2019 Season: Week 1 Open

Man, how exciting was that Super Bowl? Hope you got to watch it. And how incredible was that turnaround in the offseason? 48 hours from season 2 to season 3. If that doesn't get you excited, can I interest you in a picture of your mother? That always seems to work for me.

What great opening matchups we have to start the year. The Spouse Bowl will take place twice a year. Unfortunately, the two lovebirds are on vacation on a cruise to open the season and this first one is a sim. The surprise team of a year ago may have been the Browns and their stout run D. They get an early test against a strong Titans team that is healthy to start the year. And of course, the rivalry of all rivalries in the NFL. The two most storied programs in the league. Can't wait for the rain to fall week one.

It is expected of you and your opponent to try and schedule the game privately. Whether that is via Discord, PSN Message, text messages, smoke signals, whatever.  If your opponent has not responded to you within 24 hours of advance, there is a #scheduling section on discord.  Tag your opponent and @Commissioner to bring up the lack of communication.  This is the only way sim games will be awarded.

These two teams know each other's tendencies very well. The biggest change may be the retirement of Jordy Nelson. The WR corp still features Randall Cobb, but Janis is buried on the depth chart behind several promising rookies and 2nd year players. The Bears return all but one starter this season.

Stop me if you've heard this before. The Bears and Packers played a game in the rain. Woah. It clearly had it's affect. The BEars run game could not get going. Both Howard and Cohen scored 1 yard TDs. But beyond that could not get past the Packers front seven. For most of the game, the Bears had more carries than rushing yards. Do the Bears have to worry heading into next week? Or is the Packers run D that phenomenal?

On the other side the ball, Chicago came to play. Backup Clelin Ferrell excelled in his situational pass rush role, recording a sack. Aaron Rodgers was off. Call it confusion, or lag, or disinterest in playing another rain game. But in his first game without his one true love, Jordy Nelson, the Packers QB was not in sync with his new receiver corp, and was picked off thrice. The one before halftime was especially egregious as he called for the snap, and it didn't come. And then it did, throwing off the rhythm of the play leading to an unintended quick pass.

Chicago gets the Seahawks in a week.