Ben Johnson Reignites Bears / Packers Rivalry; "F**k The Packers!" | Pat McAfee Show

What this episode is about

Ben Johnson has revitalized the Chicago Bears' long-standing rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, showcasing his team's mental toughness and ability to perform under pressure, especially during crucial fourth quarters. After leading the Bears to a surprising playoff victory against the Packers, discussions arise around the contrasting performances of both teams and the uncertain future of Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

Key takeaways

• Ben Johnson's Bears prove that mental toughness can turn a playoff 'cold handshake' into a heated upset.
• Caleb Williams: Moving from college star to NFL sensation, proving doubters wrong with absurd fourth-quarter magic.
• The Packers' postseason woes overshadow their regular-season dominance—crying on the sidelines is not a playoff strategy.
• Brandon McManus missed kicks are colder than Chicago winters, leaving the Packers' playoff aspirations frozen in time.
• The Bears' fourth-quarter comebacks—more thrilling than Netflix cliffhangers, solidifying their legacy in Chicago's football history.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Pat McAfee (Host) · 7 min speaking
• Ben Johnson (Guest) · 4 min speaking
• Caleb Williams (Guest) · 1 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Super Wild Card weekend
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Super Wild Card weekend
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Super Wild Card weekend

Notable quotes from "Ben Johnson Reignites Bears / Packers Rivalry; "F**k The Packers!" | Pat McAfee Show"

• Everything he has tried to build so quickly over there in Chicago comes to spotlight in the super wildcard round against NFC North rival for a long time, the Green Bay Packers. Packers up by a lot. Kicking [ __ ] eyes Chicago Bears.

  about Super Wild Card weekend · at 0:15

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

Places & events

• Super Wild Card weekend — Event · Core event (setting for the game and key failures) · 3 mentions · first at 0:17
  The Bears–Packers playoff game is explicitly situated in Super Wild Card weekend, with the comeback and McManus' misses described as defining moments.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 The Chicago slight a cold handshake after a crazy comeback. What a win for the Ben Johnson led Bears. Everything that Ben has kind of preached about mental toughness and his team has shown fourth quarters they've been outrageous. Everything he has tried to build so quickly over there in Chicago comes to spotlight in the super wildcard round against NFC North rival for a long time, the Green Bay Packers. Packers up by a lot. Kicking [ __ ] eyes Chicago Bears. Yeah,

0:29 I'm texting Chicago Bears fans saying just like we said. Just like we said. You thought Ben Johnson was going to be able to go in there in one year and create an actual winner. Whenever push comes to shelf, if you play a good team, you're going to lose. We already played the Packers. We already beat them. Doesn't matter. Bears can't get it done in the playoffs. A lot of people thought that.

0:49 Turns out they can. You know who can't? The Packers. Oh, Green Bay Packers. I shouldn't say that. Matt Laflur can't get it done THOUGH IN THE PLAYOFFS.

0:59 WELL, WOULDN'T THAT BE THE GREEN BAY PACKERS? I saw he's potentially going to be maybe negotiating to sign a new one with the Green Bay Packers.

1:05 Yeah. Yeah. We'll see. No, but I mean, you hit the nail on the head. It's like the Bears have been doing this all year long. And kudos to Ben Johnson for dropping his nuts on the table, not only at his opening press conference and kind of starting this whole thing off and saying like, you know what, I enjoyed beating Matt Laflur twice uh twice a year. I can't wait to do that again. And then just kind of all the back and forth that led up to the game. Like he he knew he was going to get crucified. He would have got killed if that would have been the end result. You know, they just played flat the whole game. But he is an unbelievable coach and his team believes in him. And we saw what happened.

1:39 Yeah. And not only believes in him, what Caleb Williams becomes late in these games is outrageous. Let's go to 537 2716. Caleb's down 11 at home. This is going to be his legacy.

1:49 Jesus. Crossbody on the run. one leg off ground, one fallen into a bucket, fourth and eight pickup, extends the game, keeps it alive, and has play a season as he's jumping out of a sack. I mean, you're talking about Caleb [ __ ] in the NFL here. Now, I did see a couple people tweeting about people wondered if he was going to be able to do this like he was able to do in college in the NFL. I was one of those people. I had no idea if he was going to be able to do stuff like this against grown men who are all the best in the history of the game at one time. He's he certainly can. and his arm strength is outrageous, outlandish, I would say, with how strong he throws the ruck and then obviously his ability to move is crazy. Third and 10 now after they pick up the first down. Debbut, they always got it when they needed it, especially in the biggest moments.

2:33 Yeah, this uh the three times these two teams played, it always kind of came down to the end. He had the interception in the two games where he made big time plays down the stretch, but this is what he did all season long for the Bears. already six comeback fourth quarter comeback wins leading into this game now seven including the playoffs which is most in Bears history already he's kind of already up there when you talk about Bears alltime quarterbacks but I mean just these throws coast and loveliness he's been unbelievable especially down the stretch

2:59 had to go for two obviously to make it a three-point game oh my god are they going to erase 11 points in four minutes are the Chicago Bears at home going to be able to do it while Jordan Love says not on my watch dime is the greatest guardian cap wearer in the history of football.

