The Green Bay Packers are rolling with three consecutive wins, including their last two over NFC North opponents in the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. But perhaps the biggest test will come Sunday, December 7 when they host the division-leading Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
Chicago (9-3) held onto its half-game lead over Green Bay (8-3-1) with a road victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. The Bears and Packers have yet to square off in 2025, but will now do so twice in three weeks. Those two contests may well determine who wins the division, guarantees themselves at least one home playoff game and stays in the hunt for conference’s No. 1 seed and sole postseason bye with the likes of the Los Angeles Rams (9-2), Seattle Seahawks (8-3) and Philadelphia (8-4).
The exceedingly high stakes and storied rivalry between Green Bay and Chicago offer the looming showdown as much juice as it could ever need, but there is more on the line, nevertheless. First-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson — who spent several seasons with the Detroit Lions, including the last three as offensive coordinator, before landing in Chicago — extolled the virtues of his divisional coaching opponents during his introductory press conference in January.
However, while he was effusive in his praise for Dan Campbell and Kevin O’Connell, Johnson took a shot at the Packers’ Matt LaFleur.
“I’ve got [a] tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and players in this [division], having competed against them for the last six years. Dan Campbell and Kevin O’Connell, you’re talking about two guys who are up for Coach of the Year awards as the season ends here,” Johnson said. “And to be quite frank with ya, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Ben Johnson, Matt LaFleur Both Among Top Offensive Minds in NFL
GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
While Johnson was clearly taunting LaFleur to a degree, it was also a sign of flattery. Johnson spent the previous three years building his reputation as among the best and most-gifted offensive minds in the NFL, while LaFleur has held that moniker for quite some time now.
Things have changed somewhat in 2025, at least in terms of results, as LaFleur has proven a more cautious play-caller due to several factors — most notably injuries to top skill-position talent and a considerable step back with regards to the performance of the offensive line as a unit.
Heading into Week 13, Pro Football Focus ranked the Packers’ O-line 17th in the league, which technically puts the group in the below-average category. However, those rankings could change following a 31-24 defeat of the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Wide receiver Jayden Reed’s potential return to the lineup ahead of the Bears game will also be a significant boost should it come to fruition.
Packers Defense Against Bears Offense Is Strength-on-Strength Matchup
GettyEdge-rusher Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers.
That said, the Bears’ offensive line entered this week as the 4th-best unit in PFF’s rankings and did nothing to lower its position after the team amassed 281 rushing yards and two scores on 47 carries against a stout Eagles defense Friday.
Chicago started its game in Philly as the league’s sixth-rated offense and second-rated run game, and could move up in each category based on how well the team played.
The Packers have absolutely owned the Bears for years, and Green Bay’s exceptional defense (eighth against the run and fourth overall as of Friday) should put up a strong fight against a high-powered Chicago offense. But it was simpler a week ago to chalk the Bears’ success up to an easy schedule and close wins over bad teams, before they went into Philadelphia and walloped the ascending defense of the defending champions.
Johnson has Chicago playing well enough that he could contend for the Coach of the Year award if the Bears finish the season strong, though LaFleur and company will have two chances to shut Johnson up over the next three weeks.
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