Green Bay Packers: 3 Standouts vs. Bears in Week 1

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 05: Jimmy Graham #80 of the Green Bay Packers leaps while running past Ha Ha Clinton-Dix #21 of the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field on September 05, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

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The Green Bay Packers shut down the Chicago Bears on Thursday night at Soldier Field. Who were the bright spots for the winning club?

This year, the NFL broke its recent tradition of having the defending Super Bowl champions host the first game of the season. Of course, when you are celebrating the 100th season of your league, there’s lots of room for an exception. Thus, Thursday night featured the 199th overall meeting between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

The storied rivalry dates back to 1921 and this year, the clubs kicked off the year at Soldier Field. A year ago, the teams split their two-game set, with the home team prevailing in each instance. In Week 1 on a Sunday night at Lambeau Field, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company fell behind 20-0 in the third quarter before rallying for a 24-23 victory. In Week 15 at Soldier Field, the Bears outlasted the Packers, 24-17.

So when the teams kicked off 2019 on Thursday evening, Green Bay trotted out new head coach Matt LaFleur as well as a new-look defensive unit bolstered by the free-agent additions of outside linebackers Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith and safety Adrian Amos. And all three of those performers had an impact in Green Bay’s 10-3 victory.

Dating back to the 2010 NFC title game, it was the Packers’ ninth win at Soldier Field in their last 10 trips to the Windy City. Despite totaling only 213 yards of offense, Green Bay escaped with a road divisional win.

So who were the standouts in the primetime victory?

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