Ben Johnson's shot at Matt LaFleur is about to get a lot harder. The Chicago Bears are heading into the playoffs with their season on the line, and facing off against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers is as good as a test of their mettle.
Johnson has made a name for himself as a rejuvenating force in his first season, transforming a 3-14 team from three years ago under Matt Eberflus into an 11-6 squad. The Bears' offense improved dramatically, going from 28th to ninth in scoring. Quarterback Caleb Williams saw his sack total plummet from 68 to just 24. And when the Bears faced opponents who allowed 24 or more points, they went 4-0.
But all that is about to be put to the test. The Packers are the ultimate challenge for any team, and Johnson will have to prove himself in this playoff matchup. It's the "slay the dragon" moment that will define the season – and the offseason – for Bears fans, no matter how bright the future with Johnson might appear.
There's a reason why the Packers have historically been tough on teams that reach the playoffs without them. Even legendary coach Lovie Smith was unable to knock off the Packers when it mattered most. In 2010, his team had a chance to keep the Packers out of the playoffs but lost 10-3 in Week 17.
Marc Trestman's Bears also faced this challenge two years later, and came up short against Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC Championship Game.
Johnson might be the best coach since Mike Ditka, but he'll have to show just how much better than the rest he is. The question is, can he take down Aaron Rodgers?
The game at Soldier Field has all the ingredients for a classic rivalry matchup. And Johnson will have to rely on his players to respond to the pressure and come out on top.
Johnson has made a name for himself as a rejuvenating force in his first season, transforming a 3-14 team from three years ago under Matt Eberflus into an 11-6 squad. The Bears' offense improved dramatically, going from 28th to ninth in scoring. Quarterback Caleb Williams saw his sack total plummet from 68 to just 24. And when the Bears faced opponents who allowed 24 or more points, they went 4-0.
But all that is about to be put to the test. The Packers are the ultimate challenge for any team, and Johnson will have to prove himself in this playoff matchup. It's the "slay the dragon" moment that will define the season – and the offseason – for Bears fans, no matter how bright the future with Johnson might appear.
There's a reason why the Packers have historically been tough on teams that reach the playoffs without them. Even legendary coach Lovie Smith was unable to knock off the Packers when it mattered most. In 2010, his team had a chance to keep the Packers out of the playoffs but lost 10-3 in Week 17.
Marc Trestman's Bears also faced this challenge two years later, and came up short against Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC Championship Game.
Johnson might be the best coach since Mike Ditka, but he'll have to show just how much better than the rest he is. The question is, can he take down Aaron Rodgers?
The game at Soldier Field has all the ingredients for a classic rivalry matchup. And Johnson will have to rely on his players to respond to the pressure and come out on top.
I mean, Ben Johnson's first playoff win against the Packers would be a huge deal. The Bears' offense has been looking so good this season and Caleb Williams is finally healthy... but Aaron Rodgers is a whole different story 
. He's like the opposite of a quarterback - he's more like a magician with a ball. I'm not sure if Johnson can outsmart him, but it'll be fun to watch! The Packers have been killing it all season too, so this could go either way 
. Either way, I'm hyped for the game and can't wait to see what happens! 
but johnson's squad has been looking fire this season. they've got some tough opponents coming up before the playoffs but i think they can handle it if they stay focused. the only thing that worries me is their defense, they've been giving up too many yards per game...
, transforming from that 3-14 team three years ago into an 11-6 squad is no easy feat. but facing off against aaron rodgers and the packers in the playoffs? that's a whole different story altogether 
, they've historically been tough on teams that reach the playoffs without them... will ben johnson be able to pull it off? 
, if they can come out on top, that would definitely set the bar high for next season 
! Ben Johnson's done a great job turning around the Bears, but facing Rodgers is like trying to calm a storm 
. The Packers always bring their A-game when it matters most, and you can't just wish your way to victory 
. It's gonna be tough for Johnson & co to come out on top, especially if they're not fully prepared 
. Johnson's got some serious doubters if he thinks he can take down the Packers' QB 
That's straight fire! 
, but at the same time, it's gonna be super tough for Johnson and his team. Can they pull off the upset? 
️ Soldier Field better be ready for some drama! 
this bears team got lucky with that 11-6 record, been a wild ride from 3-14 to playoffs 
. If they can pull it off, that'd be awesome, but if not... well, not so much 
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, that's some skill coaching right there!
. Lovie Smith was even able to get 'em! 
, Mike Ditka is a legend, but can he do better than everyone else? That's a BIG question mark 
. Still, I'm hyped for this game! Soldier Field is gonna be ELECTRIC 
he's got 11-6 record but it's all about how they perform against top teams 
. But, you know how it is... Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are like the ultimate challenge 
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. I mean, it's not like the Bears did anything special this season other than facing weak opponents and getting some favorable calls 
meanwhile aaron rodgers has been a thorn in their side for ages, always seems to find a way to shut down opposing offenses. i'm hoping the bears can pull off the upset tho, they've come so far under johnson and if anyone can do it, he's got this 
The Bears need to step up their game if they wanna take down the best team in the league. And let's be real, Johnson is gonna get a lot of heat from fans if he can't pull this off. The "slay the dragon" moment is all about it