The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have never needed much help in turning up the heat, but on Dec. 7, things got especially chippy - and controversial - in the second quarter of their latest clash. At the center of it all? Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon, who found himself flagged after an exchange that had head coach Matt LaFleur visibly fuming on the sidelines.
Here’s what went down: After a play had ended, Nixon approached Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III and exchanged words - nothing uncommon in a rivalry game with playoff implications and pride on the line. But Burden clearly didn’t appreciate what was said. The 21-year-old responded by reaching up and grabbing Nixon in the neck area, slipping his right hand under Nixon’s chin strap - a move that rarely goes unnoticed by officials.
Nixon, naturally, reacted. He flailed his right arm in Burden’s direction, more as a get-off-me gesture than anything overly aggressive. Cornerback Carrington Valentine stepped in quickly to separate the two, trying to de-escalate the moment before it boiled over.
And then came the flag.
The surprising part? It only went against Nixon.
No offsetting penalties. No warning.
Just a single flag, his second of the drive, and a decision that had LaFleur visibly irate - first at the officials, then at Nixon himself. The Bears capitalized on the extended drive by tacking on a field goal, adding points and momentum in what was already a tightly contested game.
The call didn’t just catch LaFleur off guard - it raised eyebrows across the league. Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky didn’t point to this specific moment, but he did take to social media to call out the officiating in the game. And while Orlovsky didn’t go into detail, the implication was clear: something felt off about the way the game was being called.
For Nixon, it was a tough moment in an otherwise gritty performance. For the Packers, it was a reminder of how razor-thin the margins can be in a rivalry game - especially when emotions run high and the officiating crew becomes part of the storyline.
As for LaFleur, his frustration was palpable. He’s not one to shy away from holding his players accountable, but it was just as clear that he felt the penalty was lopsided - and costly.
In a season where every possession matters, moments like this can swing games. And in the NFC North, where the Packers and Bears are always circling each other, they can swing seasons too.