Ben Johnson Gives Bears Chance to Take Control of Packers Rivalry

The Chicago Bears enter their next matchup against the Green Bay Packers with an opportunity to strengthen their position in one of the NFL's longest-running rivalries. Head coach Ben Johnson guided Chicago to three victories over Green Bay last season, including a playoff win, and now faces a Packers team struggling to find consistency under Matt LaFleur.

Chicago's progress marks a significant change after years of struggling against its NFC North rival. According to the historical records cited by the Chicago Sun-Times, LaFleur has a 12-3 record against the Bears, while Chicago has not won three consecutive games against Green Bay since the 2005 and 2006 seasons under Lovie Smith.

Johnson began reshaping the rivalry in his first season, leading the Bears to an 11-6 record and the NFC North title. Chicago had not finished above .500 since 2018, making the turnaround a notable change for a franchise seeking to restore its competitive standing.

Green Bay's recent results have created an opening for Chicago. The Packers finished last season with a five-game losing streak that included two defeats against the Bears, then opened the current season with a 2-2 record, according to the Sun-Times.

Johnson has made defeating Green Bay a stated priority since his introductory news conference, when he discussed beating LaFleur twice each season. After losing in Green Bay in Week 14 last season, Chicago responded with a victory at Soldier Field and another win in the first round of the playoffs.

Johnson's rivalry with LaFleur has also become increasingly personal in public appearances. The Sun-Times described Johnson's profane criticism of the Packers and his brief postgame handshakes with LaFleur as signs of the tension between the coaches.

Bears running back D'Andre Swift said the team recognizes the rivalry's importance to Chicago and its supporters.

"We're trying to turn this thing around, especially with the history of what it had been. Any chance we get to go against them, it's not something we take lightly. We know our fans don't take it lightly," Swift said.

The Packers face questions about their offense and their ability to recover from a difficult stretch. Quarterback Jordan Love has completed 56.5% of his passes and posted an 86.5 passer rating, while the team has struggled to score consistently and has allowed substantial points, according to the Sun-Times.

Green Bay's early-season defeats have included a blown fourth-quarter lead against the Minnesota Vikings and a heavy home loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers narrowly defeated the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their other two games.

LaFleur acknowledged the scale of Green Bay's defeat against Atlanta when he described the performance afterward.

"A butt-whupping," LaFleur said.

The Packers have committed to LaFleur with a contract extension whose financial terms were not specified in the report. Love previously signed a $220 million contract running through 2028.

Former Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers once captured the imbalance in the rivalry when he celebrated a victory at Soldier Field in 2021.

"I own you," Rodgers declared.

Bears tight end Cole Kmet acknowledged the truth behind Rodgers' boast at the time, reflecting the frustration Chicago had endured against Green Bay. Former Bears coaches Matt Eberflus, Matt Nagy and John Fox recorded 0-5, 1-7 and 1-5 records against the Packers, respectively, according to the Sun-Times.

The last Chicago coach to leave with a winning record against Green Bay was Mike Ditka, who went 15-5 against the Packers from 1982 through 1992. Ditka died at 86 on the Friday before the Bears' scheduled visit to Lambeau Field, adding historical significance to the matchup.

Chicago's starting quarterback Caleb Williams is sidelined by a hamstring injury, according to the Sun-Times. Despite that setback, the Bears have an opportunity to win four of their last five meetings with Green Bay and build momentum before the teams' scheduled rematch at Soldier Field on Christmas.

Another Chicago victory would further test a Packers team that has struggled on both sides of the ball, while a Green Bay win could interrupt the Bears' momentum and ease pressure on LaFleur ahead of the rematch.