The Week 14 slate may not be the greatest as compared to others, but there is a gigantic NFC North matchup in the late afternoon. The Green Bay Packers have had a bit of a roller coaster season, but still logged eight wins on the year. But there has been one team ahead of them in the standings, and it's the hated Chicago Bears.
The Bears are 9-3 in Ben Johnson's first year as head coach. It hasn't been the most convincing football being played, but the Bears are finding ways to win. Packers fans have been ingrained not to cheer for Johnson, considering he was a long-time assistant coach on the Detroit Lions.
Johnson didn't help his case during his Bears introductory press conference after being hired as head coach. While praising head coaches in the division, Dan Campbell of the Lions and Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings. But Johnson didn't praise Matt LaFleur, instead bragging about how much he enjoyed beating him and the Packers twice a year.
"I've got tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and the players in this league. I have competed against them the last six years. Dan Campbell, Kevin O'Connell, you talk about two guys that are up for Coach of the Year Awards as the season ends here. And to be quite frank with you, I kinda enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year," said Johnson.
LaFleur has said in the past that he doesn't know Johnson and hinted that he would use those comments as motivation for when the two teams meet.
Jay Glazer provides update on Matt LaFleur's stance on Ben Johnson
During an appearance on FOX Sports NFL, insider Jay Glazer was asked about the rivalry between LaFleur and Johnson.
Matt LaFleur: "We're not [tight], I don't know him! I'm shocked over this!" 😅@JayGlazer gives us the inside scoop on the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5xWPXU9PDA
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 7, 2025
"There is no history at all. In fact, when it happened, I called Matt LaFleur and said, 'I didn't know you guys were tight.' He goes, 'we're not. I don't know him. I'm shocked over this.'...I asked Ben Johnson about this, and I think as the feature just said, he was trying to stoke the rivalry, get under Matt's skin, and really add to the rivalry."
It's far from a new update, as LaFleur said in April that he is not close with Johnson. It wasn't a case of friends trying to get under each other's skin. Johnson stoked the rivalry as a way to pump up Bears fans. After all, Packers vs. Bears is one of the top rivalries in football.
Luckily for football fans everywhere, the first Packers vs. Bears matchup for the 2025 season will have playoff implications. If the Packers beat the Bears, not only would they retake the lead in the division, but the Bears would fall to the No. 7 seed in the NFC. The Bears currently hold the No. 1 seed in the conference heading into the game.
LaFleur has his chance to not only retake the lead in the NFC North, but also to humble Johnson.