Bears Celebrate Wild Card Victory With Fiery Locker Room Energy
The Chicago Bears erupted in celebration inside their locker room on Saturday night. They had just completed a stunning late-game rally to eliminate the Green Bay Packers from the NFL playoffs. The atmosphere was electric, filled with shouts and cheers from players and staff.
Coach Johnson's Unfiltered Postgame Remarks
Head coach Ben Johnson set the tone immediately after the game. He began his postgame pep talk with repeated, profanity-laced remarks directed squarely at the Packers. His words captured the raw emotion of the moment and the deep-seated animosity between these historic franchises.
By Monday, Johnson showed no regret for his comments. He fully acknowledged the fierce rivalry. "There's a rivalry that exists between these two teams, something that I fully recognize and I'm a part of," Johnson stated. "And, yeah, I just, I don't like that team."
A Rivalry Rooted in History
The Bears and Packers have faced each other more times than any other two NFL franchises. This storied competition dates all the way back to 1921. Johnson embraced this history from his first day with Chicago. He was hired from the Detroit Lions staff last January.
During his introductory news conference, Johnson already took a playful jab at Green Bay. He mentioned, "I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year." This season, the Bears made good on that sentiment. They defeated the Packers twice, including this crucial 31-27 wild-card victory.
The teams split two tight regular-season games earlier this year. Chicago has now won three of the last five meetings between them, counting postseason play. This marks a significant shift after years of dominance by Green Bay.
Frosty Relations Between Coaches
The relationship between the two head coaches appears quite chilly. Their postgame handshake on Saturday quickly went viral across social media. Video showed Packers coach Matt LaFleur extending his right hand. Johnson briefly touched it before quickly running off the field.
Johnson emphasized the importance of this rivalry for the cities involved. "This is a rivalry and, city of Chicago, Green Bay, it needs to be a rivalry," he declared.
Even Packers safety Xavier McKinney offered a backhanded compliment. He praised Johnson as a "hell of a coach" but also called him a "troll." McKinney explained, "He's a troll. So it's cool. I'm just not a troll. So I don't know, that's just him. But he's a hell of a coach, though."
Chicago's Remarkable Comeback Ability
The Bears have developed a reputation for strong finishes this season. From Weeks 9 to 18 during the regular season, they led the entire NFL with 103 points scored in the fourth quarter and overtime. They continued this trend against Green Bay.
Chicago outscored the Packers 25-6 in the final quarter on Saturday. This powered their seventh comeback win of the year. Remarkably, all seven victories have occurred after trailing in the final two minutes of regulation.
This particular comeback was historic. The Bears rallied from 18 points down, the largest postseason comeback in franchise history. It also stands as the biggest playoff comeback in the NFL since the 2022 season. That year, the Jacksonville Jaguars rallied from 27 points down to beat the Los Angeles Chargers.
Persistent Slow Starts Remain a Concern
While finishing strong, the Bears have struggled with slow starts all season. For the second consecutive week, they found it difficult to generate offense before the final stretch of the game.
They were shut out by the Detroit Lions through three quarters in their regular-season finale, losing 19-16. The Green Bay game followed a similar pattern. Chicago trailed 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 going into the fourth quarter.
Rookie Tight End Shines in Playoff Debut
Tight end Colston Loveland, a first-round draft pick from Michigan, delivered a terrific performance in his playoff debut. He caught eight passes for a career-high 137 yards. This output came after he combined for just 16 receptions and 185 yards in the previous two games against San Francisco and Detroit.
Loveland led the Bears in both receptions (58) and receiving yards (713) during the regular season. He also tied teammates DJ Moore and Rome Odunze for the team lead with six touchdown catches.
The Bears surprised many by selecting Loveland with the 10th overall pick. They had more pressing needs at offensive tackle or pass rusher. The decision now looks brilliant.
Quarterback Caleb Williams shared a conversation with Coach Johnson. "We got a home run with him, and that's something Coach said the other day to me," Williams revealed. "We were sitting in his office and everybody goes back to draft night. Why did we get Colston Loveland and why did we do this and why did we do that? It's Colston Loveland, you know what I mean?"
Running Game Stalls in Recent Weeks
Running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai formed one of the best tandems in the NFL this season. Chicago finished third in the league in rushing. However, their ground attack has stalled over the past two games.
The Bears fell into an early hole against Green Bay. They managed only 93 yards rushing, coming off a season-low 65-yard performance in the loss to Detroit. Against the Packers, Swift had 54 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Monangai finished with 27 yards on eight attempts.
Significant Injuries Hit Key Players
The victory came at a cost. The Bears likely lost two key players for the remainder of the season. Linebacker T.J. Edwards suffered a broken left fibula. He was carted off the field in the second quarter.
Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo injured his knee. He hopped to the sideline during Chicago's go-ahead drive near the end of the game. Both absences will challenge the team's depth moving forward.
Looking Ahead to the Divisional Round
The Bears now shift their focus to the divisional round. They will host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on Sunday. Chicago will try to beat the Rams for the second consecutive year.
Last season, the Bears secured a 24-18 win over the Rams in Week 4. The only playoff meeting between these franchises occurred back in 1950. The Rams won that divisional game at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Coach Johnson's comments about the Packers continue to generate significant attention. Yet, the team's historic comeback and resilient performance ultimately define this playoff victory. The Bears have reignited one of football's greatest rivalries with passion and late-game heroics.
