The Green Bay Packers didn’t need much help making a statement against the Chicago Bears. A 31-7 win at Lambeau Field did the heavy lifting. Zaire Franklin just made sure nobody missed the message afterward.
After a week that included trash talk from Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III, who said Chicago wanted to make Green Bay quit, Franklin came out swinging once the Packers had forced five turnovers and held the Bears to a single touchdown. He went straight at Burden when asked about the noise.
“He quit today. He didn’t wanna play no more,” Franklin said bluntly.
Franklin didn’t stop there. He widened the criticism to Chicago’s overall mindset in the rivalry and accused the Bears of being too consumed with the Packers.
“They do a whole lot of weird stuff. Since I been here, they do a whole lot of stuff that they worried about us.
We worried about ourselves,” Franklin said. “Hopefully they learn to stop dissing us.
Real talk.”
On the field, Christian Watson delivered his own reply in the most direct way possible. He piled up 143 receiving yards and two touchdowns as Green Bay controlled the game from start to finish.
“We definitely flipped that on their head,” Watson said.
Zaire Franklin on the Bears: “They do a whole lot of weird stuff. Since I been here, they do a whole lot of stuff that they worried about us. We worried about ourselves. Hopefully they learn to stop dissing us. Real talk.” pic.twitter.com/7E1VbVkX0S
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 11, 2026
The win pushed Green Bay to 3-2, a record that has already included some rough patches. The Packers opened with a Week 1 divisional loss, then got blasted 35-14 at home by Atlanta in Week 3. But Matt LaFleur’s team steadied itself with a 17-14 win over Tampa Bay before rolling past Chicago.
Jordan Love and Watson have helped spark the offense, while the defense’s five takeaways against the Bears showed how disruptive this group can be when it’s clicking. Injuries and roster turnover have been part of the story, but the Packers have found momentum again at a key moment in the NFC North race. Franklin’s postgame verdict made the attitude plain: Green Bay would rather settle things on the scoreboard than with words.
In Other News...
Packers Just Poured Fuel On The Ben Johnson Hype Debate
The Packers latest trip into Chicago did more than add another divisional win to the ledger. Green Bay controlled the rivalry game from the start and came away with a 31-7 victory, a result that only sharpened the conversation around how Ben Johnsons Bears are handling life in the NFC North. For a team trying to establish itself early in the season, the matchup offered another reminder of how unforgiving division games can be.
Johnsons arrival had brought plenty of optimism, especially after Chicagos strong opening stretch on offense, but the production has dipped as the schedule has tightened. Against Green Bay, the Bears never found much rhythm, and the Packers defense made sure the game stayed tilted their way. The bigger concern now is what it says about Chicago against familiar opponents, because the early returns in the division have not matched the buzz around Johnsons coaching debut. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Question They Can't Ignore
Injuries have pushed the Packers into an uncomfortable corner on defense, with key players dropping out at different points and the pass rush still operating without Micah Parsons because of his torn ACL. For a team trying to stay afloat in a rugged NFC race, the timing could hardly be worse, and it has turned the trade deadline into a real roster-building test rather than just a date on the calendar.
One name now hanging over that conversation is Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne, a veteran Pro Bowl lineman who would give Green Bay another proven body inside. He also brings a layer of intrigue beyond the field, since he is headed toward free agency and has already been part of trade chatter, which makes the Packers' defensive needs and Washington's long-term plans intersect at exactly the wrong time for Green Bay. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Passing Surge Comes With One Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Through the first five games, the Packers passing game has looked like a real strength, with Jordan Love settling in and wideouts Christian Watson and Matthew Golden giving Green Bay a more dangerous downfield element. The offense has found ways to keep moving the ball even while dealing with injuries and a few moving parts around the lineup, a reminder that the ceiling looks higher when the receiver group is whole and the timing stays sharp.
Kevin Zeitler is part of the reason there is cautious optimism about the line holding up long enough for that momentum to last. With Jayden Reed still out and the offensive front needing to stay healthy, the Packers aerial surge feels promising, but it also comes with the familiar caveat that everything changes fast if protection starts to slip or more pieces have to be shuffled again. [Read more 🡒]
