I can’t wait. I know our guys will be ready and our city and our fans are just so stoked.”
