Moments after the Chicago Bears put the hands to the Green Bay Packers in their NFC wild-card matchup, another pair of hands took center stage.
As is custom, NFL players and coaches meet on the field to exchange postgame pleasantries and well wishes, except in rare circumstances. Well, count the meeting between Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Bears head coach Ben Johnson in that ‘rare’ circumstance category.
After the game, Johnson and LaFleur had a very quick handshake, continuing something of a tradition between the two NFC North coaches:
It’s not the first time that the two have had brief midfield exchanges, but it may be the shortest: Both of LaFleur and Johnson’s midfield meetings have been light on the banter this season, and decreasingly short in length:
There may have been some extra bulletin-board material for Johnson and the Bears to work off of this week. Following the game, Johnson said that there was a bit more ‘noise’ coming from Green Bay leading into the playoff showdown.
‘There was probably a little bit more noise coming out of there, the building up north, to start the week, which we heard loud and clear; players and coaches alike,’ Johnson said. ‘So this one meant something to us.’
During Johnson’s introductory press conference, the Bears head coach made it clear he relished the idea of beating the division-rival Packers – and their head coach – a few times a year.
‘To be quite frank with you, I kinda enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,’ he said during his intro presser.
It may have taken more than just the regular season, but ultimately, Johnson and the Bears got that second win over LaFleur and the Packers – and when it mattered most.