There’s a notable chemistry brewing between Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur as they head into the divisional round, and it’s drawing Sean McVay into the mix.
The Bears are set to face the Rams on Sunday night. Based on recent events, especially McVay’s intense celebration after taking down the Packers in the wild-card round, it looks like this game could be quite the spectacle.
Following a tightly contested 31-27 victory over Green Bay, Johnson somewhat brushed off LaFleur’s handshake, charging into the locker room and declaring, “Forget the Packers! I can’t stand them,” as showcased in the team’s social media posts.
ESPN’s NFL analyst Peter Schrager mentioned that Johnson’s outburst wasn’t exactly well-received within league circles or among McVay’s team.
The connection between McVay and LaFleur runs deep, especially considering that the Rams’ offensive coordinator is Mike LaFleur, Matt’s younger brother.
“It was a bold locker room moment filled with disrespect, and then the social media team just blasts it out there,” Schrager told The Ringer. He added that after a day of reflection, Johnson showed no regret about his comments and even claimed the owner agreed with his sentiments. It’s a real-life drama akin to WWE.
“I think McVay is eager to take it to Johnson, and it seems Johnson welcomes that challenge, especially having bested McVay in their last two matchups. This rivalry is heating up with two top-notch offensive minds in play. I’m genuinely excited for this one,” he said.
The intensity of these matchups is escalating, which was clear during the Rams’ press conference on Friday.
When asked if he had reached out to LaFleur, McVay laughed it off, saying, “What do you think? No, we focus on watching tape and working. Matt is a very close friend.”
McVay and LaFleur previously collaborated on Washington’s coaching staff, where LaFleur was brought in as offensive coordinator during the 2017 season when McVay headed to the Rams as their leader.
Johnson and McVay have faced off twice, with Johnson emerging victorious each time.
In 2024, the Lions edged out the Rams 26-20 in a thrilling overtime match, which followed a close 24-23 wild-card win for the Lions the previous year.
McVay now seeks to accomplish what LaFleur couldn’t when they meet on Sunday night.
