The Chicago Bears will play host to the NFC North division rival Green Bay Packers to kick off the 2019 NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 5, and Bears head coach Matt Nagy is thrilled to get that primetime slot:

“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 said on NFL Total Access, via Grant Gordon of NFL.com. “You want to have as many primetime games as possible. We're excited to be in that position.”

Chicago had just two primetime games in Nagy's first season at the helm this past year, but after an impressive 12-win campaign in which the Bears notched the division crown, they will have five primetime contests in 2019.

As for opening up against the Packers? Nagy is thrilled:

“What a rivalry. It goes back to George Halas and Vince Lombardi,” Nagy said. “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.”

The Bears swept the Packers in 2018, clinching the NFC North division title with a win over Green Bay at Soldier Field in December. They then went on to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Chicago has not made back-to-back playoff appearances since the 2006-07 campaign when it made it all the way to the Super Bowl and lost to the Indianapolis Colts.