Jordan Love admitted Wednesday that he heard the Bears’ Ben Johnson take a shot at his coach in his introductory press conference. The Packers quarterback, though, didn’t add any fuel to the simmering rivalry.
“We’re not worried about those things that are said …” he told reporters in Green Bay. “The Bears matchup — we’re always trying to win that game.”
Packers coach Matt LaFleur was the subject of arrows from Johnson in his January press conference, when the new Bears coach said he enjoyed beating LaFleur twice a year. His Lions defeated the Packers two times last season.
Sunday’s game has become increasingly important — not just because of what’s at stake at Lambeau Field on Sunday, but over the rest of the month. The Bears host the Packers on Dec. 20.
LaFleur joked Wednesday that the schedule will make the Packers “only show half your game plan” on Sunday.
“It’s a little bit of a unique deal,” he said. “I don’t think it’s happened to us very much. I think there’s a little bit of an unknown to that.”
How the Bears fare against the Packers on Sunday will go a long way toward determining their postseason fate. The Bears are 9-3 and would get a first -round bye as the top team in the NFC were the season to end today. If the Bears lose on Sunday, though, the 8-3-1 Packers will take first place in the NFC North.
“They’re No. 1 in the NFC. …” Love said. “Obviously we haven’t played them yet. The only team in the NFC North we haven’t seen. Two games in three weeks — it’ll be a great matchup. They’re a good team.”
