With the Chicago Bears having wrapped up minicamp, they now enter a period of roughly six weeks before training camp begins. During those six weeks, we're bound to find plenty of fun (or not-so-fun) banter from players and fans.
After all, this is the lull of the offseason we're head into. What else are we going to do?
In a recent video that appeared courtesy of Bleacher Report, head coach Ben Johnson's former WR1, Amon-Ra St. Brown, kicked off that type of content with quite the statement. He was asked to describe every NFC North team in one word.
St. Brown responded to the Lions with, "grit," the Vikings with, "finesse," before calling the Packers "annoying." Finally, he described the Bears:
"Even more annoying."
You know what, Amon-Ra? That's three words. You are disqualified. Follow the rules, next time.
On a serious note, St. Brown can say whatever he wants about the Bears, as it stands.
Ben Johnson's ticket to Bears beating the Lions is stopping Amon-Ra St. Brown
As much as Bears fans want to roll their eyes and immediately start talking smack right back to St. Brown, here's the problem: they can't.
This fan base hasn't had much to say to the Lions lately in this rivalry. If we wanted to talk about the Bears winning a playoff game while Detroit missed the postseason altogether, then so be it. That's an argument worth having.
But, if we're focusing solely on the rivalry between these two teams, the Bears don't have a leg to stand on, and you know what?
That's annoying.
Last year, not only did the Bears drop both games to the Lions in Johnson's first attempts at beating his old team, but St. Brown absolutely demoralized Chicago's defense.
Amon-Ra St. Brown's numbers in two games vs. Ben Johnson's Bears
20 receptions
26 targets
254 yards
3 receiving touchdowns
That is straight-up dominance from a single player on this Bears defense. That's a message sent from St. Brown to Johnson, first and foremost. St. Brown and Johnson began embracing their rivalry from the jump after their split, and I have a feeling it's only getting started.
For Lions fans who wanted to run with the narrative that they won't miss Johnson, you could argue they were right if you took just this small sample size.
Now, the reality is that the Bears were a better football team overall, and the Lions missed the postseason. But that doesn't mean these Bears don't want to come out and send a message of their own in 2026.
In order to beat the Lions, of course, you want to focus first on Jahmyr Gibbs. However, last year proved that St. Brown is just as much of a problem as Gibbs, if not more so. The Bears' pass defense might've come up with plenty of interceptions, but it gave up a lot of yards.
Read more: Coby Bryant's comments say it all about Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman
St. Brown is the Bears' biggest concern when it comes to beating this Lions team in 2026, period.
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