Despite a disappointing 2024 season, the Chicago Bears were able to put an exclamation point on the year with a 24-22 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. It snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Packers and marked the Bears’ first win in Green Bay since 2015.
But the rivalry continued into the offseason between Chicago and Green Bay’s head coaches. During his introductory press conference, Bears head coach Ben Johnson took a shot at Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, saying he enjoys beating him twice a year, dating back to his time as offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. Prior to Chicago’s Week 18 win in January, LaFleur had been undefeated against the Bears (11-0).
During a recent appearance on the “Up & Adams Show” with Kay Adams, LaFleur was asked if the rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay is still the top, or if the Packers and Detroit Lions have seen an increase in the fire between them due to Detroit’s recent success.
“I think they’re all important,” Johnson said about the rivalries between divisional foes. “I think they’re all rivals, right now Detroit is the class of the NFC. I know they didn’t win the Super Bowl but I think it’s kind of March Madness when you get down to that point. The NFC North is an extremely difficult division, that’s why you have to capitalize when you have your opportunities and certainly it starts with winning in-division games at home.”
After starting out 5-0 against the Lions as head coach of the Packers, LaFleur now has a 6-6 record against Detroit, most of those losses coming after Dan Campbell became the Lions head coach.
In terms of growing rivalries, Detroit may have more beef with Chicago after Johnson left their coaching staff to be the new head coach in the same division. The Lions have had plenty of success against both Chicago and Green Bay as they’ve established themselves as one of the top teams in the NFC.
But, now, there’s a real debate if the Bears-Packers rivalry is the best one in the division (at present), as it’s been one of the league’s most historic rivalries.
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