During his introductory press conference last week, new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson took a shot at the Green Bay Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur. Johnson said he enjoyed beating LaFleur twice a year with the Lions.
The Detroit Lions have won six of their last meetings with the Packers, including both matchups in 2024. Five of those wins came with Johnson as their offensive coordinator.
Packers safety Xavier McKinney hasn’t defeated the Lions as a member of the Packers, as the All-Pro joined Green Bay in free agency in the offseason. He has a 1-3 record against the Bears and Johnson as a defender on the Packers. Had the Bears not had their walk-off field goal blocked on Nov. 17 at Soldier Field, he’d be 0-4 against the Lions and Bears in a gold and green uni.
Green Bay Packers defender is worried about the Bears offense
During an appearance on NFL Spotlight with Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team, McKinney talked about how challenging the NFC North is. McKinney is concerned about playing the Bears in 2025 with Johnson as the head coach.
“It’s a tough division,” McKinney said of the NFC North. “Now you got four teams, you have the OC from the Lions, Ben Johnson, he just went to the Bears. You’ve got four teams that are playoff-contending teams and Super Bowl-contending teams really.
“I think the Bears are going to have a really good team, especially with (Johnson). So, it’s going to be tough, but we accept the challenge.”
#Packers S Xavier McKinney on the NFC North: We got four teams that are Super Bowl contending teams. I think the Bears are gonna have a really good team now with Ben Johnson. It's gonna be tough, but we accept the challenge.
Full episode: https://t.co/QhvNdrUHT7 https://t.co/MucRCyqjin pic.twitter.com/7VWQ2pcnDp
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 28, 2025
In Week 18, the Bears earned their first win over the Packers since Dec. 16, 2018. Chicago is expected to be more of a contender in the rivalry with Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams.
McKinney is going to have his hands full trying to defend the duo.
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