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Choosing Sides

Choosing Sides: Who will score Bears' first TD?

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Prior to every Bears game this season, we will ask a panel of experts one question to test their clairvoyant powers. The panel consists of ChicagoBears.com writers Larry Mayer and Nathan Smith; former Bears players Alex Brown, Patrick Mannelly and Jim Miller; and one guest celebrity.

This week's question is: Who will score the Bears' first touchdown of the season?

Larry Mayer, ChicagoBears.com

Receiver Anthony Miller

The third-year receiver will pick up where he left off late last season when he emerged as a playmaker. Miller's increased attention to detail will enable him to have a breakout season, beginning Sunday with an early touchdown in Detroit.

Nathan Smith, ChicagoBears.com

Tight end Jimmy Graham

Judging by how the offense ran last year, it's more likely the first score will come off an extended drive rather than one big play. Once the Bears get in the red zone, I expect Mitchell Trubisky will look for Graham, the big target he was missing last season.

Alex Brown, former Bears defensive end

Tight end Jimmy Graham

Graham is a big target in the red zone. He's the perfect teacher for a kid like Cole Kmet, a big, athletic tight end. At one point, Jimmy was the best in the league, and passing that knowledge on to Cole so early in his career will pay huge dividends for the Bears.

Patrick Mannelly, former Bears long-snapper

Tight end Jimmy Graham

I feel like Graham is here to be a mismatch in the red zone and Mitch [Trubisky] will find him early and often for, hopefully, many touchdowns.

Jim Miller, former Bears quarterback

Tight end Jimmy Graham

The tight end position was non-existent for the Bears last year, and the room has completely changed with three new faces and a new emphasis/attention given to the position this offseason. Graham, Cole Kmet and Demetrius Harris all need to be factors in what generally has been a tight end-centric offense.

Guest celebrity: Seth Rollins, WWE superstar

Receiver Allen Robinson II

Going with the safe bet. Dude is a monster and is gonna start us off on the right foot!

Recap of Week 1

Four of our six panelists, including all three of our former Bears players, have selected veteran tight end Jimmy Graham. The other two, Larry Mayer and Seth Rollins, chose wide receivers.

Wonder if our panelists know that the Bears' first touchdown of the season has come on the ground each of the past five years by five different players—Matt Forte (2015), Jeremy Langford (2016), Jordan Howard (2017), Mitchell Trubisky (2018) and David Montgomery (2019).

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