Luther Burden III didn’t waste any time turning up the heat before the Bears’ Week 5 matchup with the Packers.
Asked about the rivalry, the second-year wide receiver made Chicago’s mindset sound as blunt as the matchup itself.
“I feel like he wants to beat them really bad, like everybody else in the room, every Chicago fan,” Burden said (h/t Michael Dwojak).
“We just want to beat them real bad and make them quit.”
That kind of talk fits a game that has been nasty for generations. The Bears and Packers don’t just dislike each other; the bad blood runs all the way through the organization and the fan base.
And with Ben Johnson now in Chicago, the temperature has only gone up. Johnson has already made it clear where he stands with Green Bay and Matt LaFleur, and his track record against the Packers backs up the swagger.
Johnson has beaten LaFleur twice in three tries as a head coach, including an epic comeback win in the Wild Card round. Overall, he’s 7-2 against Green Bay, including a 5-1 stretch while serving as Dan Campbell’s offensive coordinator.
The matchup itself also comes with a pretty clear contrast. The Packers are dealing with a shaky offensive line, even after bringing in Kevin Zeitler and Laken Tomlinson. They still can’t run the ball effectively, and the injuries haven’t helped, with Micah Parsons still absent and Edgerrin Cooper now out for the rest of the season.
Chicago, meanwhile, has the kind of offensive depth that gives a coach options. The Bears have more weapons than they can fully feed right now, and their defense has been better than expected. They’ve also already won games with three different starting quarterbacks this season.
That doesn’t mean anyone in Chicago is taking Green Bay lightly. If anything, Johnson’s reputation suggests the Bears have had this one circled for a while, and Burden’s comments only sharpened that edge.
This isn’t just about winning. It’s about putting the Packers in a hole and keeping them there.
For Bears fans, that tone will sound familiar. They lived through Aaron Rodgers’ prime and all the frustration that came with it. That hasn’t been the same story with his successor, especially behind an offensive line that has struggled badly.
Caleb Williams won’t be available in Week 5, but Chicago’s offense has managed to function no matter who has been under center. After losing their first divisional game of the season, the Bears should have plenty of motivation to make this one count on Sunday.
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Bears Open Week 5 With A Protection Problem Fans Feared
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Caleb Williams was also ruled out and did not practice, adding another layer to an offense already trying to stabilize around a battered line. Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift were among the running backs sidelined by injuries, while the news was a little better on defense, where Kyler Gordon and Cam Lewis were full participants and appear close to returning. Still, the early week picture for Chicago was less about who might come back and more about how many key pieces are suddenly unavailable. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Strong Start Just Made One Trade Debate Very Real
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The most obvious name in that discussion is Khalil Mack, whose presence would bring instant credibility and familiarity, but he is not the only Chargers defender drawing attention. Tuli Tuipulotu and Cam Hart also fit the kind of long-view roster questions that matter if Los Angeles begins to think differently about its future. For Chicago, the appeal is clear: if the Chargers are drifting toward a reset, the Bears may have a chance to pounce on a player who fits a need before the market gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Why Bears Fans Should Feel Confident Heading To Lambeau
The Bears head to Lambeau in Week 5 with a chance to reset the conversation after both Chicago and Green Bay took early losses to the Vikings. This matchup has the feel of an opportunity for the Bears to lean on what has made their defense capable of bothering opponents, because the Packers have not looked especially comfortable on offense through the first month.
Green Bays rushing game has been a problem, and its third-down offense has not been much better, which opens the door for Chicago to force longer drives and tougher decisions. The Packers have leaned on a quicker passing game to compensate for offensive line concerns, but that also gives the Bears a clear roadmap: pressure the timing, stay disciplined underneath, and make Green Bay prove it can sustain an attack the hard way. [Read more 🡒]