Green Bay Packers linebacker Zaire Franklin directed pointed comments at Bears wide receiver Luther Burden after his team’s 31-7 win Sunday at Lambeau Field.
“He quit today,” Franklin said after the game. “He didn’t wanna play no more.”
Burden, in his second NFL season, had spoken earlier in the week about the Bears’ approach to the longtime rivalry. He indicated the team wanted to impose its will and force Green Bay into submission.
“[Head coach Ben Johnson] wants to beat them really bad like everyone else in the room, like every Chicago fan,” Burden said. “Beat them real bad, and make them quit.”
The outcome went the other way. Burden recorded four catches for 47 yards and carried the ball four times for two yards in the defeat.
Franklin finished with nine tackles and forced a fumble as the Packers’ defense restricted Chicago to seven points, its lowest total of the season.
Green Bay’s defense has shown uneven results through five games. The unit allowed 39 points in a Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, then held the New York Jets to 17 points the following week. It surrendered 35 points in a Week 3 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons before limiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 14 points in Week 4.
Sunday’s effort against the Bears ranked as one of its stronger showings.
Bears coach Ben Johnson entered the year with lofty offensive targets. He publicly aimed to produce the highest-scoring unit in league history. “I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored [37.9], and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts,” Johnson said. Chicago scored 59 points in its opener against the Carolina Panthers. After quarterback Caleb Williams was sidelined, the Bears managed only three points against the Vikings. They rebounded with 27 points against the Philadelphia Eagles and 23 against the New York Jets before Sunday’s total of seven. Both clubs stand at 3-2. Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Christian Watson on scores of 42 and 53 yards. Green Bay’s defense generated five takeaways. Franklin, acquired in a March trade from the Indianapolis Colts, led the NFL with 173 tackles in 2024 and earned second-team All-Pro recognition that season. The Bears totaled 246 yards of offense. The Packers generated 428 yards while improving to 3-2 and matching Chicago’s record in the NFC North. The Vikings remain atop the division at 4-0. Sunday’s result offered Green Bay a response in a series where it had dropped three of the previous four meetings, including a playoff loss last season. Franklin’s remarks underscored the physical and competitive tone of the matchup. The Packers’ offense also found greater consistency after a slower start to the year.
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