3:16 He's the best player by far. That thing is everywhere. I see it. And he, hey, whatever protects your brain, whatever makes you comfortable, you do what you got to do. But it does stick out. And he always seemingly is making big plays. What a catch. What a throw. Gets him in a field goal range. All right, let's at least make them have to go down the entire field and get a touchdown. Brandon McManis, former Super Bowl champion, reliable normally, not this year as much for Green Bay, misses his second field goal of the night.

3:44 Yeah. I mean, and this is the [ __ ] that drives you insane because I've been saying this for weeks now. He's three of nine on field goals over 40 yards this year. So, I mean, they knew that was an an issue going into the game. Really knew that was an issue. And

3:58 guys won a Super Bowl. He's been there. He's done that. I would stick up for McManus. Now, on that note, he makes the 50s some yard.

4:04 Yeah. Timeout. Hits it again. Misses it. Seems to move a little bit more. This ball feels like it was head down the middle. Moves way to the right. Extra point miss. Obviously, it becomes a huge gra. He had his worst game I think I've ever seen Brandon McManis have uh in the Super Wild Card weekend against Chicago Bears.

4:22 Yeah. But and you know, again, you don't want to just [ __ ] on him because he has had his moments in Green Bay, but like he hasn't been good this year. He just hasn't. And uh and that's kind of where you're s like and I don't even want to say that because honestly yes he misses that extra point. Packers drive down the field at the end of the game. He's not making that field goal to tie it the way that the game was going. He's they had to score a touchdown. He's just not sorry. But yeah, you know, you leave seven points out on the field in a playoff game. Yeah, that's that's usually going to come back and bite you in the ass

4:52 on the road. You might as well go ahead and uh call it a couple turnovers. Then third and four. Are the Bears going to answer in front of a crowd that was insane? Very quiet obviously. Uh didn't have much to cheer for for a long time. Then this fourth quarter, Chicago Bears fans, awesome performance, I would like to say. Incredibly loud. Wildly into it. And it felt electric through the television. First and 10 down three. What's Caleb GOING TO DO? PUMP FAKE. GOT HIM. TOUCHDOWN DJ MO. THIS ONE ALMOST went into his face mask into his helmet like in that uh one kid movie where they throw the football and no Giants. Bang where it goes right there. DJ Moore almost got that had a drop a little bit earlier. So him having this catch, this touchdown, this release, this everything in this moment. Congrats and shout out to DJ Moore. Always been an incredible player.

5:41 Yeah, in this situation, Caleb didn't have to make a phenomenal throw or break the pocket. This was a great play call from Ben Johnson and they kind of set this play up one of the first plays of the game. and they ran a screen to the same side of the field, picked up maybe 10, 11 yards and then came back to it now at the end of the game. Kind of a screen and go. Great fake, great pump fake. Everyone executed properly and then obviously hit him with a accurate throw for the gohead touchdown.

6:04 I mean, if that thing hits in his face mask and sticks there. I mean, that would be a really cool thing. Catch the catch and said DJ, he caught that thing like this. That is maybe the hardest. I That's an incredible grab, especially in the moment to score a touchdown. Those easy ones always the hardest. Congratulations DJ Moore and the Chicago Bears. Now the Green Bay Packers will get a shot at it. Down four. Got a chance to take a Hail Mary. We drop the snap obviously. Then we fumble bumble around. Somehow they stop blocking even though I still have the ball. Now we have pressure. Little throw to no one except for their team. Could have got a pick in a super wild card. Instead drops it. 3127. I'll put this thing into the stand. Somebody can keep that for the rest of their lives. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson experienced their first playoff wins together. And it's a dawning of a new day in the NFC

6:51 North. Yeah. Then at the very end, obviously, there's a uh ritual that happens of sorts. You know, uh each coach will go out and shake each other's hand, say, "Where you compete out there?" Well, there's been a couple of these obviously this year because it's been split. Matt has been on the winning side of it quick. Ben has been on the uh winning side of it

7:10 quick. THIS ONE THOUGH, GO AHEAD and keeps it moving as quick as possible. Easy come, easy go. how you doing? Keep it moving. Uh, you know, Matt Lafur said, "Good job." And then he turns quickly. I don't know if there was an extra stickum on the end of that. Did he yank him that way or was that just kind of Matt Lafur pivoting like that?

7:30 It might have been like a watch this, watch me go sober in my guy's [ __ ] This is going to be awesome.

7:34 Oh, is that what he was saying? Yeah. Yeah. Look this way. Something that wasn't really talked about here is the fact that Ben Johnson going in, yelling quickly, leaving certainly an alpha dominance. Certainly an alpha dominance, but it was an answer, I think, to what Laflur did before, right? Didn't Laflur do a quick handshake on the way out whenever they won over the Chicago Bears? Yeah.

