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As the stable, consistent, steadily winning franchise in the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers are predictably the team that every new coach in the division talks about when taking the job. When he was hired by the Chicago Bears in 2004, Lovie Smith famously stated that his number one goal was to beat the Packers.
It doesn’t ever get personal, however. Or at least it didn’t before Ben Johnson took over as the Bears head coach in the offseason, coming over from his role as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator. Johnson’s comment about how he “enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year” has drawn different public reactions from Packers players and coaches, but it’s surely the fans who got more riled up about it than anyone.
Just for historical perspective: Johnson spent six years with the Lions in various coaching roles, starting as an offensive QC coach in 2019, moving to tight ends in 2020, then getting the OC job in 2022. During that time Detroit swept the Packers just twice (2022 and 2024). The Packers did the job to Detroit twice while Johnson was on staff, in his first two years back in 2019 and 2020. So depending on how you look at it, that line comes off more or less accurate.
Either way, Johnson’s first test against LaFleur as a head coach comes up on Sunday afternoon in what should be the biggest game between these two teams since the 2013 season finale.
Will the Bears back up Ben Johnson’s shot at Matt LaFleur? | ESPN
A few of LaFleur’s assistants were asked about Johnson’s comments. OC and former offensive lineman Adam Stenavich didn’t seem to like them, though DC Jeff Hafley brushed it off as just “trying to win the press conference.”
Packers’ short-term extensions for Christian Watson and Isaiah McDuffie paying off | Packers Wire
Watson has been tremendous in his return from a torn ACL and will be a bargain at his price tag in 2026. Meanwhile, McDuffie’s contributions as a third linebacker and a spot starter the past few weeks have made the two-year deal he signed this offseason look like an excellent investment.
Bears take ball away, Packers protect it, so somethin’s gotta give | Packers.com
Expect the turnover battle to decide Sunday’s game.
Cowboys-Lions on ‘Thursday Night Football’: What We Learned from Detroit’s 44-30 win | NFL.com
I know what I learned: that the Packers holding Jahymr Gibbs to under 100 yards from scrimmage in each of their two matchups this season and 136 total in two games is really impressive.
Police recover Fabergé egg pendant from man accused of swallowing it | CNN
In a critical follow-up from a story in Wednesday’s curds, the pendant has been retrieved. And yes, they retrieved it in exactly the way you’d expect.
