The Chicago Bears could be kicking off the 2013 NFL season in the first game of the year on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Soldier Field.

A conflict with the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball will force the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens to open the 2013 season on the road. The Bears are one of eight teams the Ravens will play on the road this coming season and that that creates an opening for the Bears at Soldier Field in a showcase event.

Typically, the NFL has the Super Bowl winning team open at home, but the Orioles are hosting the White Sox on Sept. 5 and they share parking facilities with the Ravens. The NFL tried to get the Orioles to consider moving the game to the afternoon but an agreement could not be reached, the Ravens announced.

The Ravens also have road games against the Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Bills, Dolphins, Lions and Broncos. A season-opening game at Denver might make the most sense for the NFL as it would be a rematch of an AFC playoff game and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is a big draw. The Steelers also have a strong rivalry with the Ravens and could be considered. But the Chicago audience might also intrigue the league.

The last time the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000, the Bears opened the next season at Baltimore in a game that was played on a Sunday.

The NFL is expected to release the full schedule some time in April.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

