Report: Packers to open with Saints, not Bears

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is reporting that the Packers will host the Saints in the 2011 NFL opener.

I thought the Bears were a likely choice to square off against the defending Super Bowl Champions, especially considering the intrigue that would swirl around Jay Cutler’s first start since leaving the NFC Championship game loss at halftime with a knee injury.

Instead, it will be a matchup of the past two Super Bowl Champions, according to the Journal-Sentinel’s Bob McGinn, not to mention two of the league’s top quarterbacks in Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.

After scheduling the Bears to play in the Hall of Fame Game as well as the American Bowl series in London against the Buccaneers, maybe the schedule makers decided to give them a break.

If the lockout has ended, the Saints and Packers will open the season on Thursday, Sept. 8.