PHOENIX — Patriots fans can put Sunday, Sept. 8 on their calendars as the date New England begins its title defense, but it won’t be the first game of the 2019 NFL season.
The Super Bowl champions typically play in the league’s season-opening game, but the NFL announced Monday at its annual meetings that it is doing things a little differently to start its 100th season.
The Packers and Bears will play each other in the season opener on Thursday, Sept. 5 in Chicago, and the Patriots will play their opening game on Sunday Night Football in Foxborough against an opponent to be determined.