The Chicago Bears had the most thrilling comeback of wild card weekend. Chicago erased an 18-point second-half deficit by scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter and defeating their most hated rival, the Green Bay Packers. While that made headlines in its own right, head coach Ben Johnson’s actions after the game made even bigger headlines.
Is There Bad Blood Between Packers Sean McVay and Bears Ben Johnson?
Johnson had a cold handshake with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and was caught on camera in the locker room saying, “F– the Packers.” Those moments didn’t just resonate around the NFC North. According to one NFL insider, Johnson’s antics also caught the attention of Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, and not in a flattering way.
On Friday, ESPN’s Peter Schrager appeared on Bill Simmons’ podcast to preview this weekend’s games and wasn’t shy about how Johnson’s actions on Sunday were felt around the league. Schrager said,” That handshake and all that mother-f stuff from Ben Johnson did not go over well with the McVay tree … and around the league.”
“That handshake and all that mother-f stuff from Ben Johnson did not go over well with the McVay tree … and around the league.”@PSchrags can’t wait to see Ben Johnson and Sean McVay go at it. pic.twitter.com/WzOAfYzf55
— The Ringer (@ringer) January 16, 2026
Schrager’s comments should come as a surprise to no one. McVay and the LaFleur family are close. LaFleur was the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2017, McVay’s first year as a head coach. Currently, Matt’s younger brother, Mike, is Los Angeles’s offensive coordinator.
So not only is there motivation to get revenge for his friend, but Mike will want to get revenge for his brother. However, that’s not going to be an easy task. Despite being a favorite in the NFC for most of the season, the Rams have looked great on defense for the last month.
Since Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles has given up a total of 116 points, which averages 29 points per game. In that stretch, the Rams only earned a grade above 80 once on PFSN’s defensive impact metric. That came in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals, who had a poor offense this season.
Los Angeles’s cornerbacks, who began the year playing above themselves, have fallen back down to earth and have become an issue. That plays into Chicago’s favor, given its dynamic receivers and tight ends. Add in the cold weather conditions, and there are a few things not in the Rams’ favor.
Nevertheless, this Rams team will not only be fired up because of the playoff atmosphere but also because McVay wants to get back at Johnson.
