Packers May Open 2011 Season vs. Bears | IXGAMES
The NFL always wants to make a big splash when opening a new season, which is why in recent years the previous year’s Super Bowl winner has hosted the first game of the new season on a Thursday night. So that means we know the Green Bay Packers will play in the first game of 2011 on Sept. 8 – assuming there is a 2011 season if a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. One hot rumor making the rounds is that the NFL will have Green Bay host Chicago in the opener next season, a rematch of an NFC Championship Game that saw epic television ratings and the demolition of Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler’s reputation. Last September, the New Orleans Saints hosted the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game on Kickoff Weekend. Really the only other glamorous matchup on Green Bay’s 2011 home schedule would be against the New Orleans Saints, and that would be a matchup of the past two Super Bowl champions. The Packers’ other six home games are vs. Denver, Detroit, Minnesota, Oakland, St. Louis and Tampa Bay. The NFL began giving the first game of each season to the Super Bowl champion in 2004. However, the current CBA expires when the clock strikes midnight on March 3. At this point, almost all league activity will stop; players won’t even be allowed to enter their team facilities. And the lockout is expected to include delaying the release of the 2011 schedule. Really the only NFL activity that is assured is the draft in late April. Typically, the complete NFL schedule is also released in April. You can already bet on 2011 NFL futures at Bodog Sportsbook
