The Detroit Lions' dominant 52-21 victory over the Chicago Bears wasn't just another win; it carried a significant undercurrent of emotion. While head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff publicly maintained a respectful stance towards former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, now with the Bears, safety Brian Branch voiced a different sentiment. Branch candidly admitted that the game felt intensely personal, fueled by a sense of betrayal stemming from Johnson's move to a divisional rival.
"Very motivated," Branch stated when asked about the team's motivation. "We knew coming into this game that this is personal. Really, all these games are personal. But this one was just—we felt like we’ve been betrayed from staff to players. We love Ben. We still love Ben. He’s a great coach and he’s a great mastermind, but yeah, it was time to get after him." He emphasized the sting of Johnson choosing a divisional opponent, highlighting the added weight of facing their former coach twice a year.
This raw emotion contrasted with Goff's more measured response. While acknowledging the team's respect for Johnson, Goff expressed disapproval of the fans' chants directed at their former coach. "Yeah, I didn’t like that. I thought that was—he did a lot for us here. I don’t know if he deserved that," Goff commented. The tension between the desire to celebrate a resounding win and the lingering feelings of betrayal added a complex layer to the Lions' victory.
The Lions' overwhelming win, however, served as a powerful statement on the field, overshadowing the off-field drama, at least for now. The next chapter in this developing rivalry will unfold in the final week of the regular season when the two teams meet again. The question remains: will the intensity remain as high, or will the passage of time soften the feelings of betrayal?
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Originally published at: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-quotes/142004/brian-branch-detroit-lions-felt-betrayed-by-ben-johnsons-move-to-bears
