Detroit has no hostility to former defense minister Aaron Glenn, who took the head coach of Jets this offseason. But bitterness remains with Johnson, who chose a competitor over other options. When Lions stacked 50-knots, fans of Detroit sang “(explosive) Ben Johnson!”
Branch said the locker room has tremendous respect for Johnson, but he did not agree with the decision to be in the league.
“He could have gone else but he has to see us again,” Branch said.
All outside the season, the speech has been about how the Lions must face Johnson twice a year. The real issue could be a new Bears coach who has to go against his former partner.
The lions looked like Juggernaut we saw last year during a normal period, dived Johnson’s bombing from all perspectives and forced a big defense gift, rating team manager Caleb Williams.
The 52-point production is tied to the second most in a match for Lions in the history of club Detroit scored 52 points in two games with Johnson in 2024.
The final results came on the fourth and goal from the 4 yard line with eight minutes left in the slope, three to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who conjured up questions about whether the lions were trying to be ashamed of John. Bears coach dismissed that account and knew that he has been on the other side of these decisions.
“What should he do?” Johnson told Dan Campbell’s Dan Campbell head coach. “This is the fourth and goal, what do you want him to do? Yes, he could have kicked the field goal. They don’t kick the boundaries; they go for it there. He was doing what he should do. That’s what he does.”
The repetition does not come until week 18 in Chicago and gives Johnson enough time to correct the ship before he had to face his former company again.