There was no questioning the bad blood between Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson coming into what proved to be an instant classic in the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs on Sunday, January 18.
However, once the overtime came to a close and the Rams had scratched out a narrow three-point victory over a 29th-ranked Bears defense that did a great job shutting down Los Angeles’ No. 1-rated offense, McVay conveyed nothing but respect in a seven-word message to Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
“Hey, unbelievable job,” McVay said to Allen. “You kicked our ass.”
McVay’s message to Johnson was more brief and less reverent, but the two were civil and respectful.
“Hell of a job, man,” McVay said to Johnson.
“Go win one,” Johnson responded.
“Yup, appreciate it, man,” McVay said back.
Sean McVay Called Out Ben Johnson Ahead of Bears-Rams Divisional Round Playoff Matchup
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay.
McVay spoke openly about his issues with Johnson leading up to Sunday’s contest.
He made the comments in the context of Johnson’s postgame actions involving Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, both during their on-field handshake and in the locker room afterwards.
“[Bleep] the Packers!” Johnson screamed to his team following an 18-point comeback over Green Bay at Soldier Field on Wild Card Weekend. “[Bleep] them! [Bleeping] hate those guys!”
Peter Schrager of ESPN told Bill Simmons of The Ringer on Friday that McVay and Johnson were both fired up for the test, with the winner heading to Seattle to play the Seahawks on January 25 for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
“I think McVay wants to kick the snot out of Ben Johnson,” Schrager said. “And I think Ben Johnson, who has beaten McVay the last two times when Detroit played the Rams, has no problem with that. ‘I’ll beat the snot out of you.’ I love these two guys. Two alpha offensive minds going at it in this game. I can’t wait.”
Rams Now Head to Seattle for Rubber Match With Seahawks
GettyQuarterback Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks
As it turns out, it will be the Rams squaring off against the Seahawks in a rubber match for the conference crown next Sunday.
L.A. bested Seattle 21-19 in the teams’ first matchup back in mid-November. The Seahawks hosted the Rams at Lumen Field in mid-December and returned the favor, winning 38-37 in overtime.
Seattle looked dominant against a banged up San Francisco 49ers team on Saturday, blowing them out by 35 points (41-6). Meanwhile, the Rams continue to advance by the skin of their teeth.
One week before Los Angeles needed two overtime possessions to best the Bears, the team overtook the Carolina Panthers in the final minute of regulation to secure the first of two consecutive three-point road victories in the playoffs.
The Seahawks are 2.5-point home favorites as of Monday afternoon, which essentially means that oddsmakers believe the teams would be on exactly equal footing were they playing the game at a neutral site.
Chicago would undoubtedly have been a road underdog in Seattle had it held on and beat the Rams at Soldier Field on Sunday night.
Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Sean McVay Issued 7-Word Message to Bears Coaches at Midfield appeared first on Heavy Sports.
