Ben Johnson’s Bold Claim: Can the Chicago Bears Back Up Their Coach’s Words Against the Green Bay Packers?
When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as their head coach 11 months ago, he was already familiar with the intensity of the NFC North rivalries from his six seasons as a Detroit Lions assistant coach. Johnson understood the importance of motivation and the impact of words on the team’s performance. At his introductory news conference in January, Johnson expressed his respect for the coaches and players in the division, but also made a bold claim that caught everyone’s attention.
“I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and the players in this [division],” Johnson said. “I’ve been competing against them for the last six years.” He complimented a couple of the coaches, but then added, “And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating [Green Bay Packers coach] Matt LaFleur twice a year.” This statement was seen as a surprise, given that there doesn’t seem to be much history between Johnson and LaFleur.
The Bears have a poor record against the Packers, with 1-11 in their past 12 games, including an 11-game losing streak that was snapped in Week 18 last season. However, under Johnson’s coaching, the team has responded well, and they take a 9-3 record and the NFC’s No. 1 seed into Lambeau Field against the 8-3 Packers. This will be the first regular-season matchup in which both teams faced each other five-plus games over.500 since Week 13 of 2001, according to ESPN Research.
Former Bears guard Tom Thayer, who was on the 1985 Super Bowl champs, believes that Johnson’s comment was a way to draw a line in the sand and say that the team’s poor performance against the Packers is no longer acceptable. “Eventually, someone’s gotta draw a line in the sand and say, ‘this is not acceptable anymore,'” Thayer said. “For that to come out of the head coach, it was probably just the initiation of confidence that he had in himself that we’re all learning about now.”
Johnson’s Comment: A Motivational Tool or a Bold Claim?
Bears quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett, who worked with Johnson in Detroit, saw the comment as a way to motivate the team. “We gotta have his back,” Barrett said. “I think [Johnson] was just talking his s—, which is great.” Wide receiver DJ Moore, who was present at Johnson’s introductory news conference, believed that the comment was made for a reason. “He said it for a reason,” Moore said. “So we can go out there and have a hell of a game. He really wants to beat them.”
Johnson’s comment was not the first time a Bears coach has targeted the Packers upon being hired. In fact, it has become a tradition. However, Johnson took it a step further by targeting LaFleur personally. LaFleur seemed to take the comment lightly, saying that he doesn’t lose sleep over it. However, Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich took it personally, saying, “You take it personal, for sure. I’ll just leave it at that.”
The Rivalry Renewed
The Packers have dominated the Bears in recent years, with a 51-16 record since 1992. However, the Bears are looking to change that under Johnson’s leadership. The team’s 9-3 record and NFC’s No. 1 seed are a testament to Johnson’s coaching and the team’s determination. The upcoming game against the Packers will be a crucial test for the Bears, and it will be interesting to see if they can back up Johnson’s bold claim.
The NFL will learn a lot about where the Bears and Packers stand after their Week 14 meeting. It’s the first of two games between the teams in 13 days and goes a long way in determining the division winner and the playoff viability of both teams. A win against Green Bay would give the Bears a 64% chance to win the division, whereas a loss would drop their chances to 22%. A win would give the Packers a 71% chance to finish the season with the NFC North crown and only a 27% chance with a loss.
As the Bears prepare to face the Packers, they will have to put their words into action. As Packers receiver Jayden Reed said, “They’re words, man. Just words. People can say whatever they like. You’ve got to put them into action.” The stage is set for an exciting matchup between two teams with a lot on the line. Will the Bears be able to back up Johnson’s bold claim, or will the Packers continue their dominance? Only time will tell.
