Week 1 preparation is officially underway in Chicago to kick off the beginning of the 2023-24 NFL season.

A new season brings forth a new set of expectations for all 32 teams in the league. The Chicago Bears are no different. After finishing at the bottom of the totem pole last year, the Bears are hungry to return to contention in the NFC.

The season kicks off on Sunday against a familiar foe in the Green Bay Packers. A lot will be riding on this matchup beyond just bragging rights as each side looks to start off hot in a wildly unpredictable NFC North division.

Taking that into consideration, here are three massive storylines to focus on as the Bears prepare for their home opener against the Packers.

A New Page in the NFL's Oldest Rivalry

Sunday's game will mark the 207th matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. It's been 1,724 days since the Bears last defeated their biggest rival, resulting in an ongoing eight game losing streak.

However, this particular game has a different sentiment for Bears' fans. The easiest way to describe it is by saying that the league's oldest rivalry is entering into a new era.

This long standing feud between these two teams has surpassed many eras that has helped define NFL history such as: the Hanny vs Voss Era, the Lombardi vs Halas Era, the Walter Payton Era, the Brett Favre Era, and the recent Aaron Rodgers "I own you" Era just to name a few.

Now, following Rodgers' departure after 18 seasons, a new era will be ushered in on Sunday. The Bears have seemingly found their long-sought answer at quarterback in Justin Fields while the Packers turn over the reins to Jordan Love.

This weekend is set to be the first of many showdowns between the two young signal callers looking to etch their name on the winning side of this historic rivalry.

The Justin Fields – DJ Moore Connection

Outside of the historical significance, Bears' fans are mainly anticipating the beginning of a new dynamic duo in Chicago. After trading the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers, the Bears acquired veteran wide receiver DJ Moore.

Moore's resume in Carolina speaks for itself with 5,201 yards and 21 touchdowns recorded throughout five seasons. The former first-round pick enters the season as easily the Bear's top threat in the passing game.

His newly-formed connection with Fields put the league on notice during the preseason over the past few weeks. Against the Tennessee Titans, the "1-2 punch" resulted in a 62 yard touchdown on a well executed screen pass. The following week, the duo linked again for this 40 yard catch-and-run against the Buffalo Bills.

Based on what was shown during the preseason, Fields and Moore seem to be clearly on the same page going into the season. The result could prove to propel the Bears' passing offense to new heights this season.

Improvement in the Secondary

One of the primary questions hovering over the Bears this season will be seeing how well the young secondary performs against the pass.

Last season, Bears' defense ranked 32nd in yards gained per pass attempt and 18th in passing yards allowed, according to Pro Football Reference. The unit suffered their fair-share of injuries and growing pains in 2022, but the Bears' 53-man roster proves that improvement should be expected this time around.

The group will be manned by Eddie Jackson, Jaquan Brisker, Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, and rookie Tyrique Stevenson on Sunday. Together, they hope to kick off the season on the right foot against the Packers' young and relatively inexperienced offense that will be trotting onto Soldier Field.

Featured image via Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports