Bears made sure to silence all Packers' noises from Green Bay after playoff win

During Ben Johnson’s postgame presser after the Chicago Bears’ 31-27 comeback victory against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild-Card Round on Saturday night at Soldier Field, you could hear the emotion in the head coach’s voice. 

This game had meant more to Johnson, and for good reason. 

“There was probably a little bit more noise coming out of their building up north to start the week, which we heard loud and clear, players and coaches alike,” Johnson said. “This one meant something to us.”

There was definitely noise coming out of Green Bay leading up to the game. 

Green Bay Packers certainly had a lot to say

Packers players openly expressed their desire to play the Bears in the first round of the plays. 

WFRV Local 5 Sports’ Cameron Ezeir compiled interviews from the Packers’ locker room, and here is what some of the players had to say. 

“I didn't want nobody else," Packers cornerback Keisean Nixson said. "I wanted the Bears. … I'd rather play the Bears first. I need a get back. This is what it is.”

“I definitely wanted to play the Bears," Packers wide receiver Christian Watson said. "If I had my pick for any team, it would have definitely been the Bears. I want my get-back for sure. … We get a chance to put the Bears’ season to bed, that means a lot to us for sure."

Running back Josh Jacobs commented on Austin Booker’s hit that knocked Jordan Love out during the Bears’ Week 16 win in overtime at Soldier Field.

"I know a lot of guys took that hit that he took a little personal," Jacobs said. "So I'm not saying we gon' go out there and play dirty or nothing like that, but we definitely gonna defend our brother."

It didn’t end there. Even Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley made a definitive statement when discussing his future in Green Bay and head coaching aspirations when talking with the local media. 

"We are not going to be done, so I will see you guys next week,” Hafley said. 

Hafley essentially guaranteed he would be back this week talking to the media after a win. Well, his defense gave up 25 points in the fourth quarter in the latest collapse against the Bears at Soldier Field. 

It wasn’t just Johnson who heard the talk from up north, but so did the Bears players, including veteran Kevin Byard III. 

“There was a lot of s**t-talking this week, you know what I mean? And not even just today,” Byard said. “During the week. We heard the noise from Christian (Watson) and Keisean Nixon and all the guys talking s**t. Even the DC was talking about, telling the media in Green Bay that ‘we’ll see you next week.’ We heard that loud a clear.”

Read more: Caleb Williams' message at halftime in Bears win will be added to Chicago lore

The Bears didn’t need any more motivation going into this game, but the Packers provided extra fuel for the highly-anticipated game.

“Yeah, they wanted us,” Williams said. “That's what I heard. They wanted it and they got it.”