Matt LaFleur has had to listen to Ben Johnson say how much he loves beating him. Then Johnson shouted "F--- the Packers!" And who can forget the icy handshakes?
It's a rivalry Johnson started on his own, cranked up to 100 mph, and made bizarrely personal. No matter what LaFleur or any Packers player says publicly, they will want revenge.
And the NFL has reportedly handed them a perfect opportunity to do it. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Green Bay will visit Chicago in Week 16 in a Christmas Day game. A chance to ruin Johnson's Christmas and potentially the Bears' playoff hopes? It's perfect.
Packers will have a chance to crush Bears at a crucial point in the season (and ruin Ben Johnson's Christmas)
The Christmas part is funny, but the real regular-season consequences go beyond that. Week 16 is such a pivotal part of the calendar. Chicago could be in the middle of an NFC North title race, or potentially even still fighting for a playoff spot. It's unlikely Johnson's team will have already wrapped up the division by then.
Green Bay walking into Soldier Field and winning would potentially have significant ramifications.
Momentum is a factor. The Packers felt this first-hand last year. Their season spiraled out of control after a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos, a game where they also lost Micah Parsons. They then suffered two heartbreaking meltdowns at Soldier Field in a three-week span.
The Packers had those games won, starting with a 10-point lead with two minutes remaining in Week 16. Had it not been for Romeo Doubs botching an onside kick, Malik Willis would've led Green Bay to a road win and dramatically impacted the NFC North standings. The playoff game was even worse, as the Packers raced out to a dominant 21-3 position before throwing it away late.
LaFleur should be 3-0 against Johnson as a head coach, but due to some ridiculously poor composure from the Packers, Johnson could back up his loud statements with wins.
That's in the past now. Both teams begin 0-0 in 2026, and the Packers have a team capable of humbling the Bears.
For LaFleur, that postgame handshake on Christmas Day could feel even more satisfying. The NFL has handed him a golden opportunity.
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