7:53 And these two have been bickering for a long time. Yeah. I saw some people saying they didn't like this. Uh

8:01 who was Schwarz? Didn't he go fight a guy? Schwarz fought a guy and Harbaugh. Yeah. Schwarz and Harbaugh fight back.

8:09 And then Ben Johnson in the locker room going, "Fuck the Packers." Mhm. Hate those guys, man.

8:14 Yeah. Then him saying how bad he hates him like continuing to follow up on it and the Chicago Bears posting it. Okay. Like the Chicago Bears posting it. I respect that. I love that. I wonder what the Packers did to the Lions. Was there some sort of something with a locker room incident, some personal incident that took place? Because Ben Johnson immediately upon signing to the Chicago Bears says, "Can't wait to beat Matt Laflur twice." Like literally says that, "Oh, piss ant. I can't wait to beat him twice." and we're all like, "Yes, we love this for the rivalry." But then now it's like real heat. And Ben Johnson living the gimmick of this entire thing and the Chicago Bears social team posting that means everybody in the Bears building saw that and was like, "Yeah, we do hate those guys. Let's go ahead and run this." I love that for football. I love that in the entire organization in the NFL, which I would

9:00 say sometimes lacks the passion that college football has. I like that in the NFL, in a professional business, brand new head coach, a lot of new pieces in there. Obviously, ownership pass got new ownership in there. I like that they're all bought in on keeping a rivalry of hatred.

9:16 Hatred like I like that. I don't know if Laflur is doing enough. I don't know if the Packers are hating the Bears enough.

9:22 I I don't Well, okay. I didn't mean that. What you are certainly in any regard.

9:27 You'll certainly be able to speak your mind here in a matter of seconds. But I don't think the Packers are pitching that. The Bears coming out and saying, "Nah, [ __ ] this team over here." And that's been a rivalry for how long? Forever, right? Big city or small town. for 100 years.

9:40 It's like the oldest rivalry IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. YES. I LOVE everything about this because Ben Johnson is letting his boys know like, hey, this is really how I feel about this entire squad. This is how Ohio State and Michigan started, right? Then the two coaches, they're both Ohio State coaches. Then old buddy leaves and goes to Michigan and their actual heat is what led to the Michigan thing. It's like I will be tuned in to Bears Packers, not only because the coach is seemingly good, great teams as well, both sides. I'm not saying Ben Johnson. I'm saying Laflur, too.

10:10 Seemingly good. Uh, and also all the [ __ ] This is a real rival. I love it, Dud. Yeah,

10:16 I love everything about it. There's people that are saying they didn't like it.

10:19 Uh, of course there's going to be people that didn't like it. Especially I actually part of both of it, both parts of it. The handshake, you know, obviously you think, hey, you want a coach to be respectful and regardless of what the game is, regardless of how you truly feel about each other, do that gimmick, you know, how the gimmick is supposed to be done in the post game when you know it's recorded and you know it's going out. Hey, you know, have the respect. And it was surprising to me only because of the history of the Bears and like from the ownership level. I know they were really specific. I think even with like a hard knocks, they like, hey, very careful with the language. We don't want, you know, this uh franchise represented in a certain way, but he's fired up like his his first uh playoff win. And it's kind of it seems like this is who he is, you know, authentically like he he's been himself. And when you

11:01 hired him, you got to support uh face of the franchise, the new CEO of your team if that's who it's going to be. And then hearing on the flip side, I feel like Caleb is he he sounds like a 40-year-old man when he's talking. He always taking a high road and being classy and then he'll take his shots, you know, on his socials and stuff like that. But I love it. I love when there's some real heat between coaches, between players, his football. I don't mind, you know, people shaking hands and exchange his jersey or any of that either, but I also do like some of this throwback heat for sure.

11:30 Ben Johnson today in his press conference uh via Ari Mirro here. This a rivalry. City of Chicago and Green Bay. It needs to be a rivalry.

11:37 Hell yeah. Okay. Yeah. I don't know. I might like him as a person. Who cares? The hell with him? I don't care at all. I love that. That's so good for our league. So good for our league.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Ben Johnson Reignites Bears / Packers Rivalry; "F**k The Packers!" | Pat McAfee Show"?

Pat McAfee (Host), Ben Johnson (Guest), Caleb Williams (Guest).

What is "Ben Johnson Reignites Bears / Packers Rivalry; "F**k The Packers!" | Pat McAfee Show" about?

Ben Johnson has revitalized the Chicago Bears' long-standing rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, showcasing his team's mental toughness and ability to perform under pressure, especially during crucial fourth quarters. After leading the Bears to a surprising playoff victory against the Packers, discussions arise around the contrasting performances of both teams and the uncertain future of Packers…

What is mentioned in this The Pat McAfee Show episode?

1 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Super Wild Card weekend. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Ben Johnson Reignites Bears / Packers Rivalry; "F**k The Packers!" | Pat McAfee Show"?

The episode runs 12 min; the transcript is about 2,683 words in 36 timestamped sections.